1.Short title; table of
contents
(a)This Act may be cited
as the The Robert C. Byrd Mine and
Workplace Safety and Health 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,
investigations, and recordkeeping.
TITLE II—Enhanced enforcement authority
Sec. 201. Significant and substantial violations.
Sec. 202. A pattern of recurring noncompliance or
accidents.
Sec. 203. Injunctive authority.
Sec. 204. Revocation of approval of plans.
Sec. 205. Challenging a decision to approve, modify, or revoke
a coal or other mine plan.
TITLE III—Penalties
Sec. 301. Civil penalties.
Sec. 302. Civil and criminal liability of officers, directors,
and agents.
Sec. 303. Criminal penalties.
Sec. 304. 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.
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. Study on workforce needs.
Sec. 605. Mine Safety and Health Administration strategic
planning.
TITLE VII—Amendments to the Occupational Safety and Health
Act
Sec. 701. Enhanced protections from retaliation.
Sec. 702. Victims’ rights.
Sec. 703. Correction of serious, willful, or repeated
violations pending contest and procedures for a stay.
Sec. 704. Conforming amendments.
Sec. 705. Civil penalties.
Sec. 706. Criminal penalties.
Sec. 707. Penalties.
Sec. 708. Effective date.
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="H27938FD8A4544ED093A753C52DFAB973" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>101.</enum><header>Independent accident
investigations</header>
<subsection id="HB607D24767C6470D9646CED72D2E01CD"><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="HCBC9ACE93F2846F9A375424D0FF0642C" style="OLC">
<subsection id="HE79963BFAAA1421EBC14AEDB648B33DA"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Accident
investigations</header>
<paragraph id="H75414ACF536E484D98C9D408E63DC107"><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="HBEA7370EA7F044E6BB0D6D1B144F35B8"><enum>(A)</enum><text>determine why the
accident occurred;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HCE13507EA6AF4966BE541FF89A4EA376"><enum>(B)</enum><text>determine whether
there were violations of law, mandatory health and safety standards, or other
requirements, and if such violations are found, issue citations and penalties,
and in cases involving possible criminal actions, refer such matters to the
Attorney General; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H19547FD26A1A4C5ABEA06A540F74583F"><enum>(C)</enum><text>make
recommendations to avoid any recurrence.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H0FC13BEF8E6443B1B3DF0DDAE4463E8E"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Independent
accident investigations</header>
<subparagraph id="HEAEC6B24B5A846E2A7E6E0F23C208DA4"><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
<quote>Panel</quote>) appointed under subparagraph (B) for—</text>
<clause id="id5D849857839347B58E9CE6C2F1A27E4C"><enum>(i)</enum><text>any accident
involving 3 or more deaths; or</text>
</clause><clause id="idFC08DD99ACE04CC5B32B124A4E0EFE73"><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="H8A6D2E729BF740D987D344A7B1904B27"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Appointment</header>
<clause id="H770C924CF960498D928FA8E31024A3F5"><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="H6FE89B04E04F4693B8365580A4DEF758"><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="H2683CED41CBD453598A0536D9862641F"><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="H8AEFE39C4392409FB9491FC43B22DC8C"><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="HDBB9D89D24BF49289401BB33839282F6"><enum>(I)</enum><text>1 operator of a
mine or individual representing mine operators, and</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H99C486F046814B4E96EC8FEA2807139F"><enum>(II)</enum><text>1 member of a
labor organization or other representative of 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="HEA8DD3DF65E24C1E9A7CD9ADCC81E028"><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="H6BAE0804736D450B82FCA8D7BC1F10DA"><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="H1A12FD614BD047B8A3B75132D15C47A4"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Duties</header><text>The
Panel shall—</text>
<clause id="H0B24C2CEE7C745D69E67FDC31530F176"><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="H3CAEF041D9294576A194797D70B0BDB7"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>identify and
evaluate any contributing actions or inactions of—</text>
<subclause id="H79F27C42634F4DC181ED48CB3D0E5082"><enum>(I)</enum><text>the
operator;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="HD55EEED835294F3AA8DF02F45996C1D2"><enum>(II)</enum><text>any contractors
or other persons engaged in mining-related functions at the site;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H22B7DDB5324049CAA42D94C54D4A0F9C"><enum>(III)</enum><text>any State agency
with oversight responsibilities;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="HDEAD92A9B20F45C3A64841DE427E6812"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>any agency or
office within the Department of Labor; or</text>
</subclause><subclause id="HAB17502ECD2041E9B6054327F69F9E57"><enum>(V)</enum><text>any other person
or entity (including equipment manufacturers);</text>
</subclause></clause><clause id="HC0D01A5BE12346A380B0E75555E3C173"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>review the
determinations and recommendations by the Secretary under paragraph (1);</text>
</clause><clause id="H735832B2339E41A89F997A4890BE0768"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>prepare a report
that—</text>
<subclause id="HEBEE4BBB1F07467E94C8692DF04484C4"><enum>(I)</enum><text>includes the
findings regarding the causal factors described in clauses (i) and (ii);</text>
</subclause><subclause id="HDDA522ADDE704FFF82276B9D5E6FC359"><enum>(II)</enum><text>identifies any
strengths and weaknesses in the Secretary’s investigation; and</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H967A71DD6205475B8ACBDEE385537351"><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="H1A7E301CA5C648A781F91F0288D43719"><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="HDFAEBFD5CA59426EA8A4ADDBDAB372E3"><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="H9F711587A4DD425EA79DFF6835C073C9"><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 Mine and Workplace
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="H2DB741EF69CD4BF99E539E820133AA60"><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="HF0142616FF614347B6DF4F0467153EA6"><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="H9B2909F02C2947E69145168E9A1280E0"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>establishes such
other arrangements as are necessary to implement this paragraph.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9BEBC84C6C3F47A8B275231328101B9D"><enum>(F)</enum><header>Procedures</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 90 days after the date of
enactment of the Robert C. Byrd Mine and Workplace Safety and Health Act of
2010, 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="HC4FE42844B934F91A056EDC87F9A26E0"><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="H5D3ACF89326F4640928A97B08D9BD924"><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="H223FDC896B944EB0BB8FA36B572BC4CB"><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="HABD4DCEE17AF443DBAD178D507CAD576"><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="H80A009E5F3F340BD8D70FD7F1F750D8B"><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="H13FAEBC140DB40A9BAA5BA2D164BC5B9"><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="H020C9D913D084065860CBD58E29B7CB9"><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="H8998D2DF3B3A4AF28C3033BFDED8B8CB" style="traditional">
