1.Short title; table of
contents
(a)This Act may be cited
as the Robert C. Byrd Mine Safety
Protection Act of 2010
.
(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. Independent accident investigations.
Sec. 102. Subpoena authority and miner rights during
inspections and investigations.
Sec. 103. Designation of miner representative.
Sec. 104. Additional amendments relating to inspections and
investigations.
Title II—Enhanced enforcement authority
Sec. 201. Technical amendment.
Sec. 202. A pattern of recurring noncompliance or
accidents.
Sec. 203. Injunctive authority.
Sec. 204. Revocation of approval of plans.
Sec. 205. Challenging a decision to approve, modify, or revoke
a coal or other mine plan.
Sec. 206. GAO Study on MSHA Mine Plan Approval.
Title III—Penalties
Sec. 301. Civil penalties.
Sec. 302. Civil and criminal liability of officers, directors,
and agents.
Sec. 303. Criminal penalties.
Sec. 304. Commission review of penalty assessments.
Sec. 305. Delinquent payments and prejudgment
interest.
Title IV—Worker Rights and Protections
Sec. 401. Protection from retaliation.
Sec. 402. Protection from loss of pay.
Sec. 403. Underground coal miner employment standard for mines
placed in pattern status.
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. Black lung medical reports.
Sec. 604. Rules of application to certain mines.
2.Except in title VII and 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="H65D5D1B65DC54E34B6364A82781158DA" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>101.</enum><header>Independent accident
investigations</header>
<subsection id="H3A488902B3594F0DA58E0A41EA4EA2B0"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 103(b) (30
U.S.C. 813(b)) is amended by striking <quote>(b) For the purpose</quote> and
inserting the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H64207E0669B04F8B9BE1359AA064042E" style="OLC">
<subsection id="HE1FD54342BDB419CBF895DD9909C02E8"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Accident
investigations</header>
<paragraph id="H3790EB64D54247D39F3EFE16DB102149"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For all accident
investigations under this Act, the Secretary shall—</text>
<subparagraph id="H2F9F265A79C9467D872B6D99C55D06C4"><enum>(A)</enum><text>determine why the
accident occurred;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H97B15298A1F14A80BE3C7A4878D65CBF"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">determine whether there were violations of
law, mandatory health and safety standards, or other requirements, and if there
is evidence of conduct that may constitute a violation of Federal criminal law,
the Secretary may refer such evidence to the Attorney General; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5AD9B1498B494C7195BC20F66B7A72AB"><enum>(C)</enum><text>make
recommendations to avoid any recurrence.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H1CDD55EAC3A742ACBDF1F5BAB39842FF"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Independent
accident investigations</header>
<subparagraph id="H7EFFF886A4BC40BAA0BCDE799B3CD478"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>There shall be, in addition to an accident investigation
under paragraph (1), an independent investigation by an independent
investigation panel (referred to in this subsection as the <term>Panel</term>)
appointed under subparagraph (B) for—</text>
<clause id="HA9B31AEC342C418BA35402611EF405C7"><enum>(i)</enum><text>any accident
involving 3 or more deaths; or</text>
</clause><clause id="H71EB8C84C3374771B1D2403D9865F418"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>any accident that
is of such severity or scale for potential or actual harm that, in the opinion
of the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the accident merits an
independent investigation.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9953A14D1F6E4230992EE227B0173673"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Appointment</header>
<clause id="HAF9B13F470944DF49DD725DE24F00D10"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>As soon as practicable after an accident described in
subparagraph (A), the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall appoint 5
members for the Panel required under this paragraph from among individuals who
have expertise in accident investigations, mine engineering, or mine safety and
health that is relevant to the particular investigation.</text>
</clause><clause id="HC0CDE43348184A8FB2E359908A3CB8C5"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Chairperson</header><text>The
Panel shall include, and be chaired by, a representative from the Office of
Mine Safety and Health Research, of the National Institute for Occupational
Safety and Health (referred to in this subsection as NIOSH).</text>
</clause><clause id="HD9426E6D801B43A5AF2A139BE8265ED0"><enum>(iii)</enum><header>Conflicts of
interest</header><text>Panel members, and staff and consultants assisting the
Panel with an investigation, shall be free from conflicts of interest with
regard to the investigation, and be subject to the same standards of ethical
conduct for persons employed by the Secretary.</text>
</clause><clause id="HEF36850A4663432F9A25B057A2B168FD"><enum>(iv)</enum><header>Composition</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of Health and Human Services
shall appoint as members of the Panel—</text>
<subclause id="HEB03EDBE0CF54279B9737729CC671FA6"><enum>(I)</enum><text>1 operator of a
mine or individual representing mine operators, and</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H1F32C9251A97488C9FAB6DFCE65FEBA2"><enum>(II)</enum><text>1 representative
of a labor organization that represents miners,</text>
</subclause><continuation-text continuation-text-level="clause">and may not
appoint more than 1 of either such individuals as members of the Panel.</continuation-text></clause><clause id="H3B287435BB25487A906D7EEA8E3802E9"><enum>(v)</enum><header>Staff and
expenses</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Director of
NIOSH shall designate NIOSH staff to facilitate the work of the Panel. The
Director may accept as staff personnel on detail from other Federal agencies or
re-employ annuitants. The detail of personnel under this paragraph may be on a
non-reimbursable basis, and such detail shall be without interruption or loss
of civil service status or privilege. The Director of NIOSH shall have the
authority to procure on behalf of the Panel such materials, supplies or
services, including technical experts, as requested in writing by a majority of
the Panel.</text>
</clause><clause id="H20528C98AB2A40208896CE40EEC1FF69"><enum>(vi)</enum><header>Compensation
and travel</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">All members of the
Panel who are officers or employees of the United States shall serve without
compensation in addition to that received for their services as officers or
employees of the United States. Each Panel member who is not an officer or
employee of the United States shall be compensated at a rate equal to the daily
equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level IV of the
Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States Code, for each
day (including travel time) during which such member is engaged in the
performance of duties of the Panel. The members of the Panel shall be allowed
travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized
for employees of agencies under subchapter 1 of chapter 57 of title 5, United
States Code, while away from their homes or regular places of business in the
performance of services for the Panel.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H91A3F8314F40403EA23F29B2761300DF"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Duties</header><text>The
Panel shall—</text>
<clause id="H5EE5DCC0F2C34BA5B5824FA4D1E31802"><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="H7FB5C112F282409EB25D84AD95DB3654"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>identify and
evaluate any contributing actions or inactions of—</text>
<subclause id="H9F8BB64235FB4537A1900F2A35026A47"><enum>(I)</enum><text>the
operator;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="HB608223550DC41C58F7DF771140BAF9D"><enum>(II)</enum><text>any contractors
or other persons engaged in mining-related functions at the site;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H6FD6D988BEBD450E8A93292C6632831E"><enum>(III)</enum><text>any State agency
with oversight responsibilities;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="HCF41C550F7664F1989E538084CF47142"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>any agency or
office within the Department of Labor; or</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H65B1310A389F419BAE9B5C064F8E11CC"><enum>(V)</enum><text>any other person
or entity (including equipment manufacturers);</text>
</subclause></clause><clause id="H739B4F0843E844B4AEEE858CCA900DF7"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>review the
determinations and recommendations by the Secretary under paragraph (1);</text>
</clause><clause id="HAB07E9502F30414690E5B348DFB290E6"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>prepare a report
that—</text>
<subclause id="H90DB6099BEFC4B70AF2B07F0E2FCFDB0"><enum>(I)</enum><text>includes the
findings regarding the causal factors described in clauses (i) and (ii);</text>
</subclause><subclause id="HC5C68D4F462C4D16B8C6090DA707A31F"><enum>(II)</enum><text>identifies any
strengths and weaknesses in the Secretary’s investigation; and</text>
</subclause><subclause id="HF5F5962894284B5C8171D30B0752B8BC"><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="HCF273F21A12B4BFC962CB194B55A7DDD"><enum>(v)</enum><text>publish such
findings and recommendations (excluding any portions which the Attorney General
requests that the Secretary withhold in relation to a criminal referral) and
hold public meetings to inform the mining community and families of affected
miners of the Panel's findings and recommendations.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H1C67DB42F28A4FDDB897D7ECAADD1B1D"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Hearings;
applicability of certain Federal law</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Panel 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 Panel shall be subject to
the requirements under section 552b of title 5, United States Code.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF45E97D3D45C4E81AE653937B53FFD24"><enum>(E)</enum><header>Memorandum of
Understanding</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than
90 days after the date of enactment of the Robert C. Byrd Miner Safety and
Health Act of 2010, the Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of Health and
Human Services shall conclude and publically issue a memorandum of
understanding that—</text>
<clause id="HCBC20CF289274E408051159FD81226F0"><enum>(i)</enum><text>outlines
administrative arrangements which will facilitate a coordination of efforts
between the Secretary of Labor and the Panel, ensures that the Secretary's
investigation under paragraph (1) is not delayed or otherwise compromised by
the activities of the Panel, and establishes a process to resolve any conflicts
between such investigations;</text>
</clause><clause id="HEEADB504E1AB46959635E3AEFA8B83D8"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>ensures that
Panel members or staff will be able to participate in investigation activities
(such as mine inspections and interviews) related to the Secretary of Labor’s
investigation and will have full access to documents that are assembled or
produced in such investigation, and ensures that the Secretary of Labor 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 Panel; and</text>
