[Federal Register: August 14, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 156)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 45358-45359]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Mine Safety and Health Administration
30 CFR Part 75
RIN 1219-AB52
Sealing of Abandoned Areas
AGENCY: Mine Safety and Health Administration, Labor.
ACTION: Extension of comment period.
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SUMMARY: The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is extending
the comment period for the Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) on
sealing of abandoned areas of underground coal mines published on May
22, 2007 (72 FR 28796). This extension gives commenters additional time
to review recently posted documents on MSHA's Web site and a recently
published report from the National Institute for Occupational Safety
and Health (NIOSH) entitled ``Explosion Pressure Design Criteria for
New Seals in U.S. Coal Mines'' (NIOSH Publication No. 2007-144, July
2007).
DATES: The comment period will close on September 17, 2007.
ADDRESSES: Comments must be clearly identified and may be submitted by
any of the following methods:
(1) Federal Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow
the instructions for submitting comments.
(2) Electronic mail: zzMSHA-Comments@dol.gov. Include ``RIN 1219-
AB52'' in the subject line of the message.
(3) Telefax: (202) 693-9441. Include ``RIN 1219-AB52'' in the
subject.
(4) Regular Mail: MSHA, Office of Standards, Regulations, and
Variances, 1100 Wilson Blvd., Room 2350, Arlington, Virginia, 22209-
3939.
(5) Hand Delivery or Courier: MSHA, Office of Standards,
Regulations, and Variances, 1100 Wilson Blvd., Room 2350, Arlington,
Virginia 22209-3939. Sign in at the receptionist's desk on the 21st
floor.
(6) Docket: Comments can be accessed electronically at http://www.msha.gov
under the ``Rules and Regs'' link. MSHA will post all
comments on the Internet without change, including any personal
information provided. Comments may also be reviewed at the Office of
Standards, Regulations, and Variances, 1100 Wilson Blvd., Room 2350,
Arlington, Virginia. Sign in at the receptionist's desk on the 21st
floor.
MSHA maintains a listserve that enables subscribers to receive e-
mail notification when rulemaking documents are published in the
Federal Register. To subscribe to the listserve, go to http://www.msha.gov/subscriptions/subscribe.aspx.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patricia W. Silvey, Director, Office
of Standards, Regulations, and Variances, MSHA, 1100 Wilson Boulevard,
Room 2350, Arlington, Virginia 22209-3939. Ms. Silvey can be reached at
Silvey.Patricia@dol.gov (Internet E-mail), (202) 693-9440 (voice), or
(202) 693-9441 (facsimile). This notice is available on the Internet at
http://www.msha.gov/REGSINFO.HTM.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: MSHA issued an Emergency Temporary Standard
(ETS) on May 22, 2007 (72 FR 28796). On June 25, 2007, MSHA notified
the public that the comment period for the ETS would close on August
17, 2007 (72 FR 34609). On August 3, 2007, the National Mining
Association requested that the comment period be extended 30 days to
allow additional time to comment on several new ETS related documents
recently posted on MSHA's Web page, including a set of compliance
assistance questions and answers posted on July 23, 2007; MSHA's
Procedure Instruction Letter No. I07-V-04, Procedures for Inspection of
Seals, issued on July 24, 2007, and posted on July 25, 2007; and the
Seal Design Approval Information Template updated on August 2, 2007.
In addition, MSHA posted four new seal designs on August 2, 2007:
Three 50 psi seal designs and one 120 psi seal design. Furthermore,
NIOSH recently published a final report on ``Explosion Pressure Design
Criteria for New Seals in U.S. Coal Mines.'' The report is available on
the Internet at: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/pubs/pdfs/2007-144.pdf.
MSHA is extending the comment period to September 17, 2007. This
action allows commenters sufficient time to fully review the posted
documents and submit comments. MSHA will accept written comments and
other appropriate data from any interested party up to the close of the
comment period on September 17, 2007.
Dated: August 9, 2007.
John P. Pallasch,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Mine Safety and Health.
[FR Doc. 07-3977 Filed 8-9-07; 4:19 pm]
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