82 FR 2284 - Exposure of Underground Miners to Diesel Exhaust

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Mine Safety and Health Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 5 (January 9, 2017)

In response to requests from the public, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is reopening the proposed rulemaking record for public comment on the Agency's request for information on Exposure of Underground Miners to Diesel Exhaust.

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 5 (Monday, January 9, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 2284-2285]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-00104]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration

30 CFR Parts 57, 70, 72, and 75

[Docket No. MSHA-2014-0031]
RIN 1219-AB86


Exposure of Underground Miners to Diesel Exhaust

AGENCY: Mine Safety and Health Administration, Labor.

ACTION: Request for information; reopening of the comment period.

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SUMMARY: In response to requests from the public, the Mine Safety and 
Health Administration (MSHA) is reopening the proposed rulemaking 
record for public comment on the Agency's request for information on 
Exposure of Underground Miners to Diesel Exhaust.

DATES: The comment period for the request for information, published on 
June 8, 2016 (81 FR 36826), and closed

[[Page 2285]]

on November 30, 2016, (81 FR 58424) is reopened. Comments must be 
received on or before midnight Eastern Standard Time on January 9, 
2018.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments and informational materials for the 
rulemaking record, identified by RIN 1219-AB86 or Docket No. MSHA-2014-
0031, by one of the following methods:
     Federal E-Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments.
     E-Mail: [email protected].
     Mail: MSHA, Office of Standards, Regulations, and 
Variances, 201 12th Street South, Suite 4E401, Arlington, Virginia 
22202-5452.
     Hand Delivery or Courier: 201 12th Street South, Suite 
4E401, Arlington, Virginia, between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday 
through Friday, except Federal holidays. Sign in at the receptionist's 
desk on the 4th floor East, Suite 4E401.
     Fax: 202-693-9441.
    Instructions: All submissions must include ``RIN 1219-AB86'' or 
``Docket No. MSHA-2014-0031.'' Do not include personal information that 
you do not want publicly disclosed; MSHA will post all comments without 
change to http://www.regulations.gov and http://arlweb.msha.gov/currentcomments.asp, including any personal information provided.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read comments received, go to 
http://www.regulations.gov or http://arlweb.msha.gov/currentcomments.asp. To read background documents, go to http://www.regulations.gov. Review the docket in person at MSHA, Office of 
Standards, Regulations, and Variances, 201 12th Street South, 
Arlington, Virginia, between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through 
Friday, except Federal Holidays. Sign in at the receptionist's desk in 
Suite 4E401.
    E-Mail Notification: To subscribe to receive an email notification 
when MSHA publishes rules in the Federal Register, go to http://www.msha.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sheila A. McConnell, Director, Office 
of Standards, Regulations, and Variances, MSHA, at 
[email protected] (email), 202-693-9440 (voice); or 202-693-
9441 (facsimile). These are not toll-free numbers.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June 8, 2016 (81 FR 36826), MSHA 
published a request for information (RFI) on Exposure of Underground 
Miners to Diesel Exhaust. The RFI sought input from the public that 
will help MSHA evaluate the Agency's existing standards and policy 
guidance on controlling miners' exposures to diesel exhaust to evaluate 
the effectiveness of the protection now in place to preserve miners' 
health.
    On June 27, 2016, (81 FR 41486), MSHA published a notice in the 
Federal Register announcing four public meetings on the RFI. Public 
meetings were held on July 19, 21, and 26 and August 4, 2016. The 
comment period was scheduled to close on September 6, 2016; however, in 
response to requests from the public, MSHA extended the comment period 
until November 30, 2016 (81 FR 58424).
    During the comment period, MSHA received requests for MSHA and the 
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to 
convene a Diesel Exhaust Health Effects Partnership (Partnership) with 
the mining industry, diesel engine manufacturers, academia and 
representatives of organized labor to gather information regarding the 
complex questions contained in the RFI. In response to these requests, 
MSHA and NIOSH agreed to form a Partnership that includes all relevant 
stakeholders from the mining community to come together to understand 
the health effects from underground miners' exposure to diesel exhaust. 
The Partnership will also provide stakeholders an opportunity to 
consider best practices and new technologies including engineering 
controls that enhance control of diesel exhaust exposures to improve 
protections for miners.
    The first meeting of the Diesel Exhaust Health Effects Partnership 
was held on December 8, 2016, in Washington, Pennsylvania.
    During the comment period and at the Partnership meeting, MSHA 
received requests from stakeholders to reopen the rulemaking record for 
comment on the RFI and allow the comment period to remain open during 
the Partnership proceedings. In response to these requests, MSHA is 
reopening the record for comment and extending the comment period to 
January 9, 2018. The reopening of the record for comment will allow all 
interested parties an additional opportunity to re-evaluate all issues 
related to miners' exposure to diesel exhaust and to determine if 
improvements can be made.

Joseph A. Main,
Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health.
[FR Doc. 2017-00104 Filed 1-6-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4520-43-P