</clause><clause id="HDA8BEE7024DB4B3B9CAA363DF1E88C76"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>establishes such
other arrangements as are necessary to implement this paragraph.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H15B1550A2E204F87850E69451319F860"><enum>(F)</enum><header>Procedures</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 90 days after the date of
enactment of the <short-title>Robert C. Byrd Mine Safety
Protection Act of 2010</short-title>, the Secretary of Health and Human
Services shall establish procedures to ensure the consistency and effectiveness
of Panel investigations. In establishing such procedures, such Secretary shall
consult with independent safety investigation agencies, sectors of the mining
industry, representatives of miners, families of miners involved in fatal
accidents, State mine safety agencies, and mine rescue organizations. Such
procedures shall include—</text>
<clause id="H94675690372C4F35AAC4E5B40E18228A"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">authority for the Panel to use evidence,
samples, interviews, data, analyses, findings, or other information gathered by
the Secretary of Labor, as the Panel determines valid;</text>
</clause><clause id="H1DAE35340D6441DB92B3BA32730F2ECC"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>provisions to
ensure confidentiality if requested by any witness, to the extent permitted by
law, and prevent conflicts of interest in witness representation; and</text>
</clause><clause id="HC27A95EC3AAA43A4899B5FF7C4C15AAA"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>provisions for
preservation of public access to the Panel’s records through the Secretary of
Health and Human Services.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HC9A16E834DFA483D901AEEFE51192FB4"><enum>(G)</enum><header>Authorization of
appropriations</header><text>There is authorized to be appropriated to carry
out this subsection such sums as may be necessary.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H33E855772C124634A67856A769885980"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Powers and
processes</header><text>For the
purpose</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="H2DCA58F8C8CE4BE88281B00FCFC99661"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Reporting
requirements</header><text>Section 511(a) (30 U.S.C. 958(a)) is amended by
inserting after <quote>501,</quote> the following: <quote>the status of
implementation of recommendations from each independent investigation panel
under section 103(b) received in the preceding 5 years</quote>.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="H0719A99F75F743AE9AAE293CF9E285C8"><enum>102.</enum><header>Subpoena
authority and miner rights during inspections and investigations</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 103(b) (as amended by section 101)
(30 U.S.C. 813(b)) is further amended by adding at the end the
following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H51078DAECFA94A3D8DD0433454DC7E49" style="traditional">
<paragraph id="H2E4A0B0304BB4428808BD1AFC787507F"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Additional
powers</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For purposes of making
inspections and investigations, the Secretary or the Secretary’s designee, 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. Witnesses
summoned shall be paid the same fees that are paid witnesses in the courts of
the United States. In carrying out inspections and investigations under this
subsection, authorized representatives of the Secretary and attorneys
representing the Secretary are authorized to question any individual privately.
Under this section, any individual who is willing to speak with or provide a
statement to such authorized representatives or attorneys representing the
Secretary may do so without the presence, involvement, or knowledge of the
operator or the operator’s agents or attorneys. The Secretary shall keep the
identity of an individual providing such a statement confidential to the extent
permitted by law. Nothing in this paragraph prevents any individual from being
represented by that individual’s personal
attorney.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF03BEBDB2EFB46FD9B5DC5F7FA92698F" 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. A representative of miners shall have the right to participate
in any accident investigation the Secretary initiates pursuant to subsection
(b), including the right to participate in investigative interviews and to
review all relevant papers, books, documents and records produced in connection
with the accident investigation, unless the Secretary in consultation with the
Attorney General excludes such representatives from the investigation on the
grounds that inclusion would interfere with or adversely impact a criminal
investigation that is pending or under consideration.</quote>.</text>
</section><section id="H9BCAA61AD3EA42D59448ADBD4CA50063"><enum>104.</enum><header>Additional
amendments relating to inspections and investigations</header>
<subsection id="H1832E3716BDF4AF0BAECADD220E28C61"><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 id="H11D9E56861424AFA8F566DA08613B1CE"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Review of mine
pattern status</header><text>Section 103(a) is further amended by inserting
before the last sentence the following: <quote>The Secretary shall, upon
request by an operator, review with the appropriate mine officials the
Secretary’s most recent evaluation for pattern status (as provided in section
104(e)) for that mine during the course of a mine’s regular quarterly
inspection of an underground mine or a biannual inspection of a surface mine,
or, at the discretion of the Secretary, during the pre-inspection
conference.</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" id="HC0E746A96C2E44D6A00D63E9237D85A3"><enum>(c)</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 with respect to the miners in their employ or under
their direction or authority, and shall be maintained separately for each mine
and be reported at a frequency determined by the Secretary, but at least
annually. Independent contractors (within the meaning of section 3(d)) shall be
responsible for reporting accidents, occupational injuries and illnesses, and
man-hours worked for each mine with respect to the miners in their employ or
under their direction or authority, and shall be reported at a frequency
determined by the Secretary, but at least annually. Reports or records of
operators and contractors required and submitted to the Secretary under this
subsection shall be signed and certified as accurate and complete by a
knowledgeable and responsible person possessing a certification, registration,
qualification, or other approval, as provided for under section 118. Knowingly
falsifying such records or reports shall be grounds for revoking such
certification, registration, qualification, or other approval under the
standards established under subsection (b)(1) of such section.</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H72BA012168B44CBAB6DBD9569021037F"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Orders following
an accident</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 103(k)
(30 U.S.C. 813(k)) is amended by striking <quote>, when
present,</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" id="H112B110C0B974BA7B393A02236481106"><enum>(e)</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 knowingly 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 knowingly 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="H41E7305841A343E2A5E2D381B0E7A781"><enum>201.</enum><header>Technical
amendment</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="HC00DA70751B64FDF91BAB2300396C06B"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in the first
sentence—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="H371D3BF6CE4F455797ABF37D381296CE"><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="H307484226E8541C1A450A15E7B258FE3"><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>; and</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HFEDFC6A1C9B240B880497DB578AAD4D6"><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>.</text>
</paragraph></section><section id="HE1CCE2F824144B9EB45089C6D126D759"><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="H1106783CD0E049AEAB88D35AADE3A9C0" style="OLC">
<subsection id="HFC9877863ACF4723939919CBB62E82AD"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Pattern of
recurring noncompliance or accidents</header>
<paragraph id="H0C2DBB9B576A4090B0129A39BBC2662B"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Pattern
status</header>
<subparagraph id="H1E0C4317260541FC894B466F0DABD6AB"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>For purposes of this subsection, a coal or other mine
shall be placed in pattern status if such mine has, as determined based on the
regulations promulgated under paragraph (8)—</text>
<clause id="H81458FEBE4AD4F93BB738E05A20B0E8D"><enum>(i)</enum><text>a
pattern of—</text>
<subclause id="H84AA64F826554C6DBB21FA2999FFC03C"><enum>(I)</enum><text>citations for
significant and substantial violations;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H689B0B2BEF544EAEAC0FFA6920DD95BB"><enum>(II)</enum><text>citations and
withdrawal orders issued for unwarrantable failure to comply with mandatory
health and safety standards under section 104(d);</text>
</subclause><subclause id="HEF1F30C8EB204C81BD44D0A5992EAD92"><enum>(III)</enum><text>citations for
flagrant violations within the meaning of section 110(b);</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H00AAA6765C084AFF87561F8051309B85"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>withdrawal orders
issued under any other section of this Act (other than orders issued under
subsections (j) or (k) of section 103); and</text>
</subclause><subclause id="HB71E6038D1B24B839D32E9D356E97B50"><enum>(V)</enum><text>accidents and
injuries; or</text>
</subclause></clause><clause id="HCF9694D473174E31827438EB2BF3C460"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>a
pattern consisting of any combination of citations, orders, accidents, or
injuries described in subclauses (I) through (V).</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8F1F92D166DB46BA9D48FC5229640F02"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Mitigating
circumstances</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Notwithstanding
subparagraph (A), if the Secretary, after conducting an assessment of a coal or
other mine that otherwise qualifies for pattern status, certifies that there
are mitigating circumstances wherein the operator has already implemented
remedial measures that have reduced risks to the health and safety of miners to
the point that such risks are no longer elevated and has taken 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 id="HA8DE8462C01847A19F668478AFE55DF9"><enum>(i)</enum><text>made available on
the public Web site of the Mine Safety and Health Administration; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H64CC5F48CE094F41BFCDBF4688CAF848"><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><subparagraph id="HC47C2CEEFB074AA9921A0920ECE636E5"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Frequency</header><text>Not
less frequently than every 6 months, the Secretary shall identify any mines
which meet the criteria set forth in paragraph (8).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H307534D808BB406E8F34C05D7ADF4AFF"><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 id="H3E6F0C46801A4138AB091A5CA1DA0E1B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>notify the