<paragraph id="H54E6614D735749988A7474A43CA5B5FE"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Additional
powers</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For the purpose of
enabling the Secretary to perform any of the functions under this Act, 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="HE1CA958DA08A4FA6BA2EA4B3CE7E6165" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>103.</enum><header>Designation of miner
representative</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 103(f)
(30 U.S.C. 813(f)) is amended by inserting before the last sentence the
following: <quote>If any miner is entrapped or otherwise prevented as the
result of an accident in such mine from designating such a representative
directly, such miner’s closest relative may act on behalf of such miner in
designating such a representative. If any miner is not currently working in
such mine as the result of an accident in such mine, but would be currently
working in such mine but for such accident, such miner may designate such a
representative.</quote>.</text>
</section><section id="HB23EF364859D45EFB526B5DA3F187839"><enum>104.</enum><header>Additional
amendments relating to inspections, investigations, and recordkeeping</header>
<subsection commented="no" id="HC7A5D42B2B0E45E68422D2E9D089FAA1"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Hours of
inspections</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 103(a)
(30 U.S.C. 813(a)) is amended by inserting after the third sentence the
following: <quote>Such inspections shall be conducted during the various shifts
and days of the week during which miners are normally present in the mine to
ensure that the protections of this Act are afforded to all miners working all
shifts. If an inspection of a working section of a mine occurs during a shift
on which a mechanized mining unit is producing, or customarily produces, coal
on such section, then such inspection shall be conducted while such unit is
producing coal at a rate that is reasonably consistent with the average rate of
production at the mine during the previous quarter.</quote></text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" id="id320D5D9AD211471CBA33D95AD083EAB1"><enum>(b)</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><subsection commented="no" id="H7EC7B65C2C604A10A9BC40071C8D57F9"><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, and shall be maintained separately for each mine and be
reported at a frequency determined by the Secretary, but at least annually.
Operators shall be responsible for reporting on all miners working at such mine
regardless of their employer, except that independent contractors (within the
meaning of section 3(d)) shall only be responsible for reporting on miners in
their employ or under their direction or authority.</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H17C810A5FF2345AD9EDFBEBD80C1373E"><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="id9FBBBD9857F245D6AE6321FEFE742D26"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Electronic
database</header><text>Section 103 (30 U.S.C. 813) is amended by adding at the
end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idE644F3AE098F473795EB2C7877B468D2" style="OLC">
<subsection commented="no" id="id3EE9A80016774A26AB395C493B272886"><enum>(l)</enum><text>The Secretary
shall establish and maintain a publicly available electronic database
containing current and historical data on the safety records of each coal or
other mine. Such database shall be user-friendly and searchable, and shall have
the ability to provide aggregate data for each mine, each operator, and each
controller of a mine and the ability to compare safety data between mines,
operators, and
controllers.</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" id="id8816F6AFA4F246B7BB490AFA25091648"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Outside experts
in investigations</header><text>Section 112 (30 U.S.C. 822) is amended—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" id="id79A327ECBC144AFABAE011F0FF05A904"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>Except as provided</quote> and inserting the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id286D1FE0958F46549CC3E8C829045BF7" style="OLC">
<subsection commented="no" id="idC19BD1673097424A8A9FDD907B20290A"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Civil
litigation representation</header><text>Except as
provided</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>;
and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="idE163F3AB4B9C4473BE11AC199E9B063F"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by adding at the
end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0CE7AE8BDAF245DCB051935E4B2DDDEC" style="OLC">
<subsection commented="no" id="idB857E2C1E795453A8AE09B6E22872559"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Mining experts
in investigations</header><text>The Attorney General shall designate 1 or more
full-time employees with expertise in the mining industry to coordinate with
the Department of Labor and assist United States attorneys in the investigation
and prosecution of criminal violations under this
Act.</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection></section><enum>II</enum><header>Enhanced
enforcement authority</header>
<section commented="no" id="H7F0C2B2F31954DFFAF80BBFEEB02522C"><enum>201.</enum><header>Significant and
substantial violations</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline"><italic></italic>Section 104(d)(1) (30
U.S.C. 814(d)(1)) is amended—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" id="HE5D6BEF640034CD7A1CBA1C46E7ABA72"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in the first
sentence—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="HD567600E8CCB4F24BE3748455C44AABB"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>any mandatory health or safety standard</quote> and inserting <quote>any
provision of this Act, including any mandatory health or safety standard or
regulation promulgated under this Act</quote>; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HCD41CDD263344ED991A5E316CEABFBB9"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>such mandatory health or safety standards</quote> and inserting
<quote>such provisions, regulations, or mandatory health or safety
standards</quote>;</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H963C318238884068B60A89CD4E9D1CD1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in the second
sentence, by striking <quote>any mandatory health or safety standard</quote>
and inserting <quote>any provision of this Act, including any mandatory health
or safety standard or regulation promulgated under this Act,</quote>;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H46DB9329861C46DDB68A805F73B1EF09"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting after the first sentence the
following: <quote>For purposes of this Act, a violation of a provision of this
Act, including any mandatory health or safety standard or regulation
promulgated under this Act, is of such nature as could significantly and
substantially contribute to the cause and effect of a safety or health hazard
if there is a reasonable possibility that such violation could result in
injury, illness, or death.</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></section><section id="id2EEF06ED29CC48E083177EE5F27028D8"><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="idEBCCD8A8D5084D538651AD09D83B169F" style="OLC">
