1.Short
title; table of contents
(a)This Act may be cited
as the Mine Safety Accountability and
Improved Protection Act
.
(b)The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of
contents.
Sec. 2. References.
Title I—Additional inspection and investigation
authority
Sec. 101. Establishment of National Mine Safety Board for
certain investigations.
Sec. 102. Subpoena authority and miner rights during
investigations.
Sec. 103. Designation of miner representative.
Sec. 104. Additional amendments relating to inspections and
investigations.
Title II—Enhanced enforcement authority
Sec. 201. Significant and substantial violations.
Sec. 202. A pattern of recurring noncompliance or
accidents.
Sec. 203. Injunctive Authority.
Sec. 204. Revocation of approval of plans.
Sec. 205. Challenging decisions related to the approval of a
coal or other mine plan.
Title III—Penalties
Sec. 301. Civil penalties.
Sec. 302. Civil and criminal liability of officers, directors,
and agents.
Sec. 303. Criminal penalties.
Sec. 304. Conference process for appealing penalties;
delinquent payments and prejudgment interest.
Title IV—Worker Rights and Protections
Sec. 401. Protection from retaliation.
Sec. 402. Protection from loss of pay.
Title V—Modernizing health and safety standards
Sec. 501. Pre-shift review of mine conditions.
Sec. 502. Rock dust standards.
Sec. 503. Atmospheric monitoring systems.
Sec. 504. Technology related to respirable dust.
Sec. 505. Refresher training on miner rights and
responsibilities.
Sec. 506. Authority to mandate additional training.
Sec. 507. Certification of personnel.
Title VI—Additional mine safety provisions
Sec. 601. Definitions.
Sec. 602. Assistance to States.
Sec. 603. Amendments relating to eligibility for scholarship
program.
Sec. 604. Additional training of mine inspectors.
Sec. 605. Report on staffing needs of the Mine Safety and
Health Administration.
2.Except as otherwise expressly provided,
whenever in this Act an amendment is expressed as an amendment to a section or
other provision, the reference shall be considered to be made to a section or
other provision of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (30 U.S.C.
801 et seq.).
<enum>I</enum><header>Additional
inspection and investigation authority</header>
<section id="HBF35E1F88D054C78931C9A78E2478C2B"><enum>101.</enum><header>Establishment
of National Mine Safety Board for certain investigations</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 103(b) (30 U.S.C. 813(b)) is
amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H9E4FA212EA4F4DA5BD690139EDCAEC36"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>(b) For the purpose</quote> and inserting the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H401A1CA7193047EC9858AE4E5C38E131" style="OLC">
<subsection id="HF026AE18BDF048D98C02A92FAFF75154"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Accident
investigations</header>
<paragraph id="HBBA756464280452DADA99E7D98937D87"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For the
purpose</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>;
and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H099F6DE7A09249E1B3362120037E1560"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by adding at the
end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H259AAAAEA2F04AB1A431A2D18BB93C8F" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H66C45554FF2F48948DE44956A6132960"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Establishment of
National Mine Safety Board for certain accident investigations</header>
<subparagraph id="HCE95220C80BA44419917B6FDB32B4AFF"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">There is established an independent board
to be known as the National Mine Safety Board (in this paragraph referred to as
the <quote>Board</quote>) consisting of 5 members, including a Chairperson, who
shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the
Senate. Members of the Board shall be appointed on the basis of technical
qualification, professional standing, and demonstrated knowledge of mine
safety, accident reconstruction, safety engineering, and human factors. The
terms of office of members of the Board shall be 5 years. Any member of the
Board, including the Chairperson, may be removed for inefficiency, neglect of
duty, or malfeasance in office. The Chairperson shall be the Chief Executive
Officer of the Board and shall exercise the executive and administrative
functions of the Board.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE2B95CFA766547018FA4F50B351DF9F7"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Investigation of
certain accidents</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For any
accident involving 3 or more deaths, the Board shall conduct an independent
investigation to—</text>
<clause id="H3358C36C374044AD9855F867F48DD06B"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">assess and identify any factors that caused
the accident, including deficiencies in safety management systems, regulations,
enforcement, industry practices or guidelines, or organizational
failures;</text>
</clause><clause id="HDA458315D39A4541BC588F38EAEA8B9E"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>identify and
evaluate any contributing actions or inactions of—</text>
<subclause id="H1518749FC2534AAB82B0A61B1FE57762"><enum>(I)</enum><text>the
operator;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H2241B29D884F4F52B2C26021E00CF3E7"><enum>(II)</enum><text>any contractors
or other persons engaged in mining-related functions at the site;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="HEAB5630DE70A43C18ECD48A4BC42167B"><enum>(III)</enum><text>any State agency
with oversight responsibilities;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="HEB0ED30E86514477A21F9B310EFABEE9"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>any agency or
office within the Department of Labor; or</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H4BEF42C60F40488AA737C48262C4FC22"><enum>(V)</enum><text>any other person
or entity (including equipment manufacturers);</text>
</subclause></clause><clause id="H3D4584FD7D004EB9AD190986E11D04B8"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>review the
findings and conclusions of the investigation conducted by the Secretary under
paragraph (1);</text>
</clause><clause id="H09FCEED026A541E38E332BF2B115A415"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>prepare a report
that—</text>
<subclause id="HBE4C84C8DC57458E85F03020679B2D2D"><enum>(I)</enum><text>includes the
findings regarding the causal factors described in clauses (i) and (ii);</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H3B29991700B74E89917F4D5E32722952"><enum>(II)</enum><text>identifies any
strengths and weaknesses in the Secretary’s investigation; and</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H7F228EF3B6F84E259A4D1FAAE27216FF"><enum>(III)</enum><text>includes
recommendations, including interim recommendations where appropriate, to
industry, labor organizations, State and Federal agencies, or Congress,
regarding policy, regulatory, enforcement, administrative, or other changes,
which in the judgment of the Panel, would prevent a recurrence at other mines;
and</text>
</subclause></clause><clause id="H243E9C69AC044709BB5990425F0AC4D6"><enum>(v)</enum><text>publish such
findings and recommendations (excluding any portions which the Attorney General
requests that the Board withhold in relation to a criminal referral) and hold
public meetings to inform the mining community and families of affected miners
of the Board’s findings and recommendations.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H7C30D7F20EE546428E19C4E98B9FD120"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Hearings;
applicability of certain Federal law</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Board shall have the authority to
conduct public hearings or meetings, but shall not be subject to the Federal
Advisory Committee Act. All public hearings of the Board shall be subject to
the requirements under section 552b of title 5, United States Code.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HEE5C822DE59445A6AEFAF428B624A4E1"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Memorandum of
Understanding</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than
90 days after the appointment of the Board under subparagraph (A), the
Secretary and the Board shall conclude and publically issue a memorandum of
understanding that—</text>
<clause id="HE0BAE622EF9244F5961DB8B1400CF5DB"><enum>(i)</enum><text>outlines
administrative arrangements which will facilitate a coordination of efforts
between the Secretary and the Board, ensures that the Secretary's investigation
under paragraph (1) is not delayed or otherwise compromised by the activities
of the Board, and establishes a process to resolve any conflicts between such
investigations;</text>
</clause><clause id="HE7D890571BEA4BA7A8BF6A2D7B95080B"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>ensures that
Board members or staff will be able to participate in investigation activities
(such as mine inspections and interviews) related to the Secretary’s
investigation and will have full access to documents that are assembled or
produced in such investigation, and ensures that the Secretary will make all of
the authority available to such Secretary under this section, including
subpoena authority, to obtain information and witnesses which may be requested
by such Board; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H24250A23B13F471E80E112BC86084B30"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>establishes such
other arrangements as are necessary to implement this
paragraph.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></section><section id="H020C9D913D084065860CBD58E29B7CB9"><enum>102.</enum><header>Subpoena
authority and miner rights during investigations</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 103(b)(1) (as amended by section
101) (30 U.S.C. 813(b)) is further amended—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" id="H0DE39A9592C54CA785C53546CF96C9C8"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in the first sentence, by striking
<quote>the Secretary may</quote> and all that follows through
<quote>oaths.</quote> and inserting: <quote>the Secretary may sign and issue
subpoenas for the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of
information, including all relevant data, papers, books, documents, and items
of physical evidence, and administer oaths, and, after notice, hold public
hearings.</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H60AB1D2085CB4C9CA85D4AF0889CEDF4"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in the last
sentence by striking <quote>documents</quote> and inserting <quote>information,
including data, papers, books, documents, and items of physical
evidence</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE1CA958DA08A4FA6BA2EA4B3CE7E6165" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>103.</enum><header>Designation of miner
representative</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 103(f)
(30 U.S.C. 813(f)) is amended by inserting before the last sentence the
following: <quote>If any miner is entrapped or otherwise prevented as the
result of an accident in such mine from designating such a representative
directly, such miner’s closest relative may act on behalf of such miner in
designating such a representative. If any miner is not currently working in
such mine as the result of an accident in such mine, but would be currently
working in such mine but for such accident, such miner may designate such a
representative.</quote>.</text>
</section><section id="HB23EF364859D45EFB526B5DA3F187839"><enum>104.</enum><header>Additional
amendments relating to inspections and investigations</header>
<subsection id="HC7A5D42B2B0E45E68422D2E9D089FAA1"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Hours of
inspections</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 103(a)
(30 U.S.C. 813(a)) is amended by inserting after the third sentence the
following: <quote>Such inspections shall be conducted during the various shifts
and days of the week during which miners are normally present in the mine to
ensure that the protections of this Act are afforded to all miners working all
shifts.</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" id="H7EC7B65C2C604A10A9BC40071C8D57F9"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Injury and
illness reporting</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section
103(d) (30 U.S.C. 813(d)) is amended by striking the last sentence and
inserting the following: <quote>The records to be kept and made available by
the operator of the mine shall include man-hours worked and occupational
injuries and illnesses, and shall be maintained separately for each mine and be
reported at a frequency determined by the Secretary, but at least annually.