operator of such mine that the mine is being placed in pattern status;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H1A7EC5253A454C1F8319C3502AB6520C"><enum>(B)</enum><text>issue an order
requiring such operator to cause all persons to be withdrawn from such mine,
except those persons referred to in subsection (c) or authorized by an order of
the Secretary issued under this subsection;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H88FCA46D452B49E9A91C9FDA0F36C667"><enum>(C)</enum><text>issue a
remediation order described in paragraph (3) to such operator within 3 days;
and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H840E266010FC4D4089C158AEE5387BD6"><enum>(D)</enum><text>require that the
number of regular inspections of such mine required under section 103 be
increased to 8 per year while the mine is in pattern status.</text>
</subparagraph><continuation-text continuation-text-level="paragraph">Notice
advising operators that they face potential placement in pattern status shall
not be a requirement for issuing a withdrawal order to operators under this
subsection.</continuation-text></paragraph><paragraph id="H9E4079214B594A7C828DF93A8D57DC70"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Remediation
order</header>
<subparagraph id="HDB317E7212F440E1BD4048D1AA91AA71"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>A remediation order issued to an operator under paragraph
(2)(C) may require the operator to carry out one or more of the following
requirements, pursuant to a timetable for commencing and completing such
actions or as a condition of miners reentering the mine:</text>
<clause id="H6990A9E3F94046F3A391501AEBAB0172"><enum>(i)</enum><text>Provide specified
training, including training not otherwise required under this Act.</text>
</clause><clause id="H4F24C963F4D14AD6B9800EFB56AC4C6E"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>Institute and
implement an effective health and safety management program approved by the
Secretary, including—</text>
<subclause id="H19239A01670F4AFBA70D53ED7F69B26E"><enum>(I)</enum><text>the employment of
safety professionals, certified persons, and adequate numbers of personnel for
the mine, as may be required by the Secretary;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H3788C4F28F5B480EB8645B9A2CA0DCC2"><enum>(II)</enum><text>specific
inspection, recordkeeping, reporting and other requirements for the mine as the
Secretary may establish; and</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H14505B05786A4687B5C16D9AA1541E59"><enum>(III)</enum><text>other
requirements to ensure compliance and to protect the health and safety of
miners or prevent accidents or injuries as the Secretary may determine are
necessary.</text>
</subclause></clause><clause id="H3F5FB454EE654D13AD4C2AB06EA39384"><enum>(iii)</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, or
advising miners of their rights under this Act.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H42E96AAAEDA648B98B397507653B3AE4"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Modification of
and failure to comply with remediation order</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary may modify the remediation
order, as necessary, to protect the health and safety of miners. If the mine
operator fails to fully comply with the remediation order during the time a
mine is in pattern status, the Secretary shall reinstate the withdrawal order
under paragraph (2)(B).</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC9C1A5540CBB4542A69728E19531C07F"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Extension of
deadlines</header><text>An extension of a deadline under the remediation order
may be granted on a temporary basis and only upon a showing that the operator
took all feasible measures to comply with the order and only to the extent that
the operator's failure to comply is beyond the control of the operator.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H100BD92C18A44AAD94FAB55A4D62F318"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Conditions for
lifting a withdrawal order</header><text>A withdrawal order issued under
paragraph (2)(B) shall not be lifted until the Secretary verifies that—</text>
<subparagraph id="H049909E8A726419EBDC6FA070627FADC"><enum>(A)</enum><text>any and all
violations or other conditions in the mine identified in the remediation order
have been or are being fully abated or corrected as outlined in the remediation
order; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HD41215DFA1684769AFC72734ECEAC0D6"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the operator has
completed any other actions under the remediation order that are required for
reopening the mine.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H32B08895CC3146D7B41E3F78E3A279A4"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Performance
evaluation</header>
<subparagraph id="HAFF74F021B424BCCB36F91832DD91B8E"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Performance
benchmarks</header><text>The Secretary shall evaluate the performance of each
mine in pattern status every 90 days during which the mine is producing and
determine if, for such 90-day period—</text>
<clause id="H2724D125D76B41ECBC31B7F05CF28121"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the rate of citations at such mine for
significant and substantial violations—</text>
<subclause id="HF5F0FDD1CE8C46F1BDC22233C84E2A72"><enum>(I)</enum><text>is in the top
performing 35th percentile of such rates, respectively, for all mines of
similar size and type; or</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H627DC5CBFFED4DF2A6BC1E2429E2B5D8"><enum>(II)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">has been reduced by 70 percent from the
date on which such mine was placed in pattern status, provided that the rate of
such violations is not greater than the mean for all mines of similar size and
type;</text>
</subclause></clause><clause id="H4CAB8A76B3FF4DE8A9853A7F46D9FA31"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the accident and injury rates at such mine
are in the top performing 35th percentile of such rates, respectively, for all
mines of similar size and type; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H1249A1340FEA42D887F8F674DA6881B0"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>no citations or
withdrawal orders for a violation under section 104(d), no withdrawal orders
for imminent danger under section 107 (issued in connection with a citation),
and no flagrant violations within the meaning of section 110(b), were issued
for such mine.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HEDDD77D43475492AAEA128DCE4E26C0D"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Reissuance of
withdrawal orders</header><text>If an operator being evaluated fails to achieve
the performance benchmarks described in subparagraph (A), the Secretary may
reissue a withdrawal order under paragraph (2)(B) to remedy any recurring
conditions that led to pattern status under this subsection, and may modify the
remediation order, as necessary, to protect the health and safety of
miners.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H1E034936E1B34408BB05FED3D1AF2552"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Termination of
pattern status</header>
<subparagraph id="H3E145BE45A824B66BF267AAB73A1F169"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Performance
benchmarks</header><text>The Secretary shall remove a coal or other mine from
pattern status if, for a 1-year period during which the mine is
producing—</text>
<clause id="H52FECFDDC5B6412E8E13078A0C95398A"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the rate of
citations at such mine for significant and substantial violations—</text>
<subclause id="H1B3F29A9CF5F4A71A1BE64C52FA8A092"><enum>(I)</enum><text>is in the top
performing 25th percentile of such rates, respectively, for all mines of
similar size and type; or</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H3259663739124095813FABAF11B33726"><enum>(II)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">has been reduced by 80 percent from the
date on which such mine was placed in pattern status, provided that the rate of
such violations is not greater than the mean for all mines of similar size and
type;</text>
</subclause></clause><clause id="H42C6947284F14BCE9F38B7097F4B8F67"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the accident and injury rates at such mine
are in the top performing 25th percentile of such rates, respectively, for all
mines of similar size and type; and</text>
</clause><clause id="HC3B849C96150420D8817F34FFF71CBA7"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">no citations or withdrawal orders for
violations under section 104(d), no withdrawal orders for imminent danger under
section 107 (issued in connection with a citation), and no flagrant violations
within the meaning of section 110(b), were issued for such mine.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC9B0C9EE2FCA40D19C56F142085AD1F9"><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><subparagraph id="HAF9E6C0779284BE0B08DDCB80ACB92E9"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Construction</header><text>A
withdrawal order issued as the result of a condition that was entirely beyond
the operator’s ability to prevent or control shall not preclude the operator
from being removed from pattern status, provided the operator did not cause or
allow miners to be exposed to the condition in violation of any provision of
this Act or a mandatory health or safety standard or regulation promulgated
under this Act.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H56CA7DB55CFC4B268180097A60B48B10"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Expedited
review</header><text>If any order under this subsection is contested, the
review of such order shall be conducted on an expedited basis, in accordance
with section 105(d).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H4814B1DEC6E649B68588FBDA7578D575"><enum>(8)</enum><header>Regulations</header>
<subparagraph id="HA17C004124B945A9A48542ECD2F675F0"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 120
days after the date of enactment of the Robert C. Byrd Miner Safety and Health
Act of 2010, the Secretary shall issue interim final regulations that shall
define—</text>
<clause id="H80542249A39A48959CB1DF045B502EBD"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the threshold
benchmarks to trigger pattern status under paragraph (1) and cause a withdrawal
order to be issued or reissued; and</text>
</clause><clause id="HA7758B07214748238D3A6A0D4A7E8100"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the performance
benchmarks described in paragraphs (5)(A) and (6)(A).</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H46AAC4F23B264A7C8B586CE48B0367BD"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Threshold
benchmarks</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In establishing
threshold benchmarks to trigger pattern status for mines with significantly
poor compliance that contributes to unsafe or unhealthy conditions, the
Secretary—</text>
<clause id="HF99CB3BD852F4AAAB44637BB9C830319"><enum>(i)</enum><text>shall—</text>
<subclause id="H30ED30652BB1445EAE4BC0F4450A122E"><enum>(I)</enum><text>consider rates of
citations and orders described in paragraph (1)(A) and rates of reportable
accidents and injuries within the preceding 180-day period; and</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H24B90DD2E70340F7A2283E4B482FDED2"><enum>(II)</enum><text>assign
appropriate weight to various types of citations, orders, accidents, injuries,
or other factors; and</text>
</subclause></clause><clause id="H626C2C08A6F74B8C88C0BED36B36A092"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>may
include—</text>