<subsection id="ID781f7b80ef1a4c8fa98ae5b5ef98ce41"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Pattern of
recurring noncompliance or accidents</header>
<paragraph id="ID6fd0ebc3c3ce4134afdb9f94db32e356"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Pattern
status</header>
<subparagraph id="ID4a30036036ad4cedba61ffe6fd70431e"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>For purposes of this subsection, an operator of a coal or
other mine shall be in pattern status if the operator has, as determined based
on the regulations promulgated under paragraph (8)—</text>
<clause id="IDa777e5ed7a5e46a5b172392871b1e374"><enum>(i)</enum><text>a
pattern of—</text>
<subclause id="ID2268d1b9b3b74b6a822fd61e03dbdadf"><enum>(I)</enum><text>citations for
significant and substantial violations;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="ID4c0479ba7a984f1a847cd1aaec14bd26"><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="IDc2573f930817494a8d008c531bd7a6c6"><enum>(III)</enum><text>citations for
flagrant violations within the meaning of section 110(b);</text>
</subclause><subclause id="IDee33b38c6b02439ea14731e139680b9f"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>withdrawal
orders issued under any other section of this Act; or</text>
</subclause><subclause id="ID216fa4d49ed348ada2a16051705bb1b1"><enum>(V)</enum><text>accidents,
injuries, or illnesses; or</text>
</subclause></clause><clause id="IDb2198f12347e4959957051bc70b17b8a"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>a pattern
consisting of any combination of citations, orders, accidents, injuries, or
illnesses described in subclauses (I) through (V).</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID346314e48ef04020a4101d41e2897e26"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Mitigating
circumstances</header><text>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 eliminated any elevated risk to the health or safety of miners
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="idDC777BFB393048C2A267BF57B0B18750"><enum>(i)</enum><text>published in the
Federal Register; and</text>
</clause><clause id="idAE59223837E348868135AE25BED47C56"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>transmitted to
the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ID983f9a5640724a919042e88083bdaad4"><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="IDcb066c9a38304866bc8f612596e14047"><enum>(A)</enum><text>notify the
operator of such mine that the mine is being placed in pattern status;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID3f43e4327f3d40b383ce4f02c556d490"><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="ID3cd875ea47fd494393c6cd922eaf5138"><enum>(C)</enum><text>issue a
remediation order described in paragraph (3) to such operator; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDdcd6952ed333484e9c533f75fcc5d11a"><enum>(D)</enum><text>require that the
number of regular inspections of such mine required under section 103 be
increased to 8 per year for an underground mine and 4 per year for a surface
mine 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="ID4058ab2a306240c6a32a701538a3883c"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Remediation
order</header>
<subparagraph id="ID6e4d9983fbb04896b8e602dcb066b981"><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="IDf6351da2489f447c908ec015e9ade329"><enum>(i)</enum><text>Provide specified
training, including training not otherwise required under this Act.</text>
</clause><clause id="ID8bfb459684a34b49b54e87036957c389"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>Institute and
implement an effective health and safety management program approved by the
Secretary, including—</text>
<subclause id="ID333dcdb2d372466a98fc3b17a47fb905"><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="IDc0e99dd9b4f647618f37f24533396188"><enum>(II)</enum><text>specific
inspection, recordkeeping, reporting and other requirements for the mine as the
Secretary may establish; and</text>
</subclause><subclause id="ID4a39278120b04cf6830dfd6684c36585"><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="ID60dec25f4330400c93f015ebd4ff3a4a"><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,
and advising miners of their rights under this Act.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID2fc2994af9e74858a69b6de0413a8434"><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="ID6478aebe9ab4447982e4318845e6c3e4"><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="ID8032ef01cbfe4ee883a3e383e00ffd18"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Conditions for
lifting withdrawal order</header><text>A withdrawal order issued under
paragraph (2)(B) shall not be lifted until the Secretary verifies that—</text>
<subparagraph id="idD484DF79348445339F86A06709433B3F"><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="id61D45A789DDF429196C2F219F1AC4DF8"><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="ID948ce0135f6d49c18e8e618e08d1cd86"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Performance
evaluation</header>
<subparagraph id="ID4aed11ac1ad040849cfcc297e8e3976c"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Performance
benchmarks</header><text>The Secretary shall evaluate the performance of each
operator whose mine is in pattern status every 90 days during which the mine is
producing and determine if, for such 90-day period—</text>
<clause id="ID5cc57ca679424b919e3581822d8ddabb"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the operator’s rate of citations for
significant and substantial violations—</text>
<subclause id="HAF4789BFC21344A5BA9FC5B3C829C67A"><enum>(I)</enum><text>are, on average,
in the top performing 35th percentile of such rates, respectively, for all
mines of similar size and type; or</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H3806AA5A8ACE4E719798357B5CA992DB"><enum>(II)</enum><text>have been reduced
by 70 percent since such mine was placed on pattern status;</text>
</subclause></clause><clause id="HF384E3434A194E8BA1692C7B5D167B1A"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the operator’s accident and injury rates
are, on average, in the top performing 35th percentile of such rates,
respectively, for all mines of similar size and type; and</text>
</clause><clause id="IDf0ca652e72184d87b0ba55a88cb4c2b1"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>no citation or
withdrawal order for a violation under section 104(d), no withdrawal order for
imminent danger under section 107 arising from a significant and substantial
violation, and no flagrant violations within the meaning of section 110(b),
were issued for such mine.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID1448c2ec32d841569cd0444fbf108256"><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="ID41e8ff1e89b44ac08cc9212e9be9a3bb"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Termination of
pattern status</header>
<subparagraph id="IDb71e292c323a478b9579c9348417c49a"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Performance
benchmarks</header><text>The Secretary shall remove an operator of a coal or
other mine from pattern status if, for a 1-year period during which the mine is
producing—</text>
<clause id="IDbb1aecd51d794e3e89457ff94b06d41a"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the operator’s
rate of citations for significant and substantial violations—</text>
<subclause id="HF04FA634036946F6A7591063C6D79286"><enum>(I)</enum><text>are, on average,
in the top performing 25th percentile of such rates, respectively, for all
mines of similar size and type; or</text>
</subclause><subclause id="HEF3CE25EDFB94022A02855A5714DC9AB"><enum>(II)</enum><text>have been reduced
