DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Mine Safety and Health Administration
Proposed Information Collection Request, Submitted for Public
Comment and Recommendations; Preparation and Maintenance of Accurate
and Up-to-date Certified Mine Maps for Surface and Underground Coal
Mines; Submittal of Underground Mine Closure Maps; and, Notification of
MSHA Prior to Opening New Mines or the Reopening of Inactive or
Abandoned Mines
SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to
reduce paperwork and respondent burden conducts a preclearance
consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies
with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing
collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995 (PRA95) [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. This program helps to
ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format,
reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized,
collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of
collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed.
Currently, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is
soliciting comments concerning the proposed extension of the
information collection related to the Record of Mine Closure addressed
in 30 CFR 75.1204 and 75.1204-1; the inclusion of standards requiring
MSHA notification and inspection prior to mining when opening a new
mine or reopening an inactive or abandoned mine addressed in 30
CFR.75.373 and 75.1721; and, the inclusion of standards requiring
underground and surface mine operators to prepare and maintain accurate
and up-to-date mine maps addressed in 30 CFR 75.1200, 75.1200-1,
75.1201, 75.1202, 75.1202-1, 75.1203, 75,372, 77.1200, 77.1201 and
77.1202.
MSHA is particularly interested in comments which:
Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency,
including whether the information will have practical utility;
Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the
burden of the proposed collection of information, including the
validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected; and
Minimize the burden of the collection of information on
those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection
techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting
electronic submissions of responses.
A copy of the proposed information collection request can be
obtained by contacting the employee listed below in the For Further
Information Contact section of this notice, or viewed on the Internet
by accessing the MSHA home page (http://www.msha.gov) and then choosing
``Statutory and Regulatory Information'' and ``Federal Register
Documents.''
DATES: Submit comments on or before October 21, 2002.
ADDRESSES: Send comments to David . Meyer, Director, Administration and
Management, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, Room 2125, Arlington, VA 22209-3939.
Commenters are encouraged to send their comments on a computer disk, or
via Internet E-mail to Meyer.David@dol.gov, along with an original
printed copy. Mr. Meyer can be reached at (202) 693-9802 (voice), or
(202) 693-9801 (facsimile).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jane E. Tarr, Management Analyst,
Records Management Group, U.S. Department of Labor, Mine Safety and
Health Administration, Room 2171, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA
22209-3939. Ms. Tarr can be reached at Tarr.Jane@dol.gov (Internet E-mail), (202) 693-9824 (voice), or (202) 693-9801 (facsimile).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Background
Title 30 CFR 75.1200, 75.1200-1, 75.1201, 75.1202, 75.1202-1, and
75.1203 require underground coal mine operators to have in a fireproof
repository in an area on the surface of the mine chosen by the mine
operator to minimize the danger of destruction by fire or other
hazards, an accurate and up-to-date map of such mine drawn on scale.
These standards specify the information which must be shown, the range
of acceptable scale, the surveying technique or equivalent accuracy
required of the surveying which must be used to prepare the map, that
the maps must be certified as accurate by a registered engineer or
surveyor, that the maps must be kept continuously up-to-date by
temporary notations and must be revised and supplemented to include the
temporary notations at intervals not more than 6 months. In addition,
the mine operator must provide the MSHA District Manager a copy of the
certified mine map annually during the operating life of the mine.
These maps are essential to the planning and safe operation of the
mine. In addition, these maps provide a graphic presentation of the
locations of working sections and the locations of fixed surface and
underground mine facilities and equipment, escapeway routes, coal
haulage and man and materials haulage entries and other information
essential to mine rescue or mine fire fighting activities in the event
of mine fire, explosion or inundations of gas or water. The information
is essential to the safe operation of adjacent mines and mines
approaching the worked out areas of active or abandoned mines. Section
75.372 requires underground mine operators to submit three copies of an
up-to-date mine map to the District Manager at intervals not exceeding
12 months.
Title 30 CFR 75.1204 and 75.1204-1 require that whenever an
underground coal mine operator permanently closes or abandons a coal
mine, or temporarily closes a coal mine for a period of 90 days, the
operator shall file with MSHA a copy of the mine map revised and
supplemented to the date of closure. Maps are retained in a repository
and are made available to mine operators of adjacent properties. The
maps are necessary to provide an accurate record of underground areas
that have been mined to help prevent active mine operators from mining
into abandoned areas that may contain water or harmful gases.
Title 30 CFR 77.1200, 77.1201 and 77.1202 require surface coal mine
operators to maintain an accurate and up-to-date map of the mine and
specified the information to be shown on the map, the acceptable range
of map scales, that the map be certified a registered engineer or
surveyor, that the be available for inspection by the Secretary or his
authorized representative. These maps are essential for the safe
operation of the mine and provide essential information to operators of
adjacent surface and underground mine operators. Properly prepared
effectively utilized surface mine maps can prevent outbursts of water
impounded in underground mine workings and/or inundations of
underground mines by surface impounded water or water and or gases
impounded in surface auger mining worked out areas.
