Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals: Safety Defects; Examination, Correction, and Records

Proposed Extension of Information Collection: Safety Defects; Examination, Correction, and Records

DATES:

All comments must be received on or before September 25, 2026.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

A. Legal Authority

Section 103(h) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (Mine Act), as amended, 30 U.S.C. 813(h), authorizes the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) to collect information necessary to carry out its duty in protecting the safety and health of miners. Further, section 101(a) of the Mine Act, 30 U.S.C. 811(a), authorizes the Secretary of Labor (Secretary) to develop, promulgate, and revise, as may be appropriate, improved mandatory health or safety standards for the protection of life and prevention of injuries in coal and metal and nonmetal (MNM) mines.

The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. ) governs paperwork burdens imposed on the public by Federal agencies for using identical questions to collect information from 10 or more persons. The PRA defines paperwork burden in 44 U.S.C. 3502(2) as time, effort, or financial resources expended to generate, maintain, or provide information to or for a Federal agency. Under 44 U.S.C. 3507, the PRA also establishes policies and procedures of information collection for controlling paperwork burdens imposed by Federal agencies on the public, including evaluating public comments.

B. Information Collection

To fulfill its statutory mandate to promote miners' health and safety, MSHA requires information under the information collection request (ICR) titled "Safety Defects; Examination, Correction, and Records." This information collection is intended to ensure that compressed-air receivers, boilers, and self-propelled mobile equipment are inspected, defects are addressed, hazards are abated, and unsafe conditions are identified and corrected to provide MNM miners with safe working environment.

Burden costs associated with the ICR include:

1. Recording Inspections of Compressed-Air Receivers and Other Unfired Pressure Vessels

2. Recording Inspections of Boilers

3. Recoding Inspections of Self-propelled Mobile Equipment

4. Examining Working Places

4-1. Recording Inspections of Working Places

4-2. Providing Miners' Representatives with Copies of Working Place Inspection Records

The associated standards that authorize the collection of information are described below.

1. Recording Inspections of Compressed-Air Receivers and Other Unfired Pressure Vessels (30 CFR 56.13015 and 57.13015)

Under 30 CFR 56.13015(a) and 57.13015(a), compressed-air receivers and other unfired pressure vessels shall be inspected by inspectors holding a valid National Board Commission and in accordance with the applicable chapters of the National Board Inspection Code, a Manual for Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors, 1979.

Under 30 CFR 56.13015(b) and 57.13015(b), records of inspections shall be kept in accordance with requirements of the National Board Inspection Code, and the records shall be made available to the Secretary or his authorized representative.

2. Recording Inspections of Boilers (30 CFR 56.13030 and 57.13030)

Under 30 CFR 56.13030(a) and 57.13030(a), fired pressure vessels (boilers) shall be equipped with water level gauges, pressure gauges, automatic pressure-relief valves, blowdown piping, and other safety devices approved by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers to protect against hazards from overpressure, flameouts, fuel interruptions and low water level, all as required by the appropriate sections, chapters and appendices listed in the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, 1977 and the National Board Inspection Code, a Manual for Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors.

Under 30 CFR 56.13030(b) and 57.13030(b), these gauges, devices and piping shall be designed, installed, operated, maintained, repaired, altered, inspected, and tested by inspectors holding a valid National Board Commission and in accordance with the appropriate sections, chapters and appendices listed in the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code and the National Board Inspection Code.

Under 30 CFR 56.13030(c) and 57.13030(c), records of inspections and repairs shall be kept in accordance with the requirements of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code and the National Board Inspection Code. The records shall be made available to the Secretary or his authorized representative.

3. Recording Inspections of Self-propelled Mobile Equipment (30 CFR 56.14100 and 57.14100)

Under 30 CFR 56.14100(a) and 57.14100(a), self-propelled mobile equipment to be used during a shift shall be inspected by the equipment operator before being placed in operation on that shift.

Under 30 CFR 56.14100(b) and 57.14100(b), defects on any equipment, machinery, and tools that affect safety shall be corrected in a timely manner to prevent the creation of a hazard to persons.

Under 30 CFR 56.14100(c) and 57.14100(c), when defects make continued operation hazardous to persons, the defective items including self-propelled mobile equipment shall be taken out of service and placed in a designated area posted for that purpose, or a tag or other effective method of marking the defective items shall be used to prohibit further use until the defects are corrected.

Under 30 CFR 56.14100(d) and 57.14100(d), defects on self-propelled mobile equipment affecting safety, which are not corrected immediately, shall be reported to and recorded by the mine operator. The records shall be kept at the mine or nearest mine office from the date the defects are recorded, until the defects are corrected. Such records shall be made available for inspection by an authorized representative of the Secretary.

4. Examining Working Places (30 CFR 56.18002 and 57.18002)

4-1. Recording Inspections of Working Places

Under 30 CFR 56.18002(a) and 57.18002(a), a competent person designated by the operator shall examine each working place at least once each shift before miners begin work in that place, for conditions that may adversely affect safety or health.

Under 30 CFR 56.18002(b) and 57.18002(b), a record of each examination shall be made before the end of the shift for which the examination was conducted. The record shall contain the name of the person conducting the examination; date of the examination; location of all areas examined; and description of each condition found that may adversely affect the safety or health of miners.

Under 30 CFR 56.18002(c) and 57.18002(c), when a condition that may adversely affect safety or health is corrected, the examination record shall include, or be supplemented to include, the date of the corrective action.

4-2. Providing Miners' Representatives with Copies of Working Place Inspection Records

Under 30 CFR 56.18002(d) and 57.18002(d), the operator shall maintain the examination records for at least one year, make the records available for inspection by authorized representatives of the Secretary and the representatives of miners, and provide these representatives a copy on request.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

MSHA is soliciting comments concerning the proposed information collection titled "Safety Defects, Examination, Correction, and Records." MSHA is particularly interested in comments that:

• 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 MSHA's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
• Suggest methods to 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 submission of responses.

The ICR is available on https://www.regulations.gov. MSHA cautions commenters against providing any information in the submission that should not be publicly disclosed. Full comments, including personal information provided, will be made available on https://www.regulations.gov and https://www.reginfo.gov.

The public may also examine publicly available documents at DOL-MSHA, Office of Standards, Regulations and Variances, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20210. Before visiting MSHA in person, call 202-693-9440 to make an appointment.

Questions about the information collection requirements may be directed to the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice.

III. Current Actions

This ICR concerns provisions for Safety Defects, Examination, Correction, and Records. MSHA has updated the data with respect to the number of respondents, responses, time burden, and burden costs supporting this ICR from the previous ICR.

Type of Review: Extension, without change, of a currently approved collection.

Agency: Mine Safety and Health Administration.

OMB Control Number: 1219-0089.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit entity.

Number of Annual Respondents: 11,687.

Frequency: On occasion.

Number of Annual Responses: 6,055,179.

Annual Time Burden: 1,351,405 hours.

Annual Recordkeeping Costs: $427,919.

Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and included in the request for Office of Management and Budget approval of the proposed ICR; they will become a matter of public record and be available at https://www.reginfo.gov.

[FR Doc. 2026-15135 Filed 7-24-26; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4510-43-P