by 80 percent since such mine was placed on pattern status;</text>
</subclause></clause><clause id="H59BC3424C4A3441C956F62C2FFA39EC6"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the operator’s accident and injury rates
are, on average, in the top performing 25th percentile of such rates,
respectively, for all mines of similar size and type; and</text>
</clause><clause id="ID47cdf1047902490583dd114472a1418b"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">no citation or withdrawal orders for
violations under section 104(d), no withdrawal orders for imminent danger under
section 107 arising from a significant and substantial violation, and no
flagrant violations within the meaning of section 110(b), were issued for such
mine.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDc628ec6719004f16aa707228c02dcbe1"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Continuation of
pattern status</header><text>Should the mine operator fail to meet the
performance benchmarks described in subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall
extend the mine’s placement in pattern status until such benchmarks are
achieved.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ID23d91b9aebde477c933e3a1daa061b0e"><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="IDe37b3db8e93c42b19cb39d674a33064e"><enum>(8)</enum><header>Regulations;
information on performance</header>
<subparagraph id="ID471206cd77184427a0a070e50b61433b"><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 Mine and Workplace
Safety and Health Act of 2010, the Secretary shall issue interim final
regulations that shall define—</text>
<clause id="id5C4E2AC3F0424621A0A3AFA166E299FC"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the threshold
criteria to trigger pattern status under paragraph (1) and cause a withdrawal
order to be issued or reissued; and</text>
</clause><clause id="ID42d91b366f6b4ad0a66e3693ecbed1e0"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the performance
benchmarks described in paragraphs (5)(A) and (6)(A).</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDbf6dfe5df09942daba37a435e6c5a30c"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Threshold
criteria</header><text>In establishing threshold criteria to trigger pattern
status for mines with significantly poor compliance that contributes to unsafe
or unhealthy conditions, the Secretary—</text>
<clause id="id6E82C1C12300496D87CD0D0E701B03E5"><enum>(i)</enum><text>shall consider
frequency and rates of citations described in paragraph (1)(A) and rates of
reportable accidents and injuries within the preceding 180-day period;</text>
</clause><clause id="ID8e52ee757e944dbea51aae4dc1abe045"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>may include
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 designation of a representative of miners at the
mine;</text>
</clause><clause id="ID616f41b33aa6439aa9cbb46d30d44a3a"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>may include 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;</text>
</clause><clause id="ID6a5690b83a4c44fbb2ca589fcd2178aa"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>may assign
weight to various types of citations, orders, accidents, injuries, illnesses,
or other factors; and</text>
</clause><clause id="ID1ab0510eee8a4d7485df170b0aa6349a"><enum>(v)</enum><text>may include other
factors the Secretary may determine appropriate to protect the safety and
health of miners.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H7632FC2E3423448F806F715E36EA9F3B"><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 Mine and Workplace
Safety and Health Act of 2010, the Secretary shall promulgate a final
regulation implementing this paragraph.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id8A80312C58634F3995C51769FCBAF6A8"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Government
Accountability Office Study</header><text>Not later than 2 years after the
promulgation of the final regulations under subparagraph (C), the Comptroller
General of the United States shall study the effectiveness of the threshold
criteria established in this paragraph and issue to the Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and to the Committee on Education
and Labor of the House of Representative a report on the results of the study.
In conducting this study, the Comptroller General shall consult with all
appropriate stakeholders.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ID2fe84f6f797a43dfafa07e98ac888d5d"><enum>(9)</enum><header>Public database
and information</header><text>The Secretary shall establish and maintain a
publically available electronic database containing the data used to determine
pattern status for all coal or other mines. Such database shall be searchable,
shall have the capacity to provide comparative data about the health and safety
at mines of similar sizes and types. The Secretary shall also make publicly
available—</text>
<subparagraph id="ID137c1fa3785a44078c664ec97048026f"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a list of all mines the Secretary places in
pattern status, updated not less frequently than quarterly; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID592a75564c53437fb7e4ceb3782295d3"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the metrics,
including percentile information, used for the purposes of the performance
benchmarks and threshold criteria described in paragraphs (5), (6), and
(8).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="idD5E4EFB4363D4E67AFDC9256008EB5AB"><enum>(10)</enum><header>Operator fees
for additional inspections</header>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="idBFF73CB237EB48F7BFD0E22E7DAB80CE"><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 Mine and Workplace 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="idBF6FA95368A44C7186DB8EF11ECC4DAC"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Mines in
Pattern Status Inspection Fund</header><text>There is established in the
Treasury of the United States a separate account for the deposit of fees
collected under this paragraph to be known as the Mines in Pattern Status
Inspection Fund. The Secretary shall deposit any fees collected pursuant to
subparagraph (A) into the fund.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id40B263015EE64DCC826D36EEFA2881A9"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Use</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Amounts in the Mines in Pattern Status
Inspection Fund shall be available to the Secretary, as provided in
subparagraph (D), for making expenditures to carry out the additional
inspections required under paragraph (2)(D).</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="idC4790494B1F340E89B134D5E0AC7B5A1"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Authorization
of appropriations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In addition
to any other amounts appropriated, there is authorized to be appropriated from
the Mines in Pattern Status Inspection Fund to the Assistant Secretary for Mine
Safety and Health for each fiscal year in which fees are collected under
<internal-xref legis-path="30107.(b)">subparagraph (A)</internal-xref> an
amount equal to the total amount collected during the previous fiscal year from
fees assessed pursuant to this paragraph. Such amounts are authorized to remain
available until expended.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2971CD726F274383BAFF6422E0C0E1CB"><enum>(E)</enum><header>Crediting and
Availability of Fees</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Fees
authorized and collected under this paragraph shall be available for obligation
