Roof Control Plans for Underground Coal Mines

OMB Control No: 1219-0004	ICR Reference No: 201502-1219-003
Status: Historical Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 201204-1219-004
Agency/Subagency: DOL/MSHA	Agency Tracking No:
Title: Roof Control Plans for Underground Coal Mines
Type of Information Collection: Extension without change of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved without change	Conclusion Date: 10/21/2015
Retrieve Notice of Action (NOA)	Date Received in OIRA: 08/12/2015
Terms of Clearance:

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	10/31/2018	36 Months From Approved	10/31/2015
Responses	1,965	0	3,151
Time Burden (Hours)	7,924	0	15,564
Cost Burden (Dollars)	6,795	0	8,185

---

Abstract: In order to prevent occupational injuries resulting from falls of roofs, faces, and ribs, which are a leading cause of injuries and death in underground coal mines, all underground coal mine operators are required to develop and submit roof control plans to MSHA for evaluation and approval. These plans are evaluated to determine if they are adequate for prevailing mining conditions.

---

Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 30 USC 811, Section 101(a) Name of Law: Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (Mine Act)    US Code: 30 USC 862, Section 302(a) Name of Law: Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (Mine Act)    PL: Pub.L. 91 - 173 103(i) Name of Law: Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (Mine Act)    US Code: 30 USC 813(h), Section 103(h) Name of Law: Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (Mine Act)

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

---

Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

---

Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	79 FR 71129	12/01/2014
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	80 FR 48339	08/12/2015
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

---

Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 1

IC Title Form No. Form Name Roof Control Plans

---

ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Approved	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	1,965	3,151	0	0	-1,186	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	7,924	15,564	0	-4,714	-2,926	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	6,795	8,185	0	0	-1,390	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Increase Due to:

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Reduction Due to: Miscellaneous Actions

Short Statement: Burden Hours: The total number of burden hours decreased by 7,640 hours, from 15,564 hours to 7,924 hours. As part of a burden reduction initiative, MSHA considered making the forms available in a fillable/fileable format; however, that proved impracticable. Instead, most of the decrease in hours resulted from the development of checklists and a new Roof Control Plan Approval and Review Procedures handbook that the agency has also made available to respondents on the Internet. While primarily intended for MSHA staff, these documents also provide operators with information that they may use to formulate roof control plans and addendums. This increased transparency has reduced the number of hours necessary to develop roof control plans and addendums. MSHA saved 4,714 of the difference of 7,640 burden because the increased transparency effort resulted in individual response times going down (24 hours to 12 hours response for 30 CFR 75.220, 75.221(a), and 75.215/ Plans) (and 5 hours to 4 hours response for 30 CFR 75.220, 75.221(a), and 75.215, 75.222 and 75.223(a)/ Plan Revisions). While the agency did enhance its compliance assistance materials by making the internal documents available to the public, it is important to note that the information collection requirements remain unchanged. Fewer respondents accounted for 2,926 hours of the burden reduction.

---

Annual Cost to Federal Government: $460,621

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Is the Supporting Statement intended to be a Privacy Impact Assessment required by the E-Government Act of 2002? No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? Uncollected

Agency Contact: Michelle McKnight 202 693-9466 [email protected]

---

Common Form ICR:  No

---

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:
		(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;
		(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;
		(c) It reduces burden on small entities;
		(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;
		(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;
		(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;
		(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:
			(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;
		(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.
		(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and
		(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.
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.
Certification Date: 08/12/2015

---