<subclause id="H1D9E24B0AA264ED8864548F7EAEFE23A"><enum>(I)</enum><text>factors such as
mine type, production levels, number of miners, hours worked by miners, number
of mechanized mining units (or similar production characteristics), and the
presence of a representative of miners at the mine for purposes of collective
bargaining;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H83286E868593468EADB5CFE3191AF68B"><enum>(II)</enum><text>the mine’s
history of citations, violations, orders, and other enforcement actions, or
rates of reportable accidents and injuries, over any period determined relevant
by the Secretary; and</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H8504445433CA434B918E9D9999D90B7F"><enum>(III)</enum><text>other factors
the Secretary may determine appropriate to protect the safety and health of
miners.</text>
</subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H0C1D435C09B840FABB7BCCEA902214AE"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Final
regulation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 2
years after the date of enactment of the Robert C. Byrd Miner Safety and Health
Act of 2010, the Secretary shall promulgate a final regulation implementing
this paragraph.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H69999689861C458DB70E778DED3F9BAE"><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 which shall be updated as frequently
as practicable. Such database shall be searchable and 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 id="HE3EA6139F5154B88B2874009A54870C4"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a list of all mines the Secretary places in
pattern status, updated within 7 days of placing an additional mine in pattern
status;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H11B448751543488AB2F9667CF1CD204C"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the metrics, including percentile
information, used for the purposes of the performance benchmarks and threshold
benchmarks described in paragraphs (5), (6), and (8); and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB9E7EE9EB9A84FB8A3A78BA2A4CFB537"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">guidance for the use of such metrics and
benchmarks to assist operators in determining the performance their mines under
criteria established by the Secretary.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H9CD06D4311264078B6EAC7EDA4DB95E4"><enum>(10)</enum><header>Operator fees
for additional inspections</header>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="HFDDC82DBC0D34BE0BB39212DF605B88E"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Assessment and
collection</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Beginning 120 days
after the date of enactment of the Robert C. Byrd Miner Safety and Health Act
of 2010, 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="HEB7E5699EBA648378F6D41CB67DD0A1F"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Use</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Amounts collected as provided in
subparagraph (A) shall only be available to the Secretary for making
expenditures to carry out the additional inspections required under paragraph
(2)(D).</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HC04A77A2888C47D196A07ED96FB22B14"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Authorization of
appropriations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In addition to
any other amounts authorized to be appropriated under this Act, there is
authorized to be appropriated to the Assistant Secretary for Mine Safety and
Health for each fiscal year in which fees are collected under subparagraph (A)
an amount equal to the total amount of fees collected under such subparagraph
during that fiscal year. Such amounts are authorized to remain available until
expended. If on the first day of a fiscal year a regular appropriation to the
Commission has not been enacted, the Commission shall continue to collect fees
(as offsetting collections) under this subsection at the rate in effect during
the preceding fiscal year, until 5 days after the date such regular
appropriation is enacted.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7973C83CB37544E99507BA8FEDFC5ECB"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Collection and
Crediting of Fees</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Fees
authorized and collected under this paragraph shall be deposited and credited
as offsetting collections to the account providing appropriations to the Mine
Safety and Health Administration and shall not be collected for any fiscal year
except to the extent and in the amount provided in advance in appropriation
Acts.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section id="H36D0C7A0CEBA40B395D3BF7E4246EF3D"><enum>203.</enum><header>Injunctive
authority</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 108(a)(2)
(30 U.S.C. 818(a)(2)) is amended by striking <quote>a pattern of violation
of</quote> and all that follows and inserting <quote>a course of conduct that
in the judgment of the Secretary constitutes a continuing hazard to the health
or safety of miners, including violations of this Act or of mandatory health
and safety standards or regulations under this Act.</quote>.</text>
</section><section id="HED40000AE6E54CED8251A359DA2805A4"><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—</text>
<paragraph id="HB399DF8BB22441D59BD54CB2E18B4F76"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by redesignating
subsection (d) as subsection (e); and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H2052527E16004110922715DCDB7173AA"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by inserting after
subsection (c) the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H74AE869F57D44EE981E9DFAED198EA4F" style="OLC">
<subsection id="H843CC2FB38D045C994CABA26825FA3C3"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Revocation of
approval of plans</header>
<paragraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HB0F3C0410A0D49B3BCC0B05262301930"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Revocation</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.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HD8C5A8FA6BB241A9B0E18FF818873CAB"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Withdrawal
orders</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Upon revocation of the
approval of a program or plan under subsection (a), the Secretary may
immediately issue an order requiring the operator to cause all persons, except
those persons referred to in section 104(c), to be withdrawn from such mine or
an area of such mine, and to be prohibited from entering such mine or such
area, until the operator has submitted and the Secretary has approved a new
plan.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></section><section id="H8EF22F6CEBCA4C8DA2D286953F7FC1BC"><enum>205.</enum><header>Challenging a
decision to approve, modify, or revoke a coal or other mine plan</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 105(e) (as redesignated by section
204(1)) (30 U.S.C. 815(e)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
<quote>In any proceeding in which a party challenges the Secretary’s decision
whether to approve, modify, or revoke a coal or other mine plan under this Act,
the Commission shall affirm the Secretary’s decision unless the challenging
party establishes that such decision was arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of
discretion, or otherwise not in accordance with law.</quote>.</text>
</section><section id="HAA0FADC15EE34C248469BC5BE443AF7E"><enum>206.</enum><header>GAO Study on
MSHA Mine Plan Approval</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Not
later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller
General shall provide a report to Congress on the timeliness of the Mine Safety
and Health Administration’s approval of underground coal mines’ required plans
and plan amendments, including—</text>
<paragraph id="H28F7D59692AE4D00855C1379368A1842"><enum>(1)</enum><text>factors that
contribute to any delays in the approval of these plans; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H33DE523D561B46CAA7984640C32C0403"><enum>(2)</enum><text>as appropriate,
recommendations for improving timeliness of plan review and for achieving
prompt decisions.</text>
</paragraph></section><enum>III</enum><header>Penalties</header>
<section id="HE55A043865294729829A49917BCA58EB"><enum>301.</enum><header>Civil
penalties</header>
<subsection commented="no" id="HA3A88361D7D94AF28330DB9CCE591CD3"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Technical
correction</header><text>Section 110(a)(1) (30 U.S.C. 820(a)(1)) is amended by
inserting <quote>including any regulation promulgated under this Act,</quote>
after <quote>this Act,</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" id="H6E276CD6299545B1A3850C7A939C5CD9"><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="H387EC1C9792B442387AAC890FF7D331D" style="OLC">
<paragraph commented="no" id="H794A572FF78C4CB49125832DA6A7FACD" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 time period after the operator fails to meet the performance benchmarks in
this paragraph, 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="H4E4DCFA4BF464ADC84CEE3A247D64E9C"><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="H1F117B4D0DF2467FB816724BCAEE436C"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by redesignating
paragraph (4) as paragraph (5); and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H5BFC592A86FD4E9589B419973643EAAD"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by inserting after
paragraph (3) the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H57BACD5D3C3E4F34A439B4D59AD15F5A" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H028D76804D1046FF9EFD9C876AE0303F" 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="HB494CAAB085340728ADCBA56CCAF5066"><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="H1CEEBC87D4E341CCB506D42BD43F83B2" style="OLC">
<subsection commented="no" id="H09A2049EF8B2491E9FBB0870500A4E8E"><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 knowingly 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 knowingly authorized, ordered, or carried out
such violation, failure, or refusal, or any policy or practice that resulted in
such violation, failure, or refusal, 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="HB832638B61584D429F9711AD755B93E1"><enum>303.</enum><header>Criminal
penalties</header>
<subsection id="H925BF492399F41EA99E21B936712ACEC"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Section 110(d) (30 U.S.C. 820(d)) is amended to read as
follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H9219A48240B04C8683A152CAD4F7B7F2" style="traditional">
<subsection id="H91879E954FAC41449B8408073E0A9717"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Criminal
penalties</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H3928899FE6A7467B9B6CB6BE472D51F5"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Whoever, being an operator, knowingly
violates a mandatory health or safety standard, or knowingly violates or fails
or refuses to comply with any order issued under section 104 or section 107, or
any order incorporated in a final decision issued under this Act (except an
order incorporated in a decision under subsection (a)(1) or section 105(c)),
shall, upon conviction, be fined not more than $250,000, or imprisoned for not
more than 1 year, or both, except that if the operator commits the violation
after having previously committed a violation under this paragraph, the
operator shall, upon conviction, be fined not more than $1,000,000, or
imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or both.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H50327EACB8DC4851ADFB0BFA8CA9410C" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Whoever, being an operator—</text>
<subparagraph id="HAF2194E390F64E44AF9F1612C2D51741"><enum>(A)</enum><text>knowingly tampers with or disables a
required safety device (except with express authorization from the Secretary);</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H45985AE1EA1141428BFC9C596045C97D"><enum>(B)</enum><text>knowingly violates a mandatory health
or safety standard; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H7C32A5E2F9504445A90ADB4899ED3354"><enum>(C)</enum><text>knowingly violates or fails or refuses
to comply with an order issued under section 104 or 107, or any order
incorporated in a final decision issued under this Act (except an order
incorporated in a decision under subsection (a)(1) or section 105(c)), and
thereby recklessly exposes a miner to significant risk of serious injury,
serious illness, or death, shall, upon conviction, be fined not more than
$1,000,000, or imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or both, except that if
the operator commits the violation after having previously committed a
violation under this paragraph, the operator shall, upon conviction, be fined
not more than $2,000,000, or imprisoned for not more than 10 years, or both.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H87BB559EF7804952B4DF5BEB98BEBDAC" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Whoever, with intent to retaliate or
to impede or interfere with an investigation, interferes with the lawful
employment or livelihood of a person, or threatens a person with such action,
because such person (or a spouse, sibling, child, or parent of such person)
provides information to an authorized representative of the Secretary, a State
or local mine safety or health officer or official, or other any other law
enforcement officer in reasonable belief that the information is true and
related to an apparent health or safety violation, or unhealthful or unsafe
condition, policy, or practice under this Act, or takes or threatens such
person with such action to prevent such person (or a spouse, sibling, child, or
parent of such person) from so providing such information, shall be fined under
title 18, United States Code, or imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or
both.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="H3261AA3D465348FABD3BBCB34C930510"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Advance notice
of inspections</header>
<paragraph id="H681C6FFDBE3142019AEBC3F8536AEB5B"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Section 110(e) (30 U.S.C. 820(e)) is amended to read as
follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H0FA98F15EE0A4ECC9F73B931BA52A651" style="traditional">
<subsection id="HC806BBD425DF48E0B21CFD1787BDA4ED"><enum>(e)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Whoever, with intent to give advance notice
of an inspection conducted or to be conducted under this Act, and thereby to
impede, interfere with, or frustrate such inspection, engages in, or directs
another person to engage in, conduct that a reasonable person would expect to
result in such advance notice, shall be fined under title 18, United States
Code, or imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or both.</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HF3884224916F40F6AF678C36D038EF71"><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="H2DF36459F3054DE6A53FDBE804584812" style="OLC">
<subsection id="H8F3D3244D4FA4C43BD0E2866E25ADE8D"><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="HFFBC736D411F41E98F581FD247630C28"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">that giving, causing to give, or attempting
to give or cause to give advance notice of any inspection to be conducted under
this Act with the intention of impeding, interfering with, or adversely
affecting the results of such inspection is unlawful pursuant to section
110(e); and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H9CDF84AB379C4D3E948F5BF6B0A6B988"><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="H8B351E099EF34E4BBA8F280007205DDF"><enum>304.</enum><header>Commission
review of penalty assessments</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 110(i) (30 U.S.C. 820(i)) is amended
by striking <quote>In assessing civil monetary penalties, the Commission shall
consider</quote> and inserting the following: <quote>In any review of a
citation and proposed penalty assessment contested by an operator, the
Commission shall assess not less than the penalty derived by using the same
methodology (including any point system) prescribed in regulations under this
Act, so as to ensure consistency in operator penalty assessments, except that
the Commission may assess a penalty for less than the amount that would result
from the utilization of such methodology if the Commission finds that there are
extraordinary circumstances. If there is no such methodology prescribed for a
citation or there are such extraordinary circumstances, the Commission shall
assess the penalty by considering</quote>.</text>
</section><section id="H43B9071A6CF949A0B6B1F16E05EB9523"><enum>305.</enum><header>Delinquent
payments and prejudgment interest</header>
<subsection id="HC298390881AC46FFB07EF637FE9D417D"><enum>(a)</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="HA87C7D56CE31443AB78DD0DC71E9CF60"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Ensuring payment
of penalties</header>
<paragraph id="H115293B076A841ABBA806118A7A7CA09"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Amendments</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 110 (30 U.S.C. 820) is further
amended—</text>
<subparagraph id="HA9391A9923D74677AED76BB197D4833D"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by redesignating subsection (l) as
subsection (m); and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H84BE29A9369B4BE7A9423FEDA583D111"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting after subsection (k) the
following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1432E4F42D5D4B0FBC7D557CDE12212D" style="OLC">
<subsection id="HF092BBB91D5149D699E7B31E62133DA6"><enum>(l)</enum><header>Ensuring payment
of penalties</header>
<paragraph id="HA59500D015464D448BB4A61D2C8A7F6A"><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 45 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="H737D78E08F194A709BD13A4B5955443C"><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>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HFE026D1561C94BA99C41F02F2365D9EA"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Applicability
and effective date</header><text>The amendments 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="H025B9DF831F5487580223FD8E717B848"><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="H54D08887A4A44C7BB1829812EB8B8EF6" style="OLC">
<subsection id="HC9FCAEDEC0F04B3181838C3B3A03CD21"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Protection from
retaliation</header>
<paragraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H91C33C5195914377B3A3E7AD4C4547AA"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Retaliation
prohibited</header>
<subparagraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HBB7AE22CB49D4E9C897D77F201FD45E2"><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="HF82A74FB2EB144F3BCFC1557C82391D3"><enum>(i)</enum><text>such miner or
other employee, representative, or applicant for employment—</text>
<subclause id="HA7CDEEF661DF4ADD8383B46D4785A152"><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="HAB025F26542B40689D316EF164B3BAF8"><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, or has reported any injury or illness
to an operator or agent;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H820EA8C635734A52ADB64AEDF51AD490"><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="H6F96FB1D9E084BFDAF0B1A35D89743BE"><enum>(IV)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">refused to violate any provision of this
Act, including any mandatory health and safety standard or regulation;
or</text>
</subclause></clause><clause id="H8E256E01F64343D29964FFDE872AA379"><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="H5B65A7AD3039418F9A894C57BA169FF5"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Retaliation for
refusal to perform duties</header>
<clause id="HC6F12CEA3BE24D268D8D7B5FFA08200C"><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="HA900F8E71EE5473799EC8C7558B733A6"><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="H96F5A18B752342F68230DD993B3C3876"><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="H91C33C5195914377B3A3E7AD4C4547AA" legis-path="(c)(1)">paragraph (1)</internal-xref> may file a complaint with the
Secretary alleging such discrimination not later than 180 days after the later
of—</text>
<subparagraph id="H23BE48663BF245A6AEEA91E0DC021FFA"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the last date on
which an alleged violation of
<internal-xref idref="H91C33C5195914377B3A3E7AD4C4547AA" legis-path="(c)(1)">paragraph (1)</internal-xref> occurs; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE90F5985A23B49D39408415B23E9F9C3"><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="H2202D709F6C14645AEB8F969F0B1E7BB"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Investigation
and hearing</header>
<subparagraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H8E84D208DCB545DBB124DE05C4662C9C"><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="H9D087492A82C44F5A991C0F4ED865DA3"><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="H4FEC0F16D8104652A8263388E663ED3D"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Investigation</header><text>Such
investigation shall include interviewing the complainant and—</text>
<clause id="HD162F8D909954E2C9E4A3938053B4A94"><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="H30D272A1FB494D1F88D5D4982E68E68B"><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="H618114D9693449D9900C6C4345EC3454"><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="H274C84F2609E426EB230B499746A4B15"><enum>(E)</enum><header>Action of the
Commission</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Commission
shall afford an opportunity for a hearing on the record (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="H245274D5406E425F95744451A7FD8E46"><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="HF067F677FBED4BF38BF00277F3A4524F"><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="H87133095F7CA4379B07D6104729CC3B5"><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="HC4FAD7D613E64CD494D64ACB38573041"><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="H10AAB85D81FD4778BC59B138920D6D42"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Notice to and
action of complainant</header>
<subparagraph id="HB227AC08075545B387F51926A5E65A47"><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="H814D7CD8638444CFACC7F792253A82D9"><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="H91C33C5195914377B3A3E7AD4C4547AA" legis-path="(c)(1)">paragraph (1)</internal-xref>.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC7E89B435ADC4B34A80003F9678E1853"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Hearing and
decision</header><text>The Commission shall afford an opportunity for a hearing
on the record (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="H274C84F2609E426EB230B499746A4B15" 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="HB2E2175B716D4F519FBD7B209D2977DF"><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="H91C33C5195914377B3A3E7AD4C4547AA" legis-path="(c)(1)">paragraph (1)</internal-xref> has occurred only if the
complainant demonstrates that any conduct described in