only to the extent and in the amount provided in advance in appropriations
Acts.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section id="H46CCA562028346FCAC57A9B2AF1A32AA"><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="H2708603282094D5BBDE616760755E45E"><enum>204.</enum><header>Revocation of
approval of plans</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 105
(30 U.S.C. 815) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H4326EF8E6C7648E4A48CCCAF3C25DF73"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by redesignating
subsection (d) as subsection (e); and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H5651ECCB1A5E4497B72BAA980CFEC883"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by inserting after
subsection (c) the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H88CF0D4202A94BB9BB34FF2972329E4F" style="OLC">
<subsection id="HD9578090F48044E0A96757B8E9D6BC54"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Revocation of
approval of plans</header>
<paragraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H4A0F0162B72F467A9CA901CCE6CF2D2D"><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="H28D2FDC108DF4573930D00B0A5782566"><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,
and to be prohibited from entering such mine, 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="H1A358337A4A548A98A4102FE0F41EE9A"><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
to approve, modify, or revoke a coal or other mine plan under this Act, the
Commission and the courts 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><enum>III</enum><header>Penalties</header>
<section id="H759D1B419C0448BD93386FD21356743D"><enum>301.</enum><header>Civil
penalties</header>
<subsection commented="no" id="HD0C4711051724791A1863ECEA76EF1C9"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Maximum civil
penalties</header><text>Section 110(a)(1) (30 U.S.C. 820(a)(1)) is
amended—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" id="H7583A4FA3A264956BC9F37C2E1F8D878"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by inserting
<quote>including any regulation promulgated under this Act,</quote> after
<quote>this Act,</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H3407F5CF7C9C41748E95610074D2FA85"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>violation.</quote> and inserting <quote>violation, except that, in the
case of a significant and substantial violation, the penalty shall be not more
than $150,000 for each such violation.</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="H5A8B09DA5B4B4A4A8D7765F5E47CC752"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Increased civil
penalties during pattern status</header><text>Section 110(b) (30 U.S.C. 820(b))
is amended by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HDF5644514EAF4C1B8EB716A906883FCB" style="OLC">
<paragraph commented="no" id="H8DFC60CB64354E1DB16E4225E422DDC0" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Notwithstanding any other provision
of this Act, an operator of a coal or other mine that is in pattern status
under section 104(e) and that fails to meet the performance benchmarks set
forth by the Secretary under section 104(e)(5)(A) during any performance review
of the mine following the first performance review shall be assessed an
increased civil penalty for any violation of this Act, including any mandatory
health or safety standard or regulation promulgated under this Act. Such
increased penalty shall be twice the amount that would otherwise be assessed
for the violation under this Act, including the regulations promulgated under
this Act, subject to the maximum civil penalty established for the violation
under this Act. This paragraph shall apply to violations at such mine that
occur during the period beginning after the failed performance review following
the first performance review, and ending when the Secretary determines at a
subsequent performance review that the mine meets the performance
benchmarks.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="H9A3C5A23B6E74BA6B6EBB6A42A7286C5"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Civil penalty
for retaliation</header><text>Section 110(a) (30 U.S.C. 820(a)) is further
amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H043C22B3860D42DC935420C2F347917B"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by redesignating
paragraph (4) as paragraph (5); and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HEBB4750537594ABCB98AD752FF609883"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by inserting after
paragraph (3) the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HADD70C1269A24F3AB911E29A7BE7FD97" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H4662C4CCCD424B54B93B651924FD7D58" indent="up1"><enum>(4)</enum><text>If any person violates section
105(c), the Secretary shall propose, and the Commission shall assess, a civil
penalty of not less than $10,000 or more than $100,000 for the first occurrence
of such violation, and not less than $20,000 or more than $200,000 for any
subsequent violation, during any 3-year
period.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H71F3EAEE5BC8400EBD5495990265E3EC"><enum>302.</enum><header>Civil and
criminal liability of officers, directors, and agents</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 110(c) (30 U.S.C. 820(c)) is amended
to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H57803BA8B18447359A727F200E1AE7C7" style="OLC">
<subsection commented="no" id="H3E0B72B50037466D9ED98423446CAFEB"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Civil and
criminal liability of officers, directors, and agents</header><text>Whenever an
operator violates a provision of this Act, including any mandatory health or
safety standard or regulation promulgated under this Act, or 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 contributed
to the occurrence of 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="HB2AE94E005C643849E3D9E3A77024709"><enum>303.</enum><header>Criminal
penalties</header>
<subsection id="H4BA36422B48F495595554A69C8C31AD9"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Intent
requirements for criminal penalty standards</header><text>Section 110(d) (30
U.S.C. 820(d)) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H3B06963842B2461A9F547C76B2FE438B"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking <quote>willfully</quote> and
inserting <quote>knowingly</quote>;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HD826C349F47643A0BE07A87F6E79851D"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking <quote>$250,000, or by
imprisonment for not more than one year</quote> and inserting
<quote>$1,000,000, or by imprisonment for not more than 5 years</quote>;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H5392C89C64124150A6298A672C356563"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>$500,000, or by imprisonment for not more than five years</quote> and
inserting <quote>$2,000,000, or by imprisonment for not more than 10
years</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H7EAD53C981264CE6805FEAD7064A538B"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Criminal penalty
for retaliation</header><text>Section 110(d) is further amended—</text>
<paragraph id="HC5E7F3675C27415F91CFF98783EF4890"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by inserting
<quote>(1)</quote> before <quote>Any operator</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H46E594A41DE84410BB6A5DDE4CF68546"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by adding at the
