Sealing of Abandoned Areas

OMB Control No: 1219-0142	ICR Reference No: 202007-1219-004
Status: Received in OIRA	Previous ICR Reference No: 201706-1219-002
Agency/Subagency: DOL/MSHA	Agency Tracking No:
Title: Sealing of Abandoned Areas
Type of Information Collection: Extension without change of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular	Date Submitted to OIRA: 11/06/2020

	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	36 Months From Approved	01/31/2021
Responses	47,194	15,800
Time Burden (Hours)	4,869	3,525
Cost Burden (Dollars)	709,972	1,068,083

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Abstract: MSHA's standards for sealing abandoned areas in underground coal mines includes requirements covering the design and construction of new seals and the maintenance and repair of all seals. Records that will be collected under this rule will help assure that the construction and maintenance of seals are done correctly; certified persons conducting sampling in sealed areas are adequately trained; and results from sampling in sealed areas are recorded, so that problems can be found and fixed.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 30 USC 811 Name of Law: Federal Mine Health and Safety Act    US Code: 30 USC 813(h) Name of Law: Federal Mine Health and Safety Act

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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

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Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	85 FR 45241	07/27/2020
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	85 FR 71107	11/06/2020
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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

IC Title Form No. Form Name Sealing of Abandoned Areas Standard

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Request	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	47,194	15,800	0	0	31,394	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	4,869	3,525	0	0	1,344	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	709,972	1,068,083	0	0	-358,111	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: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: The number of active underground coal mines that utilize seals has decreased from 242 to 177. However, the total number of seals in active underground coal mines increased from 6,500 to 9,600, because the remaining mines are generally the largest mines with the greatest utilization of seals. The increase in the number of seals requires a substantial number of records of air sampling and consequentially the increase in the number of responses. Therefore the decreasing number of mines is offset by the greater number of seals, resulting in an increase in responses (15,800 to 47,194) and burden hours (3,525 to 4,869). Costs decreased ($1,068,083 to $709,972) due to the decrease in number of respondents/active underground coal mines.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $127,764

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

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     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? No

Agency Contact: Nicole Bouchet 202 646-2814 [email protected]

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Common Form ICR:  No

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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: 11/06/2020

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