{"abstract":"We, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), are requesting information from the public concerning ways to increase protection to miners when they are working in environments where asbestos is present. We are concerned that miners may be exposed to asbestos at mining operations with the ore bodies containing asbestos. There is also a potential exposure at mine facilities with installed asbestos-containing material which may be disturbed. Miners who are exposed may also bring the substance home on their persons and clothes, and in their automobiles. Exposure to asbestos can cause asbestosis, mesothelioma, lung cancer, and cancers of the digestive system. A recent report by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of the Inspector General (OIG) recommended that MSHA lower its existing Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for asbestos to a more protective level and address take-home contamination from asbestos. The report also recommended that MSHA use Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) instead of Phase Contrast Microscopy (PCM) to analyze fiber samples that may contain asbestos. We intend to use the submitted information to help determine how we should proceed to address these issues. We are also announcing in this document our intent to hold six (6) public meetings to allow early participation in the rulemaking by interested parties.","action":"Advance notice of proposed rulemaking; notice of public meetings; notice of close of record.","agencies":[{"raw_name":"DEPARTMENT OF LABOR","name":"Labor Department","id":271,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/labor-department","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/271","parent_id":null,"slug":"labor-department"},{"raw_name":"Mine Safety and Health Administration","name":"Mine Safety and Health Administration","id":288,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/mine-safety-and-health-administration","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/288","parent_id":271,"slug":"mine-safety-and-health-administration"}],"body_html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/html/2002/03/29/02-7467.html","cfr_references":[{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":58,"title":30},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":72,"title":30}],"citation":"67 FR 15134","comment_url":null,"comments_close_on":"2002-06-27","correction_of":null,"corrections":[],"dates":"Comments on the advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) must be received on or before June 27, 2002.","disposition_notes":null,"docket_ids":[],"dockets":[],"document_number":"02-7467","effective_on":null,"end_page":15138,"executive_order_notes":null,"executive_order_number":null,"explanation":null,"full_text_xml_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/xml/2002/03/29/02-7467.xml","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2002/03/29/02-7467/measuring-and-controlling-asbestos-exposure","images":{},"images_metadata":{},"json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/documents/02-7467?publication_date=2002-03-29","mods_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/metadata/granule/FR-2002-03-29/02-7467/mods.xml","not_received_for_publication":null,"page_length":5,"page_views":{"count":248,"last_updated":"2026-04-05 00:15:04 -0400"},"pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2002-03-29/pdf/02-7467.pdf","presidential_document_number":null,"proclamation_number":null,"public_inspection_pdf_url":null,"publication_date":"2002-03-29","raw_text_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2002/03/29/02-7467.txt","regulation_id_number_info":{"1219-AB24":{"issue":"200710","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/1219-AB24/asbestos-exposure-limit","title":"Asbestos Exposure Limit","xml_url":"http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=200710&RIN=1219-AB24&operation=OPERATION_EXPORT_XML","priority_category":"Other Significant"}},"regulation_id_numbers":["1219-AB24"],"regulations_dot_gov_info":{},"regulations_dot_gov_url":null,"significant":true,"signing_date":null,"start_page":15134,"subtype":null,"title":"Measuring and Controlling Asbestos Exposure","toc_doc":"Asbestos exposure; measuring and controlling; public meetings","toc_subject":"Coal mine and metal and nonmetal mine safety and health:","topics":[],"type":"Proposed Rule","volume":67}