end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H82D684EB532940119D8EE2A22C36148C" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H9E661AD19D534379ADC3CD6312F0210B" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Whoever knowingly takes any action
that is directly or indirectly harmful to any person, including action that
interferes with the lawful employment or livelihood of any person, because such
person has provided an authorized representative of the Secretary or another
law enforcement officer with any information related to the existence of a
health or safety violation or an unhealthful or unsafe condition, policy, or
practice under this Act shall be fined under title 18, United States Code,
imprisoned for not more than 10 years, or
both.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H5ACDB39CAA844F39A7AFCDD2EAAA3B93"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Advance notice
of inspections</header>
<paragraph id="H25B08611D0934E8F82F6D57102A2A6B6"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Section 110(e) (30 U.S.C. 820(e)) is amended—</text>
<subparagraph id="H079B5359FD71490DB1AD15BA68C5923C"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>Unless</quote> and inserting <quote>(1) Unless</quote>; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE4A3C4E109C44E4091B88DADF10DC414"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by adding at the
end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1417CCF45127456FA635BA5FE75E214F" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H2085CA25DBFC47409918961CE1277812" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Unless otherwise authorized by this
Act, any operator, agent or contractor of any operator, miner, inspector,
employee of the Administration, or State mine inspector, that knowingly gives,
causes to give, or attempts to give or cause to give advance notice of any
inspection to be conducted under this Act shall be fined under title 18, United
States Code, imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or
both.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H7C88A14503DB4273897B635A22F35FBA"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Posting of
advance notice penalties</header><text>Section 109 (30 U.S.C. 819) is amended
by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H0B013D767F4C49B79EF85EED6B0D8D9D" style="OLC">
<subsection id="HB1657E0AEDCE431FB83B6C4108148175"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Posting of
advance notice penalties</header><text>Each operator of a coal or other mine
shall post, on the bulletin board described in subsection (a) and in a
conspicuous place near each staffed entrance onto the mine property, a notice
stating, in a form and manner to be prescribed by the Secretary—</text>
<paragraph id="H4BB38F5DFA034B12BF26B3D50351F17F"><enum>(1)</enum><text>that giving,
causing to give, or attempting to give or cause to give advance notice of any
inspection to be conducted under this Act is unlawful pursuant to section
110(e); and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HD9696A6387444A878DB95602AD9865B0"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the maximum
penalties for a violation under such
subsection.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H9F7B7A7DC5ED4315B2624247BD862B2E"><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="HBB14B2B37E2F479BAE89A03CE4380B3A"><enum>305.</enum><header>Delinquent
payments and prejudgment interest</header>
<subsection id="HBD7AAD1E40094C27B8F396DB28B43D26"><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="H6684A74A2D0E44CEBDD84AF190CCC7F4"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Ensuring payment
of penalties</header>
<paragraph id="H31C46F54FF6349F789995F789376092E"><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="HB3874FC41F714C51A4AF4FA3C826DF63"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by redesignating subsection (l) as
subsection (m); and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H80247A86F47F4A60A569354C30CB35F9"><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="HE1595AEB1B0B4F4989AFEF6A3B5DA66A" style="OLC">
<subsection id="HAD23C28E3C134587B57F6792C55F3966"><enum>(l)</enum><header>Ensuring
payments of penalties</header>
<paragraph id="HEF706FC710AD493A9733E160C59DEC07"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Delinquent
payment letter</header><text>If the operator of a coal or other mine fails to
pay any civil penalty assessment that has become a final order of the
Commission or a court within 90 days after such assessment became a final
order, the Secretary shall send the operator a letter advising the operator of
the consequences under this subsection of such failure to pay. The letter shall
also advise the operator of the opportunity to enter into or modify a payment
plan with the Secretary based upon a demonstrated inability to pay, the
procedure for entering into such plan, and the consequences of not entering
into or not complying with such plan.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H23313081F1E24C4BAC623DBCFB42287D"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Withdrawal
orders following failure to pay</header><text>If an operator that receives a
letter under paragraph (1) has not paid the assessment by the date that is 180
days after such assessment became a final order and has not entered into a
payment plan with the Secretary, the Secretary shall issue an order requiring
such operator to cause all persons, except those referred to in section 104(c),
to be withdrawn from, and to be prohibited from entering, the mine that is
covered by the final order described in paragraph (1), until the operator pays
such assessment in full (including interest and administrative costs) or enters
into a payment plan with the Secretary. If such operator enters into a payment
plan with the Secretary and at any time fails to comply with the terms
specified in such payment plan, the Secretary shall issue an order requiring
such operator to cause all persons, except those referred to in section 104(c),
to be withdrawn from the mine that is covered by such final order, and to be
prohibited from entering such mine, until the operator rectifies the
noncompliance with the payment plan in the manner specified in such payment
plan.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H5B2E0E07631C444DB1AD5B4277DAF6C0"><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="HBFB25A65D64D419B80C273295C0CE048"><enum>401.</enum><header>Protection from
retaliation</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 105(c) (30
U.S.C. 815(c)) is amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H047CFB6AF0A24CA2B880C2F8ACC2628B" style="OLC">
<subsection id="HB944FB7A6D094DD4A659DAB7D83E4DFF"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Protection from
retaliation</header>
<paragraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H72B60E0E3E7A46DA91BBD5CB800D79AF"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Retaliation
prohibited</header>
<subparagraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H8656CF5C2E674F0E9C35F1C52648DFCF"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Retaliation for
complaint or testimony</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">No
person shall discharge or in any manner discriminate against or cause to be
discharged or cause discrimination against or otherwise interfere with the
exercise of the statutory rights of any miner or other employee of an operator,
representative of miners, or applicant for employment, because—</text>
<clause id="HFA7B0C6146A94CC1BBC800B7AD60AA41"><enum>(i)</enum><text>such miner or
other employee, representative, or applicant for employment—</text>