Operators shall be responsible for reporting all miners working at such mine
under their direct supervision.</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" id="H342EFD51DDFA4DD3A597B4248DB1AD9C"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Conflict of
interest in the representation of miners</header><text>Section 103(a) (30
U.S.C. 813(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following: <quote>During
inspections and investigations under this section, and during any litigation
under this Act, no attorney shall represent or purport to represent both the
operator of a coal or other mine and any other individual, unless such
individual has willfully and voluntarily waived all actual and reasonably
foreseeable conflicts of interest resulting from such representation. The
Secretary is authorized to take such actions as the Secretary considers
appropriate to ascertain whether such individual has willfully and voluntarily
waived all such conflicts of interest. If the Secretary finds that such an
individual cannot be represented adequately by such an attorney due to such
conflicts of interest, the Secretary may petition the appropriate United States
District Court which shall have jurisdiction to disqualify such attorney as
counsel to such individual in the matter. The Secretary may make such a motion
as part of an ongoing related civil action or as a miscellaneous
action.</quote>.</text>
</subsection></section><enum>II</enum><header>Enhanced
enforcement authority</header>
<section commented="no" id="H7F0C2B2F31954DFFAF80BBFEEB02522C"><enum>201.</enum><header>Significant and
substantial violations</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline"><italic></italic>Section 104(d)(1) (30
U.S.C. 814(d)(1)) is amended—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" id="HE5D6BEF640034CD7A1CBA1C46E7ABA72"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in the first
sentence—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="HD567600E8CCB4F24BE3748455C44AABB"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>any mandatory health or safety standard</quote> and inserting <quote>any
provision of this Act, including any mandatory health or safety standard or
regulation promulgated under this Act</quote>; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HCD41CDD263344ED991A5E316CEABFBB9"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>such mandatory health or safety standards</quote> and inserting
<quote>such provisions, regulations, or mandatory health or safety
standards</quote>;</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H963C318238884068B60A89CD4E9D1CD1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in the second
sentence, by striking <quote>any mandatory health or safety standard</quote>
and inserting <quote>any provision of this Act, including any mandatory health
or safety standard or regulation promulgated under this Act,</quote>;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H46DB9329861C46DDB68A805F73B1EF09"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting after the first sentence the
following: <quote>For purposes of this Act, a violation of a provision of this
Act, including any mandatory health or safety standard or regulation
promulgated under this Act, is of such nature as could significantly and
substantially contribute to the cause and effect of a safety or health hazard
if there is a substantial probability such violation could result in serious
injury, illness, or death.</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></section><section commented="no" id="HC2528BF00E1046D3823DC3F08A12FA2F"><enum>202.</enum><header>A pattern of
recurring noncompliance or accidents</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 104(e) (30 U.S.C. 814(e)) is amended
to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H726DD59B4A23468FBC17226810D189DC" style="OLC">
<subsection commented="no" id="HF5470DE4DC304438B56553A63D44606C"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Pattern of
recurring noncompliance or accidents</header>
<paragraph commented="no" id="H69950F9FC35445F5B223E725BEE24A60"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Determination of
pattern status</header>
<subparagraph id="HE95FDB6E148C490BA67F854E96AA0D5B"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Each operator of a
coal or other mine shall be evaluated based on the regulations promulgated
under subparagraph (B) to determine whether it meets the criteria for placement
in pattern status set forth in such regulations.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HDB23D93780BC499488DA6A67E24BE1F4"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Regulations
establishing criteria for placement in pattern status</header><text>The
Secretary shall issue regulations establishing criteria for determining whether
to place a mine on pattern status under this subsection. Such criteria shall be
based on a numerical Safe Performance Index shall evaluate mines according the
following factors, each assigned appropriate weight as determined by the
Secretary:</text>
<clause commented="no" id="H910F529310534212A084C946682B9B4F"><enum>(i)</enum><text>The incidence rate
of accidents resulting in no work days lost.</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" id="H6988304EC59441A681CB2C4E0FD67BC1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>The incidence
rate of nonfatal accidents resulting in work days lost.</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" id="H1A3BEF39AAE74521B12AF9B427B035C7"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>A severity
measure for all accidents.</text>
</clause><clause id="H66E7DDB4E82F48BD933E9C232A16D1E2"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>The number of
citations for violations issued per 100 inspection hours.</text>
</clause><clause id="HABC97448994F499CA44B4B0B01848949"><enum>(v)</enum><text>The number of
citations issued for significant and substantial violations per 100 inspection
hours.</text>
</clause><clause id="HDB2178CC797B442392BF5F32DCAD3F72"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>The number of
orders issued per 1,000 inspection hours.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HDB32742CAB614E049BB3FF2995F743AC"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Mine
categories</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A Safe Performance
Index shall be determined and maintained for each mine, according to the
following classifications of mine type:</text>
<clause id="HC44E6B0E55C24BE8A2EC05E2614A8120"><enum>(i)</enum><text>underground coal
mines;</text>
</clause><clause id="H14B4967C312744DCA461C21A93F14A3D"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>surface coal
mines;</text>
</clause><clause id="HAFCA2B155C274707BEB880B394AF347B"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>underground
metal mines;</text>
</clause><clause id="HFFF3C634520C4104A0CD5642F062D133"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>surface metal
mines; and</text>
</clause><clause id="HD94E2826575A4BE280B530B8D9CD8702"><enum>(v)</enum><text>non-metal
mines.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H57926C8AFAA14F239F1CC44137B15594"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Mitigating
circumstances</header><text>Notwithstanding the criteria established under
subparagraph (B), if, after conducting an assessment of a coal or other mine
that otherwise qualifies for pattern status, the Secretary certifies that there
are mitigating circumstances wherein the operator is in the process of reducing
elevated risks to the health or safety of miners and is implementing sufficient
measures to ensure such elevated risk will not recur, the Secretary may deem
such mine to not be in pattern status under this subsection. The Secretary
shall issue any such certification of such mitigating circumstances that would
preclude the placement of a mine in pattern status as a written finding, which
shall, not later than 10 days after the certification is made, be—</text>
<clause commented="no" id="H41EFD23C651F4F68AE0845865863A7FE"><enum>(i)</enum><text>published in the
Federal Register; and</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" id="H10EDF866081C46AA939C0E1A72358F41"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>transmitted to
the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HD2E9C75E892E435186A95D0FAB0BC44C"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Actions
following placement of mine in pattern status</header><text>For any coal or
other mine that is in pattern status, the Secretary shall—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="HBADFFD8B92BA4FC680B82B6EB84AE641"><enum>(A)</enum><text>notify the
operator of such mine that the mine is being placed in pattern status;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HD218DBB85E8C458A90D2C1983BDCDE65"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">issue an order requiring such operator to
cause all persons to be withdrawn from such mine while the Secretary conducts a
complete inspection of the mine to identify any hazards or violations that
could be immediately harmful to the safety or health of the miners;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H960192101C5748CFB6A24B36578FFE5F"><enum>(C)</enum><text>require, as a
condition of reopening the mine, that—</text>
<clause id="HD99057B241F44FA08FB6BBC566604092"><enum>(i)</enum><text>all violations or
other conditions in the mine identified by the Secretary have been or are being
fully abated or corrected; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H14E72D088C6A4EBC82568214E942D105"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the operator file
a remediation plan as described in paragraph (3); and</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H6F55502673514258BF83FCB62DD2BC28"><enum>(D)</enum><text>require that the
number of regular inspections of such mine required under section 103 be
increased by an amount determined by the Secretary to be sufficient to ensure
that all hazardous conditions have been addressed and that a program is in
place to prevent a reoccurrence of such conditions.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HE9EDCFEF4E0F4A728FBF65730A1F5C30"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Remediation
plan</header>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="HD1EECD81B5CA409181029FD977DF2A94"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>An operator of a mine placed in pattern status shall
submit to the Secretary a remediation plan for approval by the Secretary
to—</text>
<clause commented="no" id="HB5E4C0321BB8447095D855D1AB0D3C77"><enum>(i)</enum><text>institute and
implement an effective health and safety management program that specifically
addresses the issues that gave rise to the placement of the mine in pattern
status; and</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" id="HED8765987E73489F9687F9C3F7541E07"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>facilitate any
effort by the Secretary to communicate directly with miners employed at the
mine outside the presence of the mine operators or its agents, for the purpose
of obtaining information about mine conditions, health and safety practices,
advising miners of their rights under this Act, and to assist the efforts of
the operator in developing or implementing the remediation plan.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H425E482AABAD4B89821583C2DB99FF54"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Expedited
review</header><text>The operator’s remediation plan shall be evaluated for
approval by the Secretary on an expedited basis, in accordance with section
105(d).</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H7B20EBBAC0464256B4F7551C5B217738"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Plan dispute
resolution</header>
<clause commented="no" id="HCEEC9288C1AA42D2A4385A446E7CA2EC"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Any dispute between the Secretary and an operator with
respect to the content of the operator’s plan under paragraph (3) or any
refusal by the Secretary to approve such plan shall be resolved on an expedited
basis.</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" id="HB1A2EB19DF7247B18A314BF2C3990030"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Disputes</header><text>In
the event of a dispute or refusal to approve a plan, the Secretary shall issue
a citation which shall be immediately referred to a Commission. The Secretary
and the operator shall submit all relevant material regarding the dispute to
the Commission within 15 days of the date of the referral. The Commission shall
render his or her decision with respect to the plan content dispute within 15
days of the receipt of the submission.</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" id="H31DA270755364B29912B15F662943884"><enum>(iii)</enum><header>Further
appeals</header><text>Any party adversely affected by a decision under this
subparagraph may pursue all further available appeal rights with respect to the
situation involved, except that inclusion of the disputed provision in the plan
will not be limited by such appeal unless such relief is requested by the
operator and permitted by the Commission.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HAA22ECF80D3E44ECBF0E82478F5A8260"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Performance
evaluation</header>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="H221A69266DD94C9689ABCCB85F435D8C"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Performance
benchmarks</header><text>The Secretary shall evaluate the performance of each
operator whose mine is in pattern status every 90 days during which the mine is
producing and determine if, for such 90-day period—</text>
<clause commented="no" id="HAC775FDBDEB74E07B3883403D652389B"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the rate of
citations for such mine for significant and substantial violations—</text>
<subclause commented="no" id="HC39E919ACAEF444F94AF34FAEAED7063"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">is, on average, in the top performing 35th
percentile of such rates, respectively, for all mines of similar size and type;
and</text>
</subclause><subclause commented="no" id="H4C2F770ACD6540818085ACFC4CC3FB53"><enum>(II)</enum><text>has been reduced
by 70 percent since such mine was placed on pattern status; and</text>