<internal-xref idref="H91C33C5195914377B3A3E7AD4C4547AA" 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="HBC2CD31804C84E03811946CF6406E604"><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="H1BD6ADF1760C4BCFB3A570905D483A50"><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="H91C33C5195914377B3A3E7AD4C4547AA" 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="HC3806C6BF21B46F388C8E176559B94A6"><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="H6E1CB3D0FFED4338BAF7EC54B43328B1"><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="H9AB30B98B467418B98CD208E92AF7850"><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="HCE68B20FFD48461D93479D63E6473711" style="OLC">
<section commented="no" id="H4BE893344084405CAE1C62C7B169ACB7"><enum>111.</enum><header>Entitlement of
miners</header>
<subsection id="H9215FB4152344A8781386B69F28DF48F"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Protection from
loss of pay</header>
<paragraph id="HCF82AD93F7314FDCB15B27351DECF76B"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Withdrawal
orders</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 working during the shift when such order was
issued who are idled by such order shall be entitled, regardless of the result
of any review of such order, to full compensation by the operator at their
regular rates of pay for the period they are idled, but for not more than the
balance of such shift. If such order is not terminated prior to the next
working shift, all miners on that shift who are idled by such order shall be
entitled to full compensation by the operator at their regular rates of pay for
the period they are idled, but for not more than four hours of such shift. If a
coal or other mine or area of such mine is closed by an order issued under
section 104, 107 (in connection with a citation), 108, or 110, all miners who
are idled by such order shall be entitled, regardless of the result of any
review of such order, to full compensation by the operator at their regular
rates of pay and in accordance with their regular schedules of pay for the
entire period for which they are idled, not to exceed 60 days.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HDEE1AB13E4E14E83B2F1A7930E6A70A1"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Closure in
advance of order</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If the
Secretary finds that such mine or such area of a mine was closed by the
operator in anticipation of the issuance of such an order, all miners who are
idled by such closure shall be entitled to full compensation by the operator at
their regular rates of pay and in accordance with their regular schedules of
pay, from the time of such closure until such time as the Secretary authorizes
reopening of such mine or such area of the mine, not to exceed 60 days, except
where an operator promptly withdraws miners upon discovery of a hazard, and
notifies the Secretary where required, and within the prescribed time
period.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H0C2AE2FA57754521880A4822B72CD2B0"><enum>(3)</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, or
terminated.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HA5C891465FCC4F8EB6A41D3902D459B9"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Enforcement</header>
<paragraph id="H6CC509DFBB2844B8B2FDB7910444B854"><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 on the record 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="HA4AD4CD8E37C40AF85367B6ED5596DD2"><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><subsection id="HEC8D62FE4FEB404498D426106A2FF42A"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Expedited
Review</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If an order is issued
which results in payments to miners under subsection (a), the operators shall
have the right to an expedited review before the Commission using timelines and
procedures established pursuant to section
316(b)(2)(G)(ii).</text>
</subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section id="HD8AF8EB049F04352AC336E8A0E61CA62"><enum>403.</enum><header>Underground
coal miner employment standard for mines placed in pattern status</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of
1977 is further amended by adding at the end of title I the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HB109A2FCEC0A4EA7853FF332BD51FEC4" style="OLC">
<section id="H513ED55910DC4124A709FE592C7C4762"><enum>117.</enum><header>Underground
coal miner employment standard for mines placed in pattern status</header>
<subsection id="H274F8110EDE94C67A84545A832150B67"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For purposes of
ensuring miners’ health and safety and miners’ right to raise concerns thereof,
when an underground coal mine is placed in pattern status pursuant to section
104(e), and for 3 years after such placement, the operator of such mine may not
discharge or constructively discharge a miner who is paid on an hourly basis
and employed at such underground coal mine without reasonable job-related
grounds based on a failure to satisfactorily perform job duties, including
compliance with this Act and with mandatory health and safety standards or
other regulations issued under this Act, or other legitimate business reason,
where the miner has completed the employer’s probationary period, not to exceed
6 months.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H2D2300A0721B41DCA06F19FFAF565279"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Cause of
action</header><text>A miner aggrieved by a violation of subsection (a) may
file a complaint in Federal district court in the district where the mine is
located within 1 year of such violation.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H8A849FE9B93949A8939D1FBA0DF2D7AA"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Remedies</header><text>In
an action under subsection (b), for any prevailing miner the court shall take
affirmative action to further the purposes of the Act, which may include
reinstatement with backpay and compensatory damages. Reasonable attorneys’ fees
and costs shall be awarded to any prevailing miner under this section.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H592043115B304EB2A6B852CDBB13BCF6"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Pre-Dispute
waiver prohibited</header><text>A miner’s right to a cause of action under this
section may not be waived with respect to disputes that have not arisen as of
the time of the waiver.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HCB5C2639B17447DBA961212A737991F2"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Construction</header><text>Nothing
in this section shall be construed to limit the availability of rights and
remedies of miners under any other State or Federal law or a collective
bargaining
agreement.</text>
</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="HD2AB18100F4C425F8F5F10A71DBBD553"><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="H8CC045C82A114B0AAEF38B15149C7913" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H9BD11EF23E7B4178A9E1FEA570AA6304" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H677FD995DDD7445FB871A95C82A034C9"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 is orally briefed on and made
aware of, prior to traveling to or arriving at the miner’s work area and
commencing the miner’s assigned tasks—</text>
<clause id="H173445759FC44B8FBB6468ED4E6E9730" indent="up1"><enum>(i)</enum><text>any conditions that are hazardous, or
that violate a mandatory health or safety standard or a plan approved under
this Act, where the miner is expected to work or travel; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H401A18F748314E2B86DB3DB59D54858E" indent="up1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the general conditions of that miner’s
assigned working section or other area where the miner is expected to work or
travel.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE84D2C51627A4759A0408AFC0FDE3FEF" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Not later than 180 days after the
date of enactment of the Robert C. Byrd Miner Safety and Health Act of 2010,
the Secretary shall promulgate interim final rules implementing the
requirements of subparagraph (A). The Secretary shall issue a final rule not
later than 2 years after such
date.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section id="H15D6C760BEB04034BD6ED6DC8924A5BD"><enum>502.</enum><header>Rock dust
standards</header>
<subsection id="HB307C879478F41C2A10AB4A6767C191A"><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="HC35E6B157AEE45ED8A3A6E4A0599A64A"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>Where rock</quote> and inserting the
following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="HC2E41D67D1004AAAAAC66F7252EFE864" style="OLC">
<text><header-in-text level="subsection" style="OLC">Rock dust</header-in-text>.—</text><paragraph id="H0BC8A9B05E414108A512DE823E439096"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Where rock</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>;
</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HDACE26BEA74D4578A3C30AAC7E7C271A"><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. Where methane is present
in any ventilating current, the percentage of incombustible content of such
combined dusts shall be increased 0.4 percent for each 0.1 percent of
methane.</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HB8E6B20BD2C747C8B87FB2ABC9956342"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by adding at the
end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H442E2FEE79AB4EB78DF5E5E7D5A94699" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H64A0A56571324E0E80140EAF11004D33"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Methods of
measurement</header>
<subparagraph id="HAC611A436C4546D4879B79875D1CE8D5"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Each operator of an
underground coal mine shall take accurate and representative samples which
shall measure the total incombustible content of combined coal dust, rock dust,
and other dust in such mine to ensure that the coal dust is kept below
explosive levels through the appropriate application of rock dust.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H895B26965A55418DAB1C83F7CDB39C14"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Direct reading
monitors</header><text>By the later of June 15, 2011, or 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 samples of combined coal dust, rock dust, and other
dust and the Department of Labor has approved such monitors for use in
underground coal mines, the Secretary shall require operators to take such dust
samples using direct reading monitors.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H0E5456342E274649B047303E4FE2A708"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Regulations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall, not later than 180
days after the date of enactment of the Robert C. Byrd Miner Safety and Health
Act of 2010, promulgate an interim final rule that prescribes methods for
operator sampling of total incombustible content in samples of combined coal
dust, rock dust, and other dust using direct reading monitors and includes
requirements for locations, methods, and intervals for mandatory operator
sampling.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HD8BF5DFE68DE4EE0AD15CEBA79ED1742"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Recommendations</header><text>Not
later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Robert C. Byrd Miner