Title 30 75.373 and 75.1721 require that after a mine is abandoned
or declared inactive and before it is reopened, mine operations shall
not begin until MSHA has been notified and has completed an inspection.
Standard 75.1721 specifies that the notification be in writing and
lists specific information, preliminary arrangements and mine plans
which must be submitted to the MSHA District Manager.
II. Current Actions
Mine operators are required to conduct surveying such that mine
maps are maintained accurate and up-to-date, the maps must be revised
every 6 months and certified accurate by a registered engineer or
surveyor and to submit copies of the certified underground maps to MSHA
annually and an up-to-date and revised mine closure map whenever an
operator permanently closes or abandons a coal mine, or temporarily
closes a coal mine for a period of more than 90 days, he or she shall
promptly notify the Secretary of such closure.
In addition, mine operators must notify MSHA so that an inspection
can be conducted when ever a new mine is opened or a previously
abandoned or inactive mine is reopened. The information required to be
gathered and recorded on mine maps is essential to the safe operation
of the mine and essential to the effectiveness of mandatory inspections
and mandated mine plan approval by MSHA. Such information cannot be
replaced by any other source and anything less than continuously
updated and accurate information would place miner's safety at risk.
The information collected through the submittal of mine closure
maps is used by operators of adjacent coal mines when approaching
abandoned underground mines. The abandoned mine could be flooded with
water or contain explosive amounts of methane or harmful gases. If the
operator were to mine into such an area, unaware of the hazards, miners
could be killed or seriously injured. In addition, it is in the public
interest to maintain permanent records of the locations, extent of
workings and potential hazards associated with abandoned mines. The public safety can be adversely
affected by future land usage where such hazards are not known or
inaccurately assessed. MSHA collects the closure maps and provides
those documents to the Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation &
Enforcement for inclusion in a repository of abandoned mine maps.
Therefore, MSHA is continuing the certification and application of 30
CFR 75.1204 to assure the required information remains available for
the protection of miner's and public safety. In addition, MSHA has
added the burden hours and cost estimates for standards which address
the preparation and maintenance of certified mine maps for surface and
underground coal mines and the notification of MSHA prior to the
opening on new coal mines or the reopening of inactive or abandoned
mines.
Type of Review: Reinstatement. Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration. Title: Preparation and Maintenance of Accurate and Up-to-date
Certified Mine maps for Surface and Underground Coal Mines; Submittal
of Underground Mine Closure Maps; and, Notification of MSHA Prior to
Opening New Mines or the Reopening of Inactive or Abandoned Mines. OMB Number: 1219-0073. Recordkeeping: Mine operators are required conduct surveying such
that mine maps are maintained accurate and up-to-date, the maps must be
revised every 6 months and certified accurate by a registered engineer
or surveyor and to submit copies of the certified underground maps to
MSHA annually and an up-to-date and revised mine closure map whenever
an operator permanently closes or abandons a coal mine, or temporarily
closes a coal mine for a period of more than 90 days, he or she shall
promptly notify the Secretary of such closure.
In addition, mine operators must notify MSHA so that an inspection
can be conducted when ever a new mine is opened or a previously
abandoned or inactive mine is reopened. The information required to be
gathered and recorded on mine maps is essential to the safe operation
of the mine and essential to the effectiveness of mandatory inspections
and mandated mine plan approval by MSHA. Such information cannot be
replaced by any other source and anything less than continuously
updated and accurate information would place miner's safety at risk.
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average time
Total per
Cite/reference respondents Frequency Total responses response Burden hours
(in hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
75.1200, 75.1200-1, 75.1201, 893 Biannual........ 448 32 14,336
75.1202, 75.1202-1, 75.1203.
75.1204 & 75.1204-1.......... 724 On occasion..... 724 2 1,448
75.373 & 75.1721............. 94 On occasion..... 94 6 564
77.1200, 77.1201 & 77.1202... 1,514 Biannual........ 757 10 7,580
----------------- ----------------- ----------------
Total.................... \1\ 3,225 ................ 1299 ............ 23,928
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The total respondents are 893 underground mines or 1,514 surface mines; however, 25% of the mine operators perform these tasks utilizing mine-staff, the remaining 75% utilize contracting services. The contracting services are included as an Operating and Maintenance cost (shown below).
Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): None. Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): Contract Surveying and
Map preparation $23,803,160.
Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized
and/or included in the request for Office of Management and Budget
approval of the information collection request; they will also become a
matter of public record.
Dated: August 16, 2002.
Richard L. Brechbiel,
Deputy Director, Office of Administration and Management.
[FR Doc. 02-21332 Filed 8-20-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P
Back to Top