</subclause></clause><clause commented="no" id="H820772FBC1824AE6B5A3C9CD1DD8AD8C"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the accident and
injury rates at such mine are, on average, in the top performing 35th
percentile of such rates, respectively, for all mines of similar size and
type.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H8978E38679514A1690A41523519EA872"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Reissuance of
production limitation</header><text>If an operator being evaluated fails to
achieve the performance benchmarks described in subparagraph (A), the Secretary
may re-impose the conditions under paragraph (2)(B) to remedy any recurring
conditions that led to pattern status under this subsection, and may require
modification of the remediation plan, as necessary, to protect the health and
safety of miners.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H009408A22AFF4BA0ABF9722008EB8E47"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Termination of
pattern status</header>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="H71CE8C0D8AA74341912702BCDFDE90C5"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Performance
benchmarks</header><text>The Secretary shall remove an operator of a coal or
other mine from pattern status if, for a period of 180 days during which the
mine is producing—</text>
<clause commented="no" id="H4F2F200F650C4E8D93CCA44AC793816A"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the rate of
citations for such mine for significant and substantial violations—</text>
<subclause commented="no" id="HB2FDFCB566B1439D87BAAB4C90C5611D"><enum>(I)</enum><text>is, on average, in
the top performing 25th percentile of such rates, respectively, for all mines
of similar size and type; and</text>
</subclause><subclause commented="no" id="H5B2ACC5ADB5346A4890F9A9280B171F8"><enum>(II)</enum><text>has been reduced
by 70 percent since such mine was placed on pattern status; and</text>
</subclause></clause><clause commented="no" id="HBA66AC4CBBE34122938B24A90E9A15E8"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the accident and
injury rates at such mine are, on average, in the top performing 25th
percentile of such rates, respectively, for all mines of similar size and
type.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HAEC50A0631964DA59F1E6229EBF6F0E8"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Continuation of
pattern status</header><text>Should the mine operator fail to meet the
performance benchmarks described in subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall
extend the mine’s placement in pattern status until such benchmarks are
achieved.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H3D1ED20B03364A2286D22EF04EBD5FCA"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Expedited
hearing</header><text>The operator of a mine whose mine exceeds the safe
performance index threshold under this section shall have the right to an
expedited hearing, within 10 days of providing notice to the Commission to
contest the validity of any enforcement action that has contributed to the mine
being identified under this section, notwithstanding whether the enforcement
action was previously the subject of a notice of contest pursuant to section
105 or has been deemed a final order of the Commission.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H35ACF0FF71B5405AA0828B8C0B37D36D"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Limitation on
application</header><text>The provisions of this subsection shall not apply,
for a period of 12 months, following the acquisition of a mine by a
purchaser.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HD3B9D4DCE77E409CAA7022BAD23141D6"><enum>(8)</enum><header>Regulations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of the Mine Safety Accountability and Improved Protection Act, the
Secretary shall issue proposed regulations to implement the provisions of this
subsection. Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of such Act, the
Secretary shall issue final regulations to implement this subsection.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H15FCB7362C0546F0BFA514F1758D21D0"><enum>(9)</enum><header>Public database
and information</header><text>The Secretary shall establish and maintain a
publically available electronic database containing the data used to determine
pattern status for all coal or other mines. Such database shall be searchable,
shall have the capacity to provide comparative data about the health and safety
at mines of similar sizes and types. The Secretary shall also make publicly
available—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="HEAED6463495B425C96627569F706FCCA"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a list of all mines the Secretary places in
pattern status, updated not less frequently than quarterly; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HF0D57D19F80240A68D7F8864520DEF9F"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the metrics,
including percentile information, used for the purposes of the performance
benchmarks and threshold criteria described in paragraphs (4) and (5).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H988CDCC88EFD44749BA142229ACFC406"><enum>(10)</enum><header>Operator fees
for additional inspections</header>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="H6EBBB8F4293E469C8AE3DF81050BE8D1"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Assessment and
collection</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Beginning 120 days
after the date of enactment of the Mine Safety Accountability and Improved
Protection Act, the Secretary shall assess and collect fees, in accordance with
this paragraph, from each coal or other mine in pattern status for the costs of
additional inspections under this subsection. The Secretary shall issue, by
rule, a schedule of fees to be assessed against coal or other mines of varying
types and sizes, and shall collect and assess amounts under this paragraph
based on the schedule.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H185EA7C90B3A4D159A4D5D8761B953DC"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Mines in Pattern
Status Inspection Fund</header><text>There is established in the Treasury of
the United States a separate account for the deposit of fees collected under
this paragraph to be known as the Mines in Pattern Status Inspection Fund. The
Secretary shall deposit any fees collected pursuant to subparagraph (A) into
the fund.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H6306835FA5FA416DBD213B4D0742E38E"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Use</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Amounts in the Mines in Pattern Status
Inspection Fund shall be available to the Secretary, as provided in
subparagraph (D), for making expenditures to carry out the additional
inspections required under paragraph (2)(D).</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H70EFA8254EAB4792961D17BABE5E124A"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Authorization of
appropriations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In addition to
any other amounts appropriated, there is authorized to be appropriated from the
Mines in Pattern Status Inspection Fund to the Assistant Secretary for Mine
Safety and Health for each fiscal year in which fees are collected under
<internal-xref idref="H79B906048C0E4D1E84AD963BDA0F96F4" legis-path="30107.(b)">subparagraph (A)</internal-xref> an amount equal to the
total amount collected during the previous fiscal year from fees assessed
pursuant to this paragraph. Such amounts are authorized to remain available
until expended.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H58F2324BA59947BD87EF48C73ECC48D6"><enum>(E)</enum><header>Crediting and
Availability of Fees</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Fees
authorized and collected under this paragraph shall be available for obligation
only to the extent and in the amount provided in advance in appropriations
Acts.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section id="HD7947C7C7B70459B961BBF3C07E3ED4F"><enum>203.</enum><header>Injunctive
Authority</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 108(a)(2) is
amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HB2315BA2C82E4A8AB9DF9CCF712E06C7" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="HF5ACEC2D147E4471AAA7030BF58ED006" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary may institute a civil action
for relief, including permanent or temporary injunction, restraining order, or
any other appropriate order in the district court of the United States for the
district in which the coal or other mine is located or in which the operator of
such mine has his principal office whenever the Secretary believes that the
operator of a coal or other mine is engaged in a pattern of violation of this
Act, or of any mandatory health or safety standards of this Act, or regulation
promulgated under this Act, which constitutes a continuing hazard to the health
or safety of
miners.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section id="H2708603282094D5BBDE616760755E45E"><enum>204.</enum><header>Revocation of
approval of plans</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 105
(30 U.S.C. 815) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H88CF0D4202A94BB9BB34FF2972329E4F" style="OLC">
<subsection id="HD9578090F48044E0A96757B8E9D6BC54"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Revocation of
approval of plans</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If the
Secretary finds that any program or plan of an operator, or part thereof, that
was approved by the Secretary under this Act is based on inaccurate information
or that circumstances that existed when such plan was approved have materially
changed and that continued operation of such mine under such plan constitutes a
hazard to the safety or health of miners, the Secretary shall revoke the
approval of such program or plan and provide the operator with a detailed
explanation containing the specific reasons that approval was
revoked.</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section commented="no" id="HD1177FCABBA740D8B05831E6E1EA6E0C"><enum>205.</enum><header>Challenging
decisions related to the approval of a coal or other mine plan</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 105 (30 U.S.C. 815) is further
amended by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HFEDF795AF5EE48FFBCA385E04E8DA58A" style="OLC">
<subsection commented="no" id="H6010DB89EAA641EA914291FD20A5BD05"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Process for
approval of and challenging decisions related to the approval of a coal or
other mine plan</header>
<paragraph commented="no" id="H8871D72849704CAA99E026167164FD0C"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Proposed
programs, plans, and plan revision process</header>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="H57F4BCA14E4D42F58166C4BDCA9DE085"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Submission for
approval</header><text>Any operator’s proposed program, plan, or plan revision,
which is subject to approval by the Secretary under this Act, and implementing
standards and regulations, shall be submitted in writing to the appropriate
district manager of the Mine Safety and Health Administration (in this
subsection referred to as the <quote>district manager</quote>). When revisions
to a previously approved plan are proposed by a mine operator, only proposed
revised pages, maps, and sketches are required to be submitted, unless
otherwise specified by the district manager. Written comments may be submitted
by representatives of the miners relative to plan or revisions submitted. Such
program, plan, or plan revision shall be reviewed and either approved or denied
approval by the district manager, pursuant to the following provisions:</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HFD71B40835A5456886C6C0CEBD4226D3"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Notification of
approval or denial of proposed program, plan or plan revision</header><text>The
district manager shall notify the mine operator, in writing, of the approval or
denial of the proposed program, plan or plan revision. A copy of the district
manager’s written notification shall be mailed to the representative of miners
by the district manager.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H607E32C89E61466FB9A94C58D29033E6"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Failure of the
district manager to provide written notification</header><text>If the district
manager fails to notify a mine operator, in writing, of the approval or denial
of any proposed program or plan within 30 days of the mine operator’s
submission, such proposed program or plan shall be deemed approved. If a
district manager fails to notify a mine operator, in writing, of the approval
or denial of approval of any proposed plan revision within 7 days of the mine
operator’s submission, such proposed program or plan shall be deemed
approved.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HEA16B0187CA64786A170C45766E62699"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Specification of
deficiencies and recommended changes</header><text>When approval of any
proposed program, plan or plan revision is denied, the district manager’s
written notification shall—</text>
<clause commented="no" id="H00C9B3418E4A43F1A5F1B030D01EEF7F"><enum>(i)</enum><text>specify the
deficiencies in the mine operator’s proposed program, plan, or plan
revision;</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" id="H31EEFB98F1804CDB8BD120C67BE9B542"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>recommend changes
to eliminate the specified deficiencies in the proposed program, plan, or plan
revision; and</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" id="H5487F2AC6A114948AFC836AF4F9384CD"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>provide an
opportunity for the operator to schedule a meeting with the district manager to
discuss any specified deficiencies in the proposed program, plan, or plan
revision.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HF09BCEAC1BFD48B39DFA7F93545458A2"><enum>(E)</enum><header>Process
following meeting</header><text>Following any meeting between the operator and
the district manager regarding any proposed program, plan, or plan revision,
the district manager shall provide the mine operator with a reasonable time
