This ICR is intended to protect miners by assuring that up-to-date, accurate mine maps contain the information needed to clarify the best alternatives for action during an emergency operation. Coal mine operators routinely use maps to create safe and effective development plans.
Mine maps are schematic depictions of critical mine infrastructure, such as water, power, transportation, ventilation, and communication systems. Using accurate, up-to-date maps during a disaster, mine emergency personnel can locate refuges for miners and identify sites of explosion potential; they can know where stationary equipment was placed, where ground was secured, and where they can best begin a rescue operation. During a disaster, maps can be crucial to the safety of the emergency personnel who must enter a mine to begin a search for survivors.
Mine maps may describe the current status of an operating mine or provide crucial information about a long-closed mine that is being reopened.
Coal mine operators use map information to develop safe and effective plans and to help determine hazards before beginning work in areas, such as abandoned underground mines or the worked out and inaccessible areas of an active underground or surface mine. Abandoned mines or inaccessible areas of active mines may have water inundation potentials, explosive levels of methane or lethal gases. If an operator, unaware of the hazards, were to mine into such an area, miners could be killed or seriously injured.
There was a decrease in the total number of respondents, responses and burden hours as a direct result of an decrease in the number of mines.
Respondents: decreased from 1,876 to 1,631
Responses: decreased from 804 to 711
Burden Hours: decreased from 16,476 to 13,872
Burden Cost: decreased from $21,474,889 to $17,573,769
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
1219-0040 etc group FRN PUBLISHED 5-11-15 p26953.pdf
1219-0073 SS 10-2014.docx
Record of Mine Closures, Opening and Reopening of Mines