Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), Labor.
Proposed rule; extension of comment period.
This document extends the comment period for Verification of Underground Coal Mine Operators' Dust Control Plans and Compliance Sampling for Respirable Dust (Plan Verification), published in the
MSHA has decided to extend the comment period in order to obtain further information on Personal Dust Monitors (PDMs), a new technology which is currently being tested by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
All comments received will be entered into the rulemaking.
The rulemaking record for the proposed rule published on March 6, 2003, and for which the comment period was extended on May 29, 2003, will remain open until further notice in the
You may use mail, facsimile (fax), or electronic mail to send us your comments. Clearly identify them as comments and send them (1) by mail to MSHA, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances, 1100 Wilson, Blvd., Room 2313, Arlington, Virginia 22209–3939; by fax to (202) 693–9441; or (3) electronic mail to:
Marvin W. Nichols, Jr., Director, Office of Standards, Regulations and Variances, MSHA; phone: (202) 693–9440; facsimile: (202) 693–9441; e-mail:
You can request a copy of this extension notice in an alternate format, such as a large print version, an electronic file or a file on a disk. This extension notice is available on MSHA's Internet site,
On July 7, 2000, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in the
On March 6, 2003, (68 FR 10784), in response to commenters to the 2000 proposed rule, MSHA published a second proposed rule in the
The Agency made the decision to extend the comment period on the proposed rule after careful consideration of comments during the May 2003 public hearings concerning the preliminary success of in-mine tests on a prototype of personal dust monitors (PDMs).
The Comment period will remain open during which time:
• The in-mine testing of the pre-production prototype PDMs at mines in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Alabama, and Utah is completed;
• NIOSH and MSHA commit $150,000 each for further testing contingent upon completion and positive assessment of the in-mine testing; and
• Information is obtained to assist in controlling and monitoring respirable coal mine dust and preventing Black Lung disease.
For all the reasons stated herein, the comment period on the proposed rule is hereby extended until further notice is published in the
A separate notice reopening the rulemaking record for the proposed rule “Determination of Concentration of Respirable Coal Mine Dust,” (68 FR 10940, 68 FR 32005) will be published in the