period to resubmit the proposed program, plan, or plan revision.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HA875691A9AF24072ADE7DDD2A5EA70EC"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Plan dispute
resolution</header>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="H5A51DD551583457C80FA1F3C70B6737E"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Contest</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In the event a district manager denies
approval of an operator’s proposed program, plan, or plan revision, the
operator may contest the decision of the district manager to the Secretary. Any
dispute between the Secretary and an operator with respect to the content of
any program, plan or plan revision of the mine operator shall be resolved on an
expedited basis.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H477822840DB748A783AE0F4A88D491C9"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Disputes</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In the event of a dispute described in
subparagraph (A), any technical citation issued by the Secretary shall be
immediately referred to a Commission. The Secretary and the mine operator shall
submit all relevant material regarding the dispute to the Commission within 15
days of the date of the referral. The Commission shall render its decision with
respect to the plan content dispute within 15 days of the receipt of the
submission.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H019F18173E4C4BCC85F6F64D2C86BEBB"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Further
appeals</header><text>A party adversely affected by a decision under
subparagraph (B) may pursue all further available appeal rights with respect to
the citation involved, except that inclusion of the disputed provision of the
plan shall not be limited by such appeal unless such relief is requested by the
operator and permitted by the
Commission.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><enum>III</enum><header>Penalties</header>
<section id="H759D1B419C0448BD93386FD21356743D"><enum>301.</enum><header>Civil
penalties</header>
<subsection commented="no" id="HD0C4711051724791A1863ECEA76EF1C9"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Maximum civil
penalties</header><text>Section 110(a)(1) (30 U.S.C. 820(a)(1)) is
amended—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" id="H7583A4FA3A264956BC9F37C2E1F8D878"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by inserting
<quote>including any regulation promulgated under this Act,</quote> after
<quote>this Act,</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H3407F5CF7C9C41748E95610074D2FA85"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>violation.</quote> and inserting <quote>violation, except that, in the
case of a significant and substantial violation, the penalty shall be not more
than $150,000 for each such violation.</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="H5A8B09DA5B4B4A4A8D7765F5E47CC752"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Increased civil
penalties during pattern status</header><text>Section 110(b) (30 U.S.C. 820(b))
is amended by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HDF5644514EAF4C1B8EB716A906883FCB" style="OLC">
<paragraph commented="no" id="H8DFC60CB64354E1DB16E4225E422DDC0" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Notwithstanding any other provision
of this Act, an operator of a coal or other mine that is in pattern status
under section 104(e) and that fails to meet the performance benchmarks set
forth by the Secretary under section 104(e)(5)(A) during any performance review
of the mine following the first performance review shall be assessed an
increased civil penalty for any violation of this Act, including any mandatory
health or safety standard or regulation promulgated under this Act. Such
increased penalty shall be twice the amount that would otherwise be assessed
for the violation under this Act, including the regulations promulgated under
this Act, subject to the maximum civil penalty established for the violation
under this Act. This paragraph shall apply to violations at such mine that
occur during the period beginning after the failed performance review following
the first performance review, and ending when the Secretary determines at a
subsequent performance review that the mine meets the performance benchmarks
under section
104(e)(5)(A).</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="H9A3C5A23B6E74BA6B6EBB6A42A7286C5"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Civil penalty
for retaliation</header><text>Section 110(a) (30 U.S.C. 820(a)) is further
amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H043C22B3860D42DC935420C2F347917B"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by redesignating
paragraph (4) as paragraph (5); and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HEBB4750537594ABCB98AD752FF609883"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by inserting after
paragraph (3) the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HADD70C1269A24F3AB911E29A7BE7FD97" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H4662C4CCCD424B54B93B651924FD7D58" indent="up1"><enum>(4)</enum><text>If any person violates section
105(c), the Secretary shall propose, and the Commission shall assess, a civil
penalty of not less than $10,000 or more than $100,000 for the first occurrence
of such violation, and not less than $20,000 or more than $200,000 for any
subsequent violation, during any 3-year
period.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H71F3EAEE5BC8400EBD5495990265E3EC"><enum>302.</enum><header>Civil and
criminal liability of officers, directors, and agents</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 110(c) (30 U.S.C. 820(c)) is amended
to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H57803BA8B18447359A727F200E1AE7C7" style="OLC">
<subsection commented="no" id="H3E0B72B50037466D9ED98423446CAFEB"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Civil and
criminal liability of officers, directors, and agents</header><text>Whenever an
operator violates a provision of this Act, including any mandatory health or
safety standard or regulation promulgated under this Act, or willfully violates
or fails or refuses to comply with any order issued under this Act or any order
incorporated in a final decision issued under this Act, any director, officer,
or agent of such operator who willfully authorized, ordered, or carried out
such violation, failure, or refusal, or any policy or practice that contributed
to the occurrence of a fatality shall be subject to the same civil penalties,
fines, and imprisonment that may be imposed upon a person under this
section.</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section id="HB2AE94E005C643849E3D9E3A77024709"><enum>303.</enum><header>Criminal
penalties</header>
<subsection id="H4BA36422B48F495595554A69C8C31AD9"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Intent
requirements for criminal penalty standards</header><text>Section 110(d) (30
U.S.C. 820(d)) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="HD826C349F47643A0BE07A87F6E79851D"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking <quote>$250,000, or by
imprisonment for not more than one year</quote> and inserting
<quote>$1,000,000, or by imprisonment for not more than 5 years</quote>;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H5392C89C64124150A6298A672C356563"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>$500,000, or by imprisonment for not more than five years</quote> and
inserting <quote>$2,000,000, or by imprisonment for not more than 10
years</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H7EAD53C981264CE6805FEAD7064A538B"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Criminal penalty
for retaliation</header><text>Section 110(d) is further amended—</text>
<paragraph id="HC5E7F3675C27415F91CFF98783EF4890"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by inserting
<quote>(1)</quote> before <quote>Any operator</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H46E594A41DE84410BB6A5DDE4CF68546"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by adding at the
end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H82D684EB532940119D8EE2A22C36148C" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H9E661AD19D534379ADC3CD6312F0210B" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Whoever willfully takes any action
that is directly or indirectly harmful to any person, including action that
interferes with the lawful employment or livelihood of any person, because such
person has provided an authorized representative of the Secretary or another
law enforcement officer with any information related to the existence of a
health or safety violation or an unhealthful or unsafe condition, policy, or
practice under this Act shall be fined under title 18, United States Code,
imprisoned for not more than 10 years, or
both.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H5ACDB39CAA844F39A7AFCDD2EAAA3B93"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Advance notice
of inspections</header>
<paragraph id="H25B08611D0934E8F82F6D57102A2A6B6"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Section 110(e) (30 U.S.C. 820(e)) is amended—</text>
<subparagraph id="H079B5359FD71490DB1AD15BA68C5923C"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>Unless</quote> and inserting <quote>(1) Unless</quote>; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE4A3C4E109C44E4091B88DADF10DC414"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by adding at the
end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1417CCF45127456FA635BA5FE75E214F" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H2085CA25DBFC47409918961CE1277812" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Unless otherwise authorized by this
Act, any operator, agent or contractor of any operator, miner, inspector,
employee of the Administration, or State mine inspector, that willfully gives,
causes to give, or attempts to give or cause to give advance notice of any
inspection to be conducted under this Act shall be fined under title 18, United
States Code, imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or
both.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H7C88A14503DB4273897B635A22F35FBA"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Posting of
advance notice penalties</header><text>Section 109 (30 U.S.C. 819) is amended
by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H0B013D767F4C49B79EF85EED6B0D8D9D" style="OLC">
<subsection id="HB1657E0AEDCE431FB83B6C4108148175"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Posting of
advance notice penalties</header><text>Each operator of a coal or other mine
shall post, on the bulletin board described in subsection (a) and in a
conspicuous place near each staffed entrance onto the mine property, a notice
stating, in a form and manner to be prescribed by the Secretary—</text>
<paragraph id="H4BB38F5DFA034B12BF26B3D50351F17F"><enum>(1)</enum><text>that giving,
causing to give, or attempting to give or cause to give advance notice of any
inspection to be conducted under this Act is unlawful pursuant to section
110(e); and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HD9696A6387444A878DB95602AD9865B0"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the maximum
penalties for a violation under such
subsection.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="HBB14B2B37E2F479BAE89A03CE4380B3A"><enum>304.</enum><header>Conference
process for appealing penalties; delinquent payments and prejudgment
interest</header>
<subsection commented="no" id="H81D50B1D657F426686C02C41C5DCD15B"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Conference
Process</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 110 (30
U.S.C. 820) is amended by—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" id="HE5E092273D15494999043F0920CD006E"><enum>(1)</enum><text>redesignating
subsection (l) as subsection (m); and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HE31764E7D60E41D9B682828103C0FA5E"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by inserting after
subsection (k) the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HAA7AA6AF497A495B854EEE905C635A07" style="OLC">
<subsection commented="no" id="H90CA6E845097405F9B32F91057D69812"><enum>(l)</enum><header>Operator
Conference Process</header>
<paragraph commented="no" id="HBF6D10A46E50441BA8A73F965CD704AF"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Right to
review</header><text>Prior to the assessment of any penalty assessed under this
section, the operator shall be afforded the opportunity to review with a
designated Conference Litigation Representative of the Secretary each citation
and order issued during an inspection.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H2A2E8458B1674D929F8BE13AE2868850"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Request for
conference; timberline</header><text>Upon receipt of a citation or order issued
under this Act the operator shall have 15 days to request the review described
in paragraph (1) of any citation or order issues during an inspection. The
conference request must include a brief statement of the reason why each
citation or order should be afforded a conference. Within 15 days following
receipt of a request by the operator the Conference Litigation Representative
shall schedule a meeting to review the citations or orders subject to the
request. The Conference Litigation Representative shall consider all relevant
information submitted in a timely manner with respect to the violations or
orders.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HA9F7B8CC428149DCACF1A9D2D6B029B7"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Decision of
conference litigation representative</header><text>Within 15 days following the
conduct of conference, the Conference Litigation Representative shall issue a
decision affirming, modifying, or vacating the citations or orders that were
the subject of the conference. The decision shall be communicated to the
operator, the issuing inspector, and the district manager responsible for the
district within which the mine is located. In making a decision, the Conference
Litigation Representative shall consult, as needed, with the Director of the
Mine Safety and Health Administration, Office of Accountability, to which each
Conference Litigation Representative shall