<subclause id="H73CCFE99DF45405182F6BBF7A2F00560"><enum>(I)</enum><text>has filed or made
a complaint, including a complaint notifying the operator or the operator’s
agent, or the representative of the miners at the coal or other mine of an
alleged danger or safety or health violation in a coal or other mine;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="HD5704C61EF6C4E2FA655A4CA2BAFFFAB"><enum>(II)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">instituted or caused to be instituted any
proceeding under or related to this Act or has testified or is about to testify
in any such proceeding or because of the exercise by such miner or other
employee, representative, or applicant for employment on behalf of him or
herself or others of any right afforded by this Act;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H982425ADA8B041EBA6A34255A7A0FA2B"><enum>(III)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">has testified or is about to testify before
Congress or any Federal or State proceeding related to safety or health in a
coal or other mine; or</text>
</subclause><subclause id="HA48F31AE4F024503936FFAB1D88D64BD"><enum>(IV)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">refused to violate any provision of this
Act; or</text>
</subclause></clause><clause id="H7759C2EAAD7842A88DD47D3132283C78"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">such miner is the subject of medical
evaluations and potential transfer under a standard published pursuant to
section 101.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HD955A26A9B4D4320866985E2E2BB4227"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Retaliation for
refusal to perform duties</header>
<clause id="HBF8E048857F54ADE960D232E60690192"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">No person shall
discharge or in any manner discriminate against a miner or other employee of an
operator for refusing to perform the miner’s or other employee’s duties if the
miner or other employee has a good-faith and reasonable belief that performing
such duties would pose a safety or health hazard to the miner or other employee
or to any other miner or employee.</text>
</clause><clause id="H5164BE0FEF1F48DB97CCD4772C8AE407"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Standard</header><text>For
purposes of clause (i), the circumstances causing the miner’s or other
employee’s good-faith belief that performing such duties would pose a safety or
health hazard shall be of such a nature that a reasonable person, under the
circumstances confronting the miner or other employee, would conclude that
there is such a hazard. In order to qualify for protection under this
paragraph, the miner or other employee, when practicable, shall have
communicated or attempted to communicate the safety or health concern to the
operator and have not received from the operator a response reasonably
calculated to allay such concern.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H85FFAD909C314DAAB3B22EEF0DBF20F4"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Complaint</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any miner or other employee or
representative of miners or applicant for employment who believes that he or
she has been discharged, disciplined, or otherwise discriminated against by any
person in violation of
<internal-xref idref="H72B60E0E3E7A46DA91BBD5CB800D79AF" legis-path="(c)(1)">paragraph (1)</internal-xref> may file a complaint with the
Secretary alleging such discrimination not later than 180 days after the later
of the last date on which an alleged violation of
<internal-xref idref="H72B60E0E3E7A46DA91BBD5CB800D79AF" legis-path="(c)(1)">paragraph (1)</internal-xref> occurs or the date on which
the miner or other employee or representative knows or should reasonably have
known that such alleged violation occurred.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H711653AEA8AB41BBB8EA9A1746FCEE21"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Investigation
and hearing</header>
<subparagraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC1FBE734DFC041BB8721B42884358D67"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Commencement of
investigation and initial determination</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Upon receipt of such complaint, the
Secretary shall forward a copy of the complaint to the respondent, and shall
commence an investigation within 15 days of the Secretary’s receipt of the
complaint, and, as soon as practicable after commencing such investigation,
make the determination required under subparagraph (B) regarding the
reinstatement of the miner or other employee.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE6EA220324A64054B4D0165627A8ACF3"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Reinstatement</header><text>If
the Secretary finds that such complaint was not frivolously brought, the
Commission, on an expedited basis upon application of the Secretary, shall
order the immediate reinstatement of the miner or other employee until there
has been a final Commission order disposing of the underlying complaint of the
miner or other employee. If either the Secretary or the miner or other employee
pursues the underlying complaint, such reinstatement shall remain in effect
until the Commission has disposed of such complaint on the merits, regardless
of whether the Secretary pursues such complaint by filing a complaint under
subparagraph (D) or the miner or other employee pursues such complaint by
filing an action under paragraph (4). If neither the Secretary nor the miner or
other employee pursues the underlying complaint within the periods specified in
paragraph (4), such reinstatement shall remain in effect until such time as the
Commission may, upon motion of the operator and after providing notice and an
opportunity to be heard to the parties, vacate such complaint for failure to
prosecute.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HCD6D547D47D9477A9188285F3F668EA7"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Investigation</header><text>Such
investigation shall include interviewing the complainant and—</text>
<clause id="H48DB5011DFF84F4B90BA1D7DC38EE332"><enum>(i)</enum><text>providing the
respondent an opportunity to submit to the Secretary a written response to the
complaint and to present statements from witnesses or provide evidence;
and</text>
</clause><clause id="H5EA1702E16D14E4BBC16EC5AE02036B5"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>providing the
complainant an opportunity to receive any statements or evidence provided to
the Secretary and rebut any statements or evidence.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC5D6FE4906034B15A851D21C8BD2F6AF"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Action by the
Secretary</header><text>If, upon such investigation, the Secretary determines
that the provisions of this subsection have been violated, the Secretary shall
immediately file a complaint with the Commission, with service upon the alleged
violator and the miner or other employee or representative of miners alleging
such discrimination or interference and propose an order granting appropriate
relief.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H4CECE729FC1C4671BD4518DFA6856E5D"><enum>(E)</enum><header>Action of the
Commission</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Commission
shall afford an opportunity for a hearing (in accordance with section 554 of
title 5, United States Code, but without regard to subsection (a)(3) of such
section) and thereafter shall issue an order, based upon findings of fact,
affirming, modifying, or vacating the Secretary’s proposed order, or directing