Safety and Health Act of 2010, 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.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H72B4C1386D454FF7AB12450BAC4051EA"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Limitation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Until a final rule is issued by the
Secretary under section 502(b)(2) of the Robert C. Byrd Miner Safety and Health
Act of 2010, any measurement taken by a direct reading monitor described in
paragraph (2) shall not be admissible to establish a violation in an
enforcement action under this
Act.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HB730BA78F353430FB27874BD3AB53D76"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Report and
rulemaking authority</header>
<paragraph id="H6A99F93B8E1B4EAB842CDECD7D29C5E2"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not
later than 2 years 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>
<subparagraph id="H6CA8857D96584F42A844290B39C5C4CC"><enum>(A)</enum><text>regarding whether
any direct reading monitor 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 monitor, or additional verification
regarding reliability and accuracy, would be needed for enforcement purposes;
and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H3853362342994169A0CF36C1FBAA55CA"><enum>(B)</enum><text>identifying any
limitations or impediments for such use in underground coal mines.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H65DFA2D44DDD4DEB91C721531550530B"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Authority</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If the Secretary determines that such
direct reading monitor is sufficiently reliable and accurate for the
enforcement of mandatory health and safety standards under the Federal Mines
Safety and Health Act of 1977 following such report or any update thereto, the
Secretary shall promulgate a final rule authorizing the use of such direct
reading monitor for purposes of compliance and enforcement, in addition to
other methods for determining total incombustible content. Such rule shall
specify mandatory operator sampling locations, methods, and intervals.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="HE60A5D5621C34C4084B12588DDB5BA3D"><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="H9C26CC0D34B24F27973699C9523EAD0C" style="OLC">
<subsection id="H666EF22E2978452A954DEDB73C93A68B"><enum>(u)</enum><header>Atmospheric
monitoring systems</header>
<paragraph id="HDA6102724E7842DDA4BDED99B315A005"><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 Robert C. Byrd Miner Safety and
Health Act of 2010, 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 id="HABF15577CBD0494CBFAB5ABC903B4297"><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;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8DAF220F2BB1479CAEDBC164E0AE1491"><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; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H76D98A0E6A9F43D7A182AA10059F595F"><enum>(C)</enum><text>other technologies
available to conduct continuous atmospheric monitoring.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H938275E7C429401EBA605D5F7CD988C2"><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 id="HF323701CD56F4D3F859732375E09754A"><enum>(A)</enum><text>protect miners
where the miners normally work and travel;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H2C897D29C2FD41499F219A3B52BA97B2"><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 id="HE63D1807D7294B12BC8C0AEB65C8BC56"><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="HC7724985069E4341878CEECAED0FE334"><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—</text>
<paragraph id="H3F2049AC44594C089DDE5754B8B79DC5"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>of Health, Education, and Welfare</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H08ADCD6C63B140F3A04D6A9C55FDED60"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking the
second sentence and inserting the following: <quote>Not later than 2 years
after the date of enactment of the Robert C. Byrd Miner Safety and Health Act
of 2010, the Secretary shall promulgate final regulations that require
operators, beginning on the date such regulations are issued, to provide coal
miners with the maximum feasible protection from respirable dust, including
coal and silica dust, that is achievable through environmental controls, and
that meet the applicable standards.</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1D1A8E054829495D87A9B6C79054C11E"><enum>505.</enum><header>Refresher
training on miner rights and responsibilities</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE154D0C715974D64B8A7C610CD695381"><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="H24637836DAAC4FE690431F0861BE1120" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H5B7D69FFE61D43EE8F39BD4818D2B514"><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 an employee
of the Administration or by a trainer approved by the Administration that is a
party independent from the
operator;</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="HA524D5532BF049F3995F99F3226E381A"><enum>(b)</enum><header>National hazard
reporting hotline</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 115
(30 U.S.C. 825) is further amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H64EEBD2DE5794688B3186DCD32A50AAF"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by redesignating
subsections (c) through (e) as subsections (d) through (f), respectively;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HDF0EC528676248CAAF6AD4E41E0A1816"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by inserting after
subsection (b) the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD1006F86505E41A68E280DF0DD40F58B" style="OLC">
<subsection id="HB25625392D6244B1AC151A2EE5EDA133"><enum>(c)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any health and safety training program of
instruction provided under this section shall include distribution to miners of
information regarding miners’ rights under the Act, as well as a toll-free
hotline telephone number, which the Secretary shall maintain to receive
complaints from miners and the public regarding hazardous conditions,
discrimination, safety or health violations, or other mine safety or health
concerns. Information regarding the hotline shall be provided in a portable,
convenient format, such as a durable wallet card, to enable miners to keep the
information on their
person.</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H81BEB85BAA8746CD8E097ED1C91D06AF"><enum>(c)</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="H98511F507C2B457C93AD5C1DF9B0B887"><enum>506.</enum><header>Authority to
mandate additional training</header>
<subsection id="HE913604034BB45CFB3A0337926162309"><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 subsections (e) and (f) (as
redesignated) as subsections (f) and (g) and inserting after subsection (d) (as
redesignated) the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H00E9C39B473E4380BD9F45AEAABCEE79" style="OLC">
<subsection id="HAB0E83A8C292476F9CAFB2BA95574583"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Authority To
mandate additional training</header>
<paragraph id="H91D319A4897C4679915F061C391AA065"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Secretary is authorized to issue an order requiring
that an operator of a coal or other mine 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>
<subparagraph id="H684C800C4E604A8EB933BE0B8C223D61"><enum>(A)</enum><clause commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H56D7E884ED374F59A97F05F42A6F10D1"><enum>(i)</enum><text>a serious or fatal
accident has occurred at such mine; or</text>
</clause><clause id="H595C7A5F3C644AC888500A43EEFE0FF3" indent="up1"><enum>(ii)</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>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5C99FF094A4A4C20B2840382EF73082A"><enum>(B)</enum><text>additional
training would benefit the health and safety of miners at the mine.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H5FBE98228BDD471C840C14600E1FAFC1"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Withdrawal
order</header><text>If the operator fails to provide training ordered under
paragraph (1) within the specified time, the Secretary shall issue an order
requiring such operator to cause all affected persons, except those persons
referred to in section 104(c), to be withdrawn, and to be prohibited from
entering such mine, until such operator has provided such
training.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" id="HEBD7D19F3791493BB1E8B5E3FDE85426"><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="H05428E59CD6F4049984E064498E299D4"><enum>507.</enum><header>Certification
of personnel</header>
<subsection id="H8011B5FE40FB4CDC9E04A3BA17F91E30"><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="H7C99A7CCC1EF49B28F9ADC225AE24482" style="OLC">
<section id="HE8C18F69F81347689810F93CF64FA91F"><enum>118.</enum><header>Certification
of personnel</header>
<subsection id="H784DBD4785B947C094B893D2779EFD8C"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Certification
required</header><text>Any person who is authorized or designated by the
operator of a coal or other 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="H8111874A5944453EB912E3B17C6AF54A"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Establishment of
certification requirements and procedures</header>
<paragraph id="H8CE30145EDFB4BF4A30D510190FEBD66"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the
Robert C. Byrd Miner Safety and Health Act of 2010, the Secretary shall issue
mandatory standards to establish—</text>
<subparagraph id="HDEF1B367F8A54712A11B488F580E07AB"><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="H0307CE5BADA04A2B93C87E774777538B"><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="HE3FF88D19C1349A488E85D5F48B325A8"><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 (or a State agency, as applicable)
responds to requests for revocation and that the names of individuals whose
certification or other approval has been revoked are provided to and maintained
by the Secretary, and are made available to appropriate State agencies through
an electronic database.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HC60399EC2B404BE4975DCDD879485E39"><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) shall 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="HFF570F124BD54429B3CAF535A0742E12"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Operator Fees
for certification</header>
<paragraph commented="no" id="HDB527FED2C9D421D814D6941E227EC2D"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Assessment and
collection</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Beginning 180 days
after the date of enactment of the Robert C. Byrd Miner Safety and Health Act
of 2010, 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="HB8F8B246CE1C4F48A92D7716D0F81A9D"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Use</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Amounts collected as provided in paragraph
(1) shall only be available to the Secretary, as provided in paragraph (3), for
making expenditures to carry out the certification programs established under
this subsection.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H36AC54FA759741FCB0E8BBB3368F0EFB"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Authorization of
appropriations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In addition to
funds authorized to be appropriated under section 114, there is authorized to
be appropriated to the Assistant Secretary for Mine Safety and Health for each
fiscal year in which fees are collected under paragraph (1) an amount equal to
the total amount of fees collected under paragraph (1) during that fiscal year.