report.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HBD7AAD1E40094C27B8F396DB28B43D26"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Pre-Final order
interest</header><text>Section 110(j) (30 U.S.C. 820(j)) is amended by striking
the second and third sentences and inserting the following: <quote>Pre-final
order interest on such penalties shall begin to accrue on the date the operator
contests a citation issued under this Act, including any mandatory health or
safety standard or regulation promulgated under this Act, and shall end upon
the issuance of the final order. Such pre-final order interest shall be
calculated at the current underpayment rate determined by the Secretary of the
Treasury pursuant to section 6621 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and
shall be compounded daily. Post-final order interest shall begin to accrue 30
days after the date a final order of the Commission or the court is issued, and
shall be charged at the rate of 8 percent per annum.</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H6684A74A2D0E44CEBDD84AF190CCC7F4"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Ensuring payment
of penalties</header>
<paragraph id="H31C46F54FF6349F789995F789376092E"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Amendment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 110 (30 U.S.C. 820) is further
amended by adding after subsection (l) (as added by subsection (a)) the
following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE1595AEB1B0B4F4989AFEF6A3B5DA66A" style="OLC">
<subsection id="HAD23C28E3C134587B57F6792C55F3966"><enum>(m)</enum><header>Ensuring
payments of penalties</header>
<paragraph id="HEF706FC710AD493A9733E160C59DEC07"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Delinquent
payment letter</header><text>If the operator of a coal or other mine fails to
pay any civil penalty assessment that has become a final order of the
Commission or a court within 90 days after such assessment became a final
order, the Secretary shall send the operator a letter advising the operator of
the consequences under this subsection of such failure to pay. The letter shall
also advise the operator of the opportunity to enter into or modify a payment
plan with the Secretary based upon a demonstrated inability to pay, the
procedure for entering into such plan, and the consequences of not entering
into or not complying with such plan.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H23313081F1E24C4BAC623DBCFB42287D"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Withdrawal
orders following failure to pay</header><text>If an operator that receives a
letter under paragraph (1) has not paid the assessment by the date that is 180
days after such assessment became a final order and has not entered into a
payment plan with the Secretary, the Secretary shall issue an order requiring
such operator to cause all persons, except those referred to in section 104(c),
to be withdrawn from, and to be prohibited from entering, the mine that is
covered by the final order described in paragraph (1), until the operator pays
such assessment in full (including interest and administrative costs) or enters
into a payment plan with the Secretary. If such operator enters into a payment
plan with the Secretary and at any time fails to comply with the terms
specified in such payment plan, the Secretary shall issue an order requiring
such operator to cause all persons, except those referred to in section 104(c),
to be withdrawn from the mine that is covered by such final order, and to be
prohibited from entering such mine, until the operator rectifies the
noncompliance with the payment plan in the manner specified in such payment
plan.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H5B2E0E07631C444DB1AD5B4277DAF6C0"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Applicability
and effective date</header><text>The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall
apply to all unpaid civil penalty assessments under the Federal Mine Safety and
Health Act of 1977 (30 U.S.C. 801 et seq.), except that, for any unpaid civil
penalty assessment that became a final order of the Commission or a court
before the date of enactment of this Act, the time periods under section 110(n)
of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (as amended) (30 U.S.C.
820(n)) shall be calculated as beginning on the date of enactment of this Act
instead of on the date of the final order.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><enum>IV</enum><header>Worker Rights and
Protections</header>
<section id="HBFB25A65D64D419B80C273295C0CE048"><enum>401.</enum><header>Protection from
retaliation</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 105(c) (30
U.S.C. 815(c)) is amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H047CFB6AF0A24CA2B880C2F8ACC2628B" style="OLC">
<subsection id="HB944FB7A6D094DD4A659DAB7D83E4DFF"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Protection from
retaliation</header>
<paragraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H72B60E0E3E7A46DA91BBD5CB800D79AF"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Retaliation
prohibited</header>
<subparagraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H8656CF5C2E674F0E9C35F1C52648DFCF"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Retaliation for
complaint or testimony</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">No
person shall discharge or in any manner discriminate against or cause to be
discharged or cause discrimination against or otherwise interfere with the
exercise of the statutory rights of any miner or other employee of an operator,
representative of miners, or applicant for employment, because—</text>
<clause id="HFA7B0C6146A94CC1BBC800B7AD60AA41"><enum>(i)</enum><text>such miner or
other employee, representative, or applicant for employment—</text>
<subclause id="H73CCFE99DF45405182F6BBF7A2F00560"><enum>(I)</enum><text>has filed or made
a complaint, or is about to file or make a complaint, including a complaint
notifying the operator or the operator’s agent, or the representative of the
miners at the coal or other mine of an alleged danger or safety or health
violation in a coal or other mine;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="HD5704C61EF6C4E2FA655A4CA2BAFFFAB"><enum>(II)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">instituted or caused to be instituted, or
is about to institute or cause to be instituted, any proceeding under or
related to this Act or has testified or is about to testify in any such
proceeding or because of the exercise by such miner or other employee,
representative, or applicant for employment on behalf of him or herself or
others of any right afforded by this Act;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H982425ADA8B041EBA6A34255A7A0FA2B"><enum>(III)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">has testified or is about to testify before
Congress or any Federal or State proceeding related to safety or health in a
coal or other mine; or</text>
</subclause><subclause id="HA48F31AE4F024503936FFAB1D88D64BD"><enum>(IV)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">refused to violate any provision of this
Act; or</text>
</subclause></clause><clause id="H7759C2EAAD7842A88DD47D3132283C78"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">such miner is the subject of medical
evaluations and potential transfer under a standard published pursuant to
section 101.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HD955A26A9B4D4320866985E2E2BB4227"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Retaliation for
refusal to perform duties</header>
<clause id="HBF8E048857F54ADE960D232E60690192"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">No person shall
discharge or in any manner discriminate against a miner or other employee of an
operator for refusing to perform the miner’s or other employee’s duties if the
miner or other employee has a good-faith and reasonable belief that performing
such duties would pose a safety or health hazard to the miner or other employee
or to any other miner or employee.</text>
</clause><clause id="H5164BE0FEF1F48DB97CCD4772C8AE407"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Standard</header><text>For
purposes of clause (i), the circumstances causing the miner’s or other
employee’s good-faith belief that performing such duties would pose a safety or
health hazard shall be of such a nature that a reasonable person, under the
circumstances confronting the miner or other employee, would conclude that
there is such a hazard. In order to qualify for protection under this
paragraph, the miner or other employee, when practicable, shall have
communicated or attempted to communicate the safety or health concern to the
operator and have not received from the operator a response reasonably
calculated to allay such concern.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H85FFAD909C314DAAB3B22EEF0DBF20F4"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Complaint</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any miner or other employee or
representative of miners or applicant for employment who believes that he or
she has been discharged, disciplined, or otherwise discriminated against by any
person in violation of
<internal-xref idref="H72B60E0E3E7A46DA91BBD5CB800D79AF" legis-path="(c)(1)">paragraph (1)</internal-xref> may file a complaint with the
Secretary alleging such discrimination not later than 90 days after the later
of—</text>
<subparagraph id="H63BE30BAE83046E8937BA52D6B852E18"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the last date on
which an alleged violation of
<internal-xref idref="H72B60E0E3E7A46DA91BBD5CB800D79AF" legis-path="(c)(1)">paragraph (1)</internal-xref> occurs; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H457356E6C5C4465EA824476DDCCD2A24"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the date on which
the miner or other employee or representative knows or should reasonably have
known that such alleged violation occurred.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H711653AEA8AB41BBB8EA9A1746FCEE21"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Investigation
and hearing</header>
<subparagraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC1FBE734DFC041BB8721B42884358D67"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Commencement of
investigation and initial determination</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Upon receipt of such complaint, the
Secretary shall forward a copy of the complaint to the respondent, and shall
commence an investigation within 15 days of the Secretary’s receipt of the
complaint, and, as soon as practicable after commencing such investigation,
make the determination required under subparagraph (B) regarding the
reinstatement of the miner or other employee.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE6EA220324A64054B4D0165627A8ACF3"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Reinstatement</header><text>If
the Secretary finds that such complaint was not frivolously brought, the
Commission, on an expedited basis upon application of the Secretary, shall
order the immediate reinstatement of the miner or other employee until there
has been a final Commission order disposing of the underlying complaint of the
miner or other employee. If either the Secretary or the miner or other employee
pursues the underlying complaint, such reinstatement shall remain in effect
until the Commission has disposed of such complaint on the merits, regardless
of whether the Secretary pursues such complaint by filing a complaint under
subparagraph (D) or the miner or other employee pursues such complaint by
filing an action under paragraph (4). If neither the Secretary nor the miner or
other employee pursues the underlying complaint within the periods specified in
paragraph (4), such reinstatement shall remain in effect until such time as the
Commission may, upon motion of the operator and after providing notice and an
opportunity to be heard to the parties, vacate such complaint for failure to
prosecute.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HCD6D547D47D9477A9188285F3F668EA7"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Investigation</header><text>Such
investigation shall include interviewing the complainant and—</text>
<clause id="H48DB5011DFF84F4B90BA1D7DC38EE332"><enum>(i)</enum><text>providing the
respondent an opportunity to submit to the Secretary a written response to the
complaint and to present statements from witnesses or provide evidence;
and</text>
</clause><clause id="H5EA1702E16D14E4BBC16EC5AE02036B5"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>providing the
complainant an opportunity to receive any statements or evidence provided to
the Secretary and rebut any statements or evidence.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC5D6FE4906034B15A851D21C8BD2F6AF"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Action by the
Secretary</header><text>If, upon such investigation, the Secretary determines
that the provisions of this subsection have been violated, the Secretary shall
immediately file a complaint with the Commission, with service upon the alleged
violator and the miner or other employee or representative of miners alleging
such discrimination or interference and propose an order granting appropriate
relief.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H4CECE729FC1C4671BD4518DFA6856E5D"><enum>(E)</enum><header>Action of the
Commission</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Commission
shall afford an opportunity for a hearing (in accordance with section 554 of
title 5, United States Code, but without regard to subsection (a)(3) of such
section) and thereafter shall issue an order, based upon findings of fact,
affirming, modifying, or vacating the Secretary’s proposed order, or directing
other appropriate relief. Such order shall become final 30 days after its
issuance. The complaining miner or other employee, representative, or applicant
for employment may present additional evidence on his or her own behalf during
any hearing held pursuant to this paragraph.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9EEEB4CEBB424139AA7835F9A2A0EBAC"><enum>(F)</enum><header>Relief</header><text>The
Commission shall have authority in such proceedings to require a person
committing a violation of this subsection to take such affirmative action to
abate the violation and prescribe a remedy as the Commission considers
appropriate, including—</text>
<clause id="H9668B5E0C14F425FA15083E6361B8DE8"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the rehiring or reinstatement of the miner
or other employee with back pay and interest and without loss of position or
seniority, and restoration of the terms, rights, conditions, and privileges
associated with the complainant’s employment;</text>
</clause><clause id="H8CBE0533E58A400C92A780C3EC0C5788"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>any other
compensatory and consequential damages sufficient to make the complainant
whole, and exemplary damages where appropriate; and</text>
</clause><clause id="HA3E24B5955754387961231E76C9B5DFB"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">expungement of all warnings, reprimands, or
derogatory references that have been placed in paper or electronic records or
databases of any type relating to the actions by the complainant that gave rise
to the unfavorable personnel action, and, at the complainant’s direction,
transmission of a copy of the decision on the complaint to any person whom the
complainant reasonably believes may have received such unfavorable
information.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HA67DEB254D5743C49195A8AC7F5B45FD"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Notice to and
action of complainant</header>
<subparagraph id="H094E9A10FF81465AABF49720B2D7B9FB"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Notice to
complainant</header><text>Not later than 90 days of the receipt of a complaint
filed under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall notify, in writing, the miner or
other employee, applicant for employment, or representative of miners of his
determination whether a violation has occurred.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H26ED830487E14EAD979F55E5C7B21E98"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Action of
complainant</header><text>If the Secretary, upon investigation, determines that
the provisions of this subsection have not been violated, the complainant shall
have the right, within 30 days after receiving notice of the Secretary’s
determination, to file an action in his or her own behalf before the
Commission, charging discrimination or interference in violation of
<internal-xref idref="H72B60E0E3E7A46DA91BBD5CB800D79AF" legis-path="(c)(1)">paragraph (1)</internal-xref>.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H46E76596BB564210860AF2291190BB90"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Hearing and
decision</header><text>The Commission shall afford an opportunity for a hearing
(in accordance with section 554 of title 5, United States Code, but without
regard to subsection (a)(3) of such section), and thereafter shall issue an
order, based upon findings of fact, dismissing or sustaining the complainant’s
charges and, if the charges are sustained, granting such relief as it deems
appropriate as described in
<internal-xref idref="H4CECE729FC1C4671BD4518DFA6856E5D" legis-path="(c)(3)(B)">paragraph (3)(D)</internal-xref>. Such order shall
become final 30 days after its issuance.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HA38CEAC88A0E4921B4E19EE14D38183C"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Burden of
proof</header><text>In adjudicating a complaint pursuant to this subsection,
the Commission may determine that a violation of
<internal-xref idref="H72B60E0E3E7A46DA91BBD5CB800D79AF" legis-path="(c)(1)">paragraph (1)</internal-xref> has occurred only if the
complainant demonstrates that any conduct described in
<internal-xref idref="H72B60E0E3E7A46DA91BBD5CB800D79AF" legis-path="(c)(1)">paragraph (1)</internal-xref> with respect to the
complainant was a contributing factor in the adverse action alleged in the
complaint. A decision or order that is favorable to the complainant shall not
be issued pursuant to this subsection if the respondent demonstrates by clear
and convincing evidence that the respondent would have taken the same adverse
action in the absence of such conduct.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HCE97B9FD7064488B9F6EBF5F56E20BB0"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Attorneys’
fees</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Whenever an order is
issued sustaining the complainant’s charges under this subsection, a sum equal
to the aggregate amount of all costs and expenses, including attorney’s fees,
as determined by the Commission to have been reasonably incurred by the
complainant for, or in connection with, the institution and prosecution of such
proceedings shall be assessed against the person committing such violation. The
Commission shall determine whether such costs and expenses were reasonably
incurred by the complainant without reference to whether the Secretary also
participated in the proceeding.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HBA2F89BC4C8E42489EA082AA6DB93B52"><enum>(7)</enum><header> Expedited
proceedings; Judicial review</header><text>Proceedings under this subsection
shall be expedited by the Secretary and the Commission. Any order issued by the
Commission under this subsection shall be subject to judicial review in
accordance with section 106. Violations by any person of
<internal-xref idref="H72B60E0E3E7A46DA91BBD5CB800D79AF" legis-path="(c)(1)">paragraph (1)</internal-xref> shall be subject to the
provisions of sections 108 and 110(a)(4).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HF6A6F87470864B14B812417A2B07BADA"><enum>(8)</enum><header> Procedural
Rights</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The rights and
remedies provided for in this subsection may not be waived by any agreement,
policy, form, or condition of employment, including by any pre-dispute
arbitration agreement or collective bargaining agreement.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H234C2BA355B94F71931A7F2D607876D1"><enum>(9)</enum><header>Savings</header><text>Nothing
in this subsection shall be construed to diminish the rights, privileges, or
remedies of any employee who exercises rights under any Federal or State law or
common law, or under any collective bargaining
agreement.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section commented="no" id="HF8956A4A26C74A4D82D934AFB3041E3D"><enum>402.</enum><header>Protection from
loss of pay</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 111 (30
U.S.C. 821) is amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6EF468AE99E649A28EA92CD3D206B0BE" style="OLC">
<section commented="no" id="H22F7B14CEDC24F64B473A75A912379EE"><enum>111.</enum><header>Entitlement of
miners</header>
<subsection id="H8F44200AEE2E4B1581023B7355D7C999"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Protection from
loss of pay</header>
<paragraph id="H18C649DFD3794E4E825E02AB8F298A96"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Withdrawal
order</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If a coal or other mine
or area of such mine is closed by an order issued under section 103, 104, 107,
108, or 110 all miners who are idled by such order shall be entitled to full
compensation by the operator at their regular rates of pay and in accordance
with their regular schedules of pay for the remainder of the current shift and
the next 8 hour shift for which they are idled. Nothing in this section shall
prevent the operator of a coal or other mine from transferring miners from the
area of the mine effected by the withdrawal order to another area of the mine
not under the withdrawal order.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H39563B503BE44E3BA8DECF72AD7CD43F"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Refusal to
comply</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Whenever an operator
violates or fails or refuses to comply with any order issued under section 103,
104, 107, 108, or 110, all miners employed at the affected mine who would have
been withdrawn from, or prevented from entering, such mine or area thereof as a
result of such order shall be entitled to full compensation by the operator at
their regular rates of pay, in addition to pay received for work performed
after such order was issued, for the period beginning when such order was
issued and ending when such order is complied with, vacated, terminated, or up
to 10 days.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id700D3312D6064C81B507901453FA62DF"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Enforcement</header>
<paragraph id="idA2301E7B55C6463B817EF07CD004DD8E"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Commission
orders</header><text>The Commission shall have authority to order compensation
due under this section upon the filing of a complaint by a miner or his
representative and after opportunity for hearing subject to section 554 of
title 5, United States Code. Whenever the Commission issues an order sustaining
the complaint under this subsection in whole or in part, the Commission shall
award the complainant reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id90FE3D1BA2FE468292BB8A8B1870AE00"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Failure to pay
compensation due</header><text>Consistent with the authority of the Secretary
to order miners withdrawn from a mine under this Act, the Secretary shall order
a mine that has been subject to a withdrawal order under section 103, 104, 107,
108, or 110, and has reopened, to be closed again if compensation in accordance
with the provisions of this section is not paid by the end of the next
regularly scheduled payroll period following the lifting of a withdrawal
order.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><enum>V</enum><header>Modernizing health
and safety standards </header>
<section commented="no" id="H0888BD04609042E48E9E785F3116E987"><enum>501.</enum><header>Pre-shift
review of mine conditions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 303(d) (30 U.S.C. 863(d)) is amended
by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H12158459612B4C40B39E46E460092BFE" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H1041C0E3521D47FCA50CA3377E9BD84E" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H31495686D7BB4E83BD2F0E8B3C2CA647"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Not later than 30 days
after the issuance of the interim final rules promulgated under subparagraph
(C), each operator of an underground coal mine shall implement a communication
program at the underground coal mine to ensure that each miner entering the
mine is made aware, at the start of such miner’s shift, of the current
conditions of the mine, including—</text>
<clause id="H99F67ADFD616404786D849B8FC4AD319" indent="up1"><enum>(i)</enum><text>any conditions that are hazardous;
and</text>
</clause><clause id="HC76D029041BB4F28BDB39927038D657E" indent="up1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the general conditions of that
miner’s assigned working section or other area.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5AF73CCB2C444CA5AE3283FA188A8770" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Not later than 90 days after the date
of enactment of the Mine Safety Accountability and Improved Protection Act, the
Secretary shall promulgate interim final rules implementing the requirements of
subparagraphs (A) and
(B).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section id="H0744E1B67BC64DCE9306C9D34E29F251"><enum>502.</enum><header>Rock dust
standards</header>
<subsection id="H912A96C367BC4C72B12B17C0CB4F534F"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Standards</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 304(d) (30 U.S.C. 864(d)) is
amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H54243F124C0640EDA17A412147F3DEAD"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>Where rock</quote> and inserting the
following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H950D4225D66D417A9ACB275571B75978" style="OLC">
<text><header-in-text level="subsection" style="OLC">Rock dust</header-in-text>.—</text><paragraph id="H05379F3967CE483C8753C10EA2582561"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Where rock</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>;
</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H2ACB23BC788F474AA6E2BED797C6689A"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking <quote>65 per centum</quote>
and all that follows and inserting <quote>80 percent.</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H2596C1ABE642475EA1A0F940957C259D"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by adding at the
end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H3A587D91C6F148A09D7BF33F9E66501E" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H60180DBAE26745A290FB699457B81AA1"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Methods of
measurement</header>
<subparagraph id="H0AE62898F6C847EEB97CCF5BA153102E"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Regulations</header><text>The
Secretary shall, not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of the
Mine Safety Accountability and Improved Protection Act, promulgate an interim
final rule that prescribes methods for sampling of total incombustible content
of coal dust using direct reading monitors and includes requirements for
locations, methods, and intervals for mandatory operator sampling.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF63750B306214E7498821AC4C8CFC61E"><enum>(B)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Each operator of an underground coal mine accurate
samples of the combined coal dust, rock dust, and other dust deposited on
rock-dusted surfaces, loose coal, and other combustible materials in the active
workings of such mines, to ensure that the coal dust is kept below explosive
levels through the appropriate application of rock dusting.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HDC4E8279C40B4C469E757DDA110D126B"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Recommendations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 2 years after the date of
enactment of the Mine Safety Accountability and Improved Protection Act, the
Secretary of Health and Human Services shall, based upon the latest research,
recommend to the Secretary of Labor any revisions to the mandatory operator
sampling locations, methods, and intervals included in the interim final rule
described in subparagraph (B) that may be warranted in light of such research.