Such amounts are authorized to remain available until expended. If on the first
day of a fiscal year a regular appropriation to the Commission has not been
enacted, the Commission shall continue to collect fees (as offsetting
collections) under this subsection at the rate in effect during the preceding
fiscal year, until 5 days after the date such regular appropriation is enacted.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA742FD75157A4F56939DE9BA467EE50E"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Collecting and
Crediting of Fees</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Fees
authorized and collected under this subsection shall be deposited and credited
as offsetting collections to the account providing appropriations to the Mine
Safety and Health Administration and shall not be collected for any fiscal year
except to the extent and in the amount provided in advance in appropriation
Acts.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H20AFB06EF07C4914A26F2DD744119E2F"><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="H5C6CDB25FC6D4AEC865B4B93F996EDE6"><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="H32C911FF652C46C1AECB8E3265B62091"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking
subsections (a) and (b);</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H68B735E8904342B5A9A15096FD4C6294"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection (c),
by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (3) as subparagraphs (A) through (C),
respectively;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H661E2CD9E80C427C983811B735FF7911"><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="H7251D9386BF44FEB860CD7B5EEFD23CA"><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="H2E2845FF512849609DB780C53DA8CE34" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>601.</enum><header>Definitions</header>
<subsection id="H10582662B2244D50A4D593BAB9ECC873"><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="H62FAE67630804EE0BEE6300377A5A597" style="OLC">
<subsection id="H131E1EC8373A4A0F9ADC47E2B52F956A" indent="down1"><enum>(d)</enum><text><term>operator</term> means—</text>
<paragraph id="HA895F5E1994945988588D9870B2C3C7C"><enum>(1)</enum><text>any owner, lessee, or other person
that—</text>
<subparagraph id="HD22624A8261D48FCAE9C24F8041B488D"><enum>(A)</enum><text>operates or supervises a coal or other
mine; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H33B1BC751625463EA6C6371749C442CE"><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="H0DAE098260834EDFAA85266EF45D9311"><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="HCBED15F618764718B17C078AFC201402"><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="H386B6EF39E2B48A7B0AC55CCF8280BDF"><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="HC4BEBC26664640DE959FB217275C6D2C"><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="HF8B25A18962A48E8B0EAFFDEFFB46EBB"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection (m),
by striking <quote>and</quote> after the semicolon;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H4FAD773628184EE68E1B74802DA065F6"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection (n),
by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HE28CA7F70CA6459EB9A34CC20F1874E1"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in subsection (o),
by striking the period at the end and inserting <quote>; and</quote>;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HA1589566C2344E6C8B24BF5AC88C3C31"><enum>(4)</enum><text>by adding at the
end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H14E8AD42B139440BBDAA66EC88ACCD5A" style="OLC">
<subsection id="H56E6E25D16BB4C5B8700C59814CB29F7" indent="down1"><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).</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H323261B278C2415587A7C7242DA510EA"><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="H68A4C14C3A6F4F7ABCDD9145FC9BAC2F"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection
(a)—</text>
<subparagraph id="H485E0AEFDE134576B48DE67F9FD1E55E"><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="H085C646A090B4CC5AC2A29CBD46A49B1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in paragraph (2),
by striking <quote>and</quote> after the semicolon;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H3E097FC2321A46B2AE0D8BD8635AF18C"><enum>(C)</enum><text>in paragraph (3),
by striking the period and inserting <quote>; and</quote>; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H0C8D13658C6E4C06982E77CCC59643E0"><enum>(D)</enum><text>by adding at the
end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HFF9919D06E5A4508BCFC7646A81C4870" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H3FAF0FED6FC14C7BBA95A15A0AD46876"><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="H4F972B446A0140729ED4B3CA2BD9D53F"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection (h),
by striking <quote>$3,000,000 for fiscal year 1970, and $10,000,000 annually in
each succeeding fiscal year</quote> and inserting <quote>$20,000,000 for each
fiscal year</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></section><section id="H567A7F88F96F4674A8DB688990AA5744"><enum>603.</enum><header>Black lung
medical reports</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Title IV of
the Black Lung Benefits Act (30 U.S.C. 901 et seq.) is amended by adding at the
end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H402459B656A444E58C7372BA944B724A" style="OLC">
<section id="H736401AC9E7044059B450F32A7FB28A2"><enum>435.</enum><header>Medical
reports</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In any claim for
benefits for a miner under this title, an operator that requires a miner to
submit to a medical examination regarding the miner’s respiratory or pulmonary
condition shall, not later than 14 days after the miner has been examined,
deliver to the claimant a complete copy of the examining physician’s report.
The examining physician’s report shall be in writing and shall set out in
detail the examiner’s findings, including any diagnoses and conclusions and the
results of any diagnostic imaging techniques and tests that were performed on
the
miner.</text>
</section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section id="HE90A99103E1E4E7EBA66E97632C1C57A"><enum>604.</enum><header>Rules of
application to certain mines</header>
<subsection id="H9C6D849FE33A4F19803960A23ED9EFAC"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Inapplicability
of amendments to certain mines</header>
<paragraph id="H7ACF780642FF4E9C9EF3888D97A5F3D7"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Special
rule</header><text>The amendments made by this Act shall not apply to—</text>
<subparagraph id="H9EE4E4017C24406C8E33862463803B86"><enum>(A)</enum><text>surface mines,
except for surface facilities or impoundments physically connected to—</text>
<clause id="H028B604196584B8DAD54FC2CA07A7890"><enum>(i)</enum><text>underground coal
or underground metal mines; or</text>
</clause><clause id="HE709475DF25C49B3BA9741CD42D94DEC"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>other underground
mines which are gassy mines; or</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HCDF6CA1B9A0B4DC7B6774490B056B007"><enum>(B)</enum><text>underground mines
which are not coal, metal, or gassy mines.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H19D303C0690A42A08D3BF6DE63890112"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Definition</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For purposes of this section, the term
<term>gassy mine</term> means a mine, tunnel, or other underground workings in
which a flammable mixture has been ignited, or has been found with a
permissible flame safety lamp, or has been determined by air analysis to
contain 0.25 percent or more (by volume) of methane in any open workings when
tested at a point not less than 12 inches from the roof, face of rib.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HC0957DD5690C4AC0A88D786B99B203C5"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Rule of
construction relating to applicability of certain provisions to surface
mines</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="H586415D53E264E6D9A363FE132EC1110" style="OLC">
<section id="HF47B4AB34E3746D19094B55B749C5210"><enum>119.</enum><header>Applicability
of certain provisions to certain mines</header>
<subsection id="H298757061BF24DF1A2966C8013768319"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Rule of
construction</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">With respect to
the mines described in subsection (b), this Act as in effect on the date before
the date of enactment of the Robert C. Byrd Miner Safety and Health Act of
2010, shall continue to apply to such mines as then in effect.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HB6C01A146386400BBB669EDDF2EF162D"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Applicable
mines</header>
<paragraph id="HDC8AF110A36148CF9A60570604CEB5D6"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The mines referred to in subsection (a) are—</text>
<subparagraph id="H7E8680A2073B47BCB5F8687E047C0EE0"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">surface mines, except for surface
facilities or impoundments physically connected to—</text>
<clause id="H9BBEA0C5C3F3455689F9BA9A02E413BA"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">underground coal or underground metal
mines; or</text>
</clause><clause id="HEBC4AA63A0594BE28054D4FBB86C1771"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>other underground
mines which are gassy mines; and</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H3629F5582D064E5191DA0F36561C8AA3"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">underground mines which are not coal,
metal, or gassy mines.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H86AB0EDCE55F443492FFBA8A850EB42F"><enum>(2)</enum><header>definition</header><text>As
used in paragraph (1), the term <term>gassy mine</term> means a mine, tunnel,
or other underground workings in which a flammable mixture has been ignited, or
has been found with a permissible flame safety lamp, or has been determined by
air analysis to contain 0.25 percent or more (by volume) of methane in any open
workings when tested at a point not less than 12 inches from the roof, face of
rib.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H51C3FE807084459C94680A9B92F7BBEC"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Savings
provision</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Nothing in this
section shall impact the authority of the Secretary to promulgate or modify
regulations pursuant to the authority under any such provisions as in effect on
the date before the date of enactment of the Robert C. Byrd Miner Safety and
Health Act of 2010, or shall be construed to alter or modify precedent with
regards to the Commission or
courts.</text>
</subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section>