Such recommendations shall include an analysis of the effects of and
relationship between methane and the incombustible content of such combined
dusts, and appropriate recommendations for addressing methane in such
context.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H1509CB3902A14394B26E9F0F0E828376"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Direct reading
monitors</header><text>By the date that is 30 days after the Secretary of
Health and Human Services has certified in writing that direct reading monitors
are commercially available to measure total incombustible content in coal dust
and the Department of Labor has approved such monitors for use in underground
coal mines, the Secretary shall require operators to develop a program to
conduct sampling to ensure that sufficient quantities of rock dust have been
deposited on take coal dust samples using direct reading
monitors.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H9CCF4B486BF1488CB88C4279C0065817"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not
later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of
Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Secretary of Labor, shall
prepare and submit, to the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of
the Senate, a report—</text>
<paragraph id="H8CE34BAC556F4E7894E6141989E469A5"><enum>(1)</enum><text>regarding whether
any direct reading device described in section 304(d)(2)(B) of the Federal Mine
Safety and Health Act of 1977 (30 U.S.C. 864(d)(2)(B)) is sufficiently reliable
and accurate for the enforcement of the mandatory health or safety standards by
the Secretary of Labor under such Act, and whether additional improvement to
such direct reading device, or additional verification regarding reliability
and accuracy, would be needed for enforcement purposes; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HF49F0BE56719434588935B5373137097"><enum>(2)</enum><text>identifying any
limitations or impediments for such use in underground coal mines.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section commented="no" id="HF3AC7915216A419D802806E2BC1A6603"><enum>503.</enum><header>Atmospheric
monitoring systems</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 317
(30 U.S.C. 877) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H9A50C57A899B4DB2B21608EA43EF7BC5" style="OLC">
<subsection commented="no" id="HD1D5DD6A318E478FA93B09FEA9E4BDEA"><enum>(u)</enum><header>Atmospheric
monitoring systems</header>
<paragraph commented="no" id="HCA6C4EB99C1A47A8BC57A11077C8BA9D"><enum>(1)</enum><header>NIOSH
recommendations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later
than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Mine Safety Accountability and
Improved Protection Act, the Director of the National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health, acting through the Office of Mine Safety and
Health Research, in consultation, including through technical working groups
with operators, vendors, State mine safety agencies, the Secretary, and labor
representatives of miners, shall issue recommendations to the Secretary
regarding—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="HD06365513BD24114A2A94A148B08B9E6"><enum>(A)</enum><text>how to ensure that
atmospheric monitoring systems are utilized in the underground coal mining
industry to maximize the health and safety of underground coal miners;
and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H3B02101F7BA0404FB88F0D6D654EB66D"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the implementation
of redundant systems, such as the bundle tubing system, that can continuously
monitor the mine atmosphere following incidents such as fires, explosions,
entrapments, and inundations.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HF3B16C7F07B045998911375E27DB57F2"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Atmospheric
monitoring system regulations</header><text>Not later than 1 year following the
receipt of the recommendations described in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall
promulgate regulations requiring that each operator of an underground coal mine
install atmospheric monitoring systems, consistent with such recommendations,
that—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="HEC4BF3961232419683F80E20736699AB"><enum>(A)</enum><text>protect miners
where the miners normally work and travel;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H146692BADC514C9B8095F743034A0488"><enum>(B)</enum><text>provide real-time
information regarding methane and carbon monoxide levels, and airflow
direction, as appropriate, with sensing, annunciating, and recording
capabilities; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H01B13126E1494A86859362E05E3A09A6"><enum>(C)</enum><text>can, to the
maximum extent practicable, withstand explosions and
fires.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section id="HB60A8AAA7462489091737166987D1891"><enum>504.</enum><header>Technology
related to respirable dust</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 202(d) (30 U.S.C. 842(d)) is amended
by striking <quote>of Health and Human Services</quote>.</text>
</section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H8CC273E7ACED4732A99966461757E21D"><enum>505.</enum><header>Refresher
training on miner rights and responsibilities</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HFAA2C281E67642C8A7C8C14A68D19B1C"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 115(a)(3) (30
U.S.C. 825(a)(3)) is amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HCAE7B3299B72482698058C290F26D6AF" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="HA27160691ACB4D49A04990408422CD3F"><enum>(3)</enum><text>all miners shall
receive not less than 9 hours of refresher training not less frequently than
once every 12 months, and such training shall include one hour of training on
the statutory rights and responsibilities of miners and their representatives
under this Act and other applicable Federal and State law, pursuant to a
program of instruction developed by the Secretary and delivered by the mine
operator or by a trainer approved by the
Secretary;</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H93F2BCB6E220464798CAEE113C3B04BE"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Timing of
initial statutory rights training</header><text>Notwithstanding section 115 of
the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act (as amended by subsection (a)) (30
U.S.C. 825) or the health and safety training program approved under such
section, an operator shall ensure that all miners already employed by the
operator on the date of enactment of this Act shall receive the one hour of
statutory rights and responsibilities training described in section 115(a)(3)
of such Act not later than 180 days after such date.</text>
</subsection></section><section commented="no" id="H2FC4AB6D00174067A792B2782ABE2805"><enum>506.</enum><header>Authority to
mandate additional training</header>
<subsection id="H806AF4C7995D4EEBA4C6A4C09E976E6B"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 115 (30
U.S.C. 825) is further amended by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection
(f) and inserting after subsection (d) the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HFE6219FBE8084CA4B7E8485B7FD23932" style="OLC">
<subsection id="H607FFD5A6C9D4851ACF3138470184E5C"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Authority To
mandate additional training</header><text>The Secretary is authorized to
require that an operator of a coal provide additional training beyond what is
otherwise required by law, and specifying the time within which such training
shall be provided, if the Secretary finds that—</text>
<paragraph id="HFA8181446BF34B4D8B6ED31420F7A6CA"><enum>(1)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H34E4DA17A2114033AABC88B373DA1425"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a serious or fatal
accident has occurred at such mine; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H1D00B3D53FD84E74B787631C87DA6343" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>such mine has experienced accident and
injury rates, citations for violations of this Act (including mandatory health
or safety standards or regulations promulgated under this Act), citations for
significant and substantial violations, or withdrawal orders issued under this
Act at a rate above the average for mines of similar size and type; and</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H178CA324B2FC433E81EA1F9A8FE411C6"><enum>(2)</enum><text>additional
training would benefit the health and safety of miners at the
mine.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" id="H79CBE90DD3CB4B92A6A64993F4041A5B"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Conforming
amendments</header><text>Section 104(g)(2) (30 U.S.C. 814(g)(2)) is amended by
striking <quote>under paragraph (1)</quote> both places it appears and
inserting <quote>under paragraph (1) or under section 115(e)</quote>.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="H0CD452F3A6EA489696C3739492A621E0"><enum>507.</enum><header>Certification
of personnel</header>
<subsection id="H31468005EBC94E6BA847DC78509BE68B"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Title I is further
amended by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA3E0FFF0AEC5453FA594B6287FA80DA3" style="OLC">
<section id="HC54C0239FA214B4AA02344F42416E800"><enum>118.</enum><header>Certification
of personnel</header>
<subsection id="HB786A3DA09104EE2A38FD424A7863194"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Certification
required</header><text>Any person who is authorized or designated by the
operator of a coal mine to perform any duties or provide any training that this
Act, including a mandatory health or safety standard or regulation promulgated
pursuant to this Act, requires to be performed or provided by a certified,
registered, qualified, or otherwise approved person, shall be permitted to
perform such duties or provide such training only if such person has a current
certification, registration, qualification, or approval to perform such duties
or provide such training consistent with the requirements of this
section.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H0A6EC6974E264A389E5415734243095F"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Establishment of
certification requirements and procedures</header>
<paragraph id="HF2E2F95FBF1E423B9FC6CD83A796C14F"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the
Mine Safety Accountability and Improved Protection Act, the Secretary shall
issue mandatory standards to establish—</text>
<subparagraph id="H7F420B8C2F344230B1D90B3F15E0B440"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">requirements for such certification,
registration, qualification, or other approval, including the experience,
examinations, and references that may be required as appropriate;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H1CBEC58E43024E919FE33446EC580CA6"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">time limits for such certifications and
procedures for obtaining and renewing such certification, registration,
qualification, or other approval; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8F19772B19D44ABEA957B4233CF93648"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">procedures and criteria for revoking such
certification, registration, qualification, or other approval, including
procedures that ensure that the Secretary responds to requests for
revocation.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H56AB4BDD3A7942639DB214D0DE8BCA17"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Coordination
with States</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In developing
such standards, the Secretary shall consult with States that have miner
certification programs to ensure effective coordination with existing State
standards and requirements for certification. The standards required under
paragraph (1) may provide that the certification, registration, qualification,
or other approval of the State in which the coal or other mine is located
satisfies the requirement of subsection (a) if the State’s program of
certification, registration, qualification, or other approval is no less
stringent than the standards established by the Secretary under paragraph
(1).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="H6B159A258CA54D6C92117C1EA7FECAE0"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Operator Fees
for certification</header>
<paragraph commented="no" id="H44924BDC7DA24896BDF1D293EE5B7A51"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Assessment and
collection</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Beginning 180 days
after the date of enactment of the Mine Safety Accountability and Improved
Protection Act, the Secretary shall assess and collect fees, in accordance with
this subsection, from each operator for each person certified under this
section. Fees shall be assessed and collected in amounts determined by the
Secretary as necessary to fund the certification programs established under
this section.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H731557C875964B4F8DCDD51F963AEC6F"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Mine Safety and
Health Certification Fund</header><text>There is established in the Treasury of
the United States a separate account for the deposit of fees collected under
this subsection to be known as the Mine Safety and Health Certification Fund.
The Secretary shall deposit any fees collected pursuant to
<internal-xref idref="H79B906048C0E4D1E84AD963BDA0F96F4" legis-path="30107.(b)">paragraph (1)</internal-xref> into the fund.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H81C71B3991AC43E59820485018BEE21A"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Use</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Amounts in the Mine Safety and Health
Certification Fund shall be available to the Secretary, as provided in
paragraph (4), for making expenditures to carry out the certification programs
established under this subsection.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H501D1015D43F4AAAB844AD0878DD72A6"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Authorization of
appropriations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In addition to
funds appropriated under section 114, there is authorized to be appropriated
from the Mine Safety and Health Certification Fund to the Assistant Secretary
for Mine Safety and Health for each fiscal year in which fees are collected
under
<internal-xref idref="H79B906048C0E4D1E84AD963BDA0F96F4" legis-path="30107.(b)">paragraph (1)</internal-xref> an amount equal to the
total amount collected during the previous fiscal year from fees assessed
pursuant to this subsection. Such amounts are authorized to remain available
until expended.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE806009ABDF745A7A98D642FB6536190"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Crediting and
Availability of Fees</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Fees
authorized and collected under this subsection shall be available for
obligation only to the extent and in the amount provided in advance in
appropriations Acts.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H9B1CB166640D4846859B0AF4E84533B1"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Citation;
withdrawal order</header><text>Any operator who permits a person to perform any
of the health or safety related functions described in subsection (a) without a
current certification which meets the requirements of this section shall be
considered to have committed an unwarrantable failure under section 104(d)(1),
and the Secretary shall issue an order requiring that the miner be withdrawn or
reassigned to duties that do not require such
certification.</text>
</subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.
</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="HAFD470697A9148C28DF65EF9C85400EE"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Conforming
amendments</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 318 (30
U.S.C. 878) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="HBA66E5957B02461FA1BAEE32CDE973AE"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking
subsections (a) and (b);</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H51C2126444B64DAA931798336AAEDE23"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection (c),
by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (3) as subparagraphs (A) through (C),
respectively;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H9AFDEA28CF8243BDADDFBB92C9AC4099"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subsection (g), by redesignating
paragraphs (1) through (4) as subparagraphs (A) through (D), respectively;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H2CE22A9E46814AF5B55D6A0F109D5990"><enum>(4)</enum><text>by redesignating
subsections (c) through (j) as paragraphs (1) through (8), respectively.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><enum>VI</enum><header>Additional mine
safety provisions</header>
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H53EC84490A33493785BBEFBD729A8DDE" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>601.</enum><header>Definitions</header>
<subsection id="H2FDE62FE3DD5476EBF260B8BB3E0CECE"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definition of
operator</header><text>Section 3(d) is amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HACF04EBD6E7E4C8B87A9A078C09100A6" style="OLC">
<subsection id="HF81F808B02DC4ED08C96C99BE3E7C274"><enum>(d)</enum><text><quote>operator</quote>
means—</text>
<paragraph id="H510549CB9C614A83A7A76A15602B84E9"><enum>(1)</enum><text>any owner, lessee,
or other person that—</text>
<subparagraph id="H6556A0F44EBA4D2BBB8F426210FE0152"><enum>(A)</enum><text>operates or
supervises a coal or other mine; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H2698C6AD953C4D02BB576E2F9577B4C4"><enum>(B)</enum><text>controls such mine
by making or having the authority to make management or operational decisions
that affect, directly or indirectly, the health or safety at such mine;
or</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HB1D18CF5B1FF4778BACA50611FC28448"><enum>(2)</enum><text>any independent
contractor performing services or construction at such
mine;</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HB437DEEEB729426080F8B41C2AC2A807"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Definition of
agent</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 3(e) (30 U.S.C.
802(e)) is amended by striking <quote>the miners</quote> and inserting
<quote>any miner</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HAC5A28DEF9574218B9A95C5CFD8CC365"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Definition of
miner</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 3(g) (30 U.S.C.
802(g)) is amended by inserting after <quote>or other mine</quote> the
following: <quote>, and includes any individual who is not currently working in
a coal or other mine but would be currently working in such mine, but for an
accident in such mine</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HF95790A267714DD4A7092519E4CEF0DF"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Definition of
significant and substantial violations</header><text>Section 3 (30 U.S.C. 802)
is further amended—</text>
<paragraph id="HEFBCA3F7497F41628D703889166BB856"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection (m),
by striking <quote>and</quote> after the semicolon;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H0CACB6603A534026A351B4A1E92D1A19"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection (n),
by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HC0C17A3CF22A48A68C13FBAB55FF302C"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in subsection (o),
by striking the period at the end and inserting <quote>; and</quote>;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HEABF871604CD46CFBCBF52F8805A3D82"><enum>(4)</enum><text>by adding at the
end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6A1BEF9A145A487BA2BE1585772E5FA2" style="OLC">
<subsection id="HBD094B5C398648EC860C888E1C967D7A"><enum>(p)</enum><text><term>significant
and substantial violation</term> means a violation of this Act, including any
mandatory health or safety standard or regulation promulgated under this Act,
that is of such nature as could significantly and substantially contribute to
the cause and effect of a coal or other mine safety or health hazard as
described in section 104(d) and there is a substantial probability that such a
violation could result in
death.</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="HACD3540467AA482FA66981973A63D3F9"><enum>602.</enum><header>Assistance to
States</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 503 (30 U.S.C.
953(a)) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H58D858AE00284F8AA48925A9A521F2C4"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection
(a)—</text>
<subparagraph id="H9559240AF1314611AEDC238226B3C6B9"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in the matter
preceding paragraph (1), by striking <quote>, in coordination with the
Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare and the Secretary of the
Interior,</quote>;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H81119DF9DC914BE18688C3B6F88492CB"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in paragraph (2),
by striking <quote>and</quote> after the semicolon;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA44A1241BE37438EA0ECB0BC5472237E"><enum>(C)</enum><text>in paragraph (3),
by striking the period and inserting <quote>; and</quote>; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5DBD95D2D65A41E9B8D97C692839A34A"><enum>(D)</enum><text>by adding at the
end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1E3AC41DDE884B8A852765E6CFE7A67D" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H51A9FDCF78334C8EAFDB35C82FF98993"><enum>(4)</enum><text>to assist such
State in developing and implementing any certification program for coal or
other mines required for compliance with section
118.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>;
and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H0CC33FC93D74443A8B521BBEBC2202B5"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection (h),
by striking <quote>$3,000,000 for fiscal year 1970, and $10,000,000 in each
succeeding fiscal year</quote> and inserting <quote>$20,000,000 for each fiscal
year</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></section><section id="HE3604FAE9CF44E65A30DD90B358FDB19"><enum>603.</enum><header>Amendments
relating to eligibility for scholarship program</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 515 (30 U.S.C. 964) is
amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H848E51FE7D85481D8195E392EDAEBA1C"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection
(b)(3), by striking subparagraph (B) and redesignating subparagraphs (C) and
(D) as subparagraphs (B) and (C), respectively;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H2A228A352A4D4D219B701C5FBECA20E3"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection
(c)(3), by striking subparagraph (B) and redesignating subparagraphs (C) and
(D) as subparagraphs (B) and (C), respectively; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H19E9DC80C4BC4F68BF55CABFC73FEF57"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in subsection
(d)(3)—</text>
<subparagraph id="HEE8E96DFFD634F0EA08DB3029A1ED6F1"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subparagraph (A), by inserting
<quote>and</quote> after the semicolon; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF8FE0D1228914B129916EEF536E60BE0"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by striking
subparagraph (B) and redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (B).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></section><section id="H895AD401069A48D6ADF4B4FA8D6D4E56"><enum>604.</enum><header>Additional
training of mine inspectors</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Beginning during the 1 year period after the
date of enactment of this Act, and each year thereafter, the Secretary of Labor
shall require that each mine inspector conducting inspections under the Federal
Mines Safety and Health Act of 1977 receive a full additional week of training,
in addition to the training that was provided to or required of such inspectors
prior to the date of enactment of this Act.</text>
</section><section id="HD6C5D19A578747DDA17E277292D3BAFB"><enum>605.</enum><header>Report on
staffing needs of the Mine Safety and Health Administration</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Not later than 90 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Labor shall transmit a report to
Congress detailing any specific need for additional inspectors or other
employees of the Mine Safety and Health Administration in order for the
Administration to carry out and fulfill the purposes of this Act. Such report
shall include specific requests for additional appropriations, if so determined
by the Secretary.</text>
</section>