other appropriate relief. Such order shall become final 30 days after its
issuance. The complaining miner or other employee, representative, or applicant
for employment may present additional evidence on his or her own behalf during
any hearing held pursuant to this paragraph.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9EEEB4CEBB424139AA7835F9A2A0EBAC"><enum>(F)</enum><header>Relief</header><text>The
Commission shall have authority in such proceedings to require a person
committing a violation of this subsection to take such affirmative action to
abate the violation and prescribe a remedy as the Commission considers
appropriate, including—</text>
<clause id="H9668B5E0C14F425FA15083E6361B8DE8"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the rehiring or reinstatement of the miner
or other employee with back pay and interest and without loss of position or
seniority, and restoration of the terms, rights, conditions, and privileges
associated with the complainant’s employment;</text>
</clause><clause id="H8CBE0533E58A400C92A780C3EC0C5788"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>any other
compensatory and consequential damages sufficient to make the complainant
whole, and exemplary damages where appropriate; and</text>
</clause><clause id="HA3E24B5955754387961231E76C9B5DFB"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">expungement of all warnings, reprimands, or
derogatory references that have been placed in paper or electronic records or
databases of any type relating to the actions by the complainant that gave rise
to the unfavorable personnel action, and, at the complainant’s direction,
transmission of a copy of the decision on the complaint to any person whom the
complainant reasonably believes may have received such unfavorable
information.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HA67DEB254D5743C49195A8AC7F5B45FD"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Notice to and
action of complainant</header>
<subparagraph id="H094E9A10FF81465AABF49720B2D7B9FB"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Notice to
complainant</header><text>Not later than 90 days of the receipt of a complaint
filed under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall notify, in writing, the miner or
other employee, applicant for employment, or representative of miners of his
determination whether a violation has occurred.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H26ED830487E14EAD979F55E5C7B21E98"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Action of
complainant</header><text>If the Secretary, upon investigation, determines that
the provisions of this subsection have not been violated, the complainant shall
have the right, within 30 days notice of the Secretary’s determination, to file
an action in his or her own behalf before the Commission, charging
discrimination or interference in violation of
<internal-xref idref="H72B60E0E3E7A46DA91BBD5CB800D79AF" legis-path="(c)(1)">paragraph (1)</internal-xref>.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H46E76596BB564210860AF2291190BB90"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Hearing and
decision</header><text>The Commission shall afford an opportunity for a hearing
(in accordance with section 554 of title 5, United States Code, but without
regard to subsection (a)(3) of such section), and thereafter shall issue an
order, based upon findings of fact, dismissing or sustaining the complainant’s
charges and, if the charges are sustained, granting such relief as it deems
appropriate as described in
<internal-xref idref="H4CECE729FC1C4671BD4518DFA6856E5D" legis-path="(c)(3)(B)">paragraph (3)(D)</internal-xref>. Such order shall
become final 30 days after its issuance.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HA38CEAC88A0E4921B4E19EE14D38183C"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Burden of
proof</header><text>In adjudicating a complaint pursuant to this subsection,
the Commission may determine that a violation of
<internal-xref idref="H72B60E0E3E7A46DA91BBD5CB800D79AF" legis-path="(c)(1)">paragraph (1)</internal-xref> has occurred only if the
complainant demonstrates that any conduct described in
<internal-xref idref="H72B60E0E3E7A46DA91BBD5CB800D79AF" legis-path="(c)(1)">paragraph (1)</internal-xref> with respect to the
complainant was a contributing factor in the adverse action alleged in the
complaint. A decision or order that is favorable to the complainant shall not
be issued pursuant to this subsection if the respondent demonstrates by clear
and convincing evidence that the respondent would have taken the same adverse
action in the absence of such conduct.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HCE97B9FD7064488B9F6EBF5F56E20BB0"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Attorneys’
fees</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Whenever an order is
issued sustaining the complainant’s charges under this subsection, a sum equal
to the aggregate amount of all costs and expenses, including attorney’s fees,
as determined by the Commission to have been reasonably incurred by the
complainant for, or in connection with, the institution and prosecution of such
proceedings shall be assessed against the person committing such violation. The
Commission shall determine whether such costs and expenses were reasonably
incurred by the complainant without reference to whether the Secretary also
participated in the proceeding.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HBA2F89BC4C8E42489EA082AA6DB93B52"><enum>(7)</enum><header> Expedited
proceedings; Judicial review</header><text>Proceedings under this subsection
shall be expedited by the Secretary and the Commission. Any order issued by the
Commission under this subsection shall be subject to judicial review in
accordance with section 106. Violations by any person of
<internal-xref idref="H72B60E0E3E7A46DA91BBD5CB800D79AF" legis-path="(c)(1)">paragraph (1)</internal-xref> shall be subject to the
provisions of sections 108 and 110(a)(4).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HF6A6F87470864B14B812417A2B07BADA"><enum>(8)</enum><header> Procedural
Rights</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The rights and
remedies provided for in this subsection may not be waived by any agreement,
policy, form, or condition of employment, including by any pre-dispute
arbitration agreement or collective bargaining agreement.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H234C2BA355B94F71931A7F2D607876D1"><enum>(9)</enum><header>Savings</header><text>Nothing
in this subsection shall be construed to diminish the rights, privileges, or
remedies of any employee who exercises rights under any Federal or State law or
common law, or under any collective bargaining
agreement.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section commented="no" id="HF8956A4A26C74A4D82D934AFB3041E3D"><enum>402.</enum><header>Protection from
loss of pay</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 111 (30
U.S.C. 821) is amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6EF468AE99E649A28EA92CD3D206B0BE" style="OLC">
<section commented="no" id="H22F7B14CEDC24F64B473A75A912379EE"><enum>111.</enum><header>Entitlement of
miners</header>
<subsection id="H8F44200AEE2E4B1581023B7355D7C999"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Protection from
loss of pay</header>
<paragraph id="H18C649DFD3794E4E825E02AB8F298A96"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Withdrawal
order</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If a coal or other mine
or area of such mine is closed by an order issued under section 103, 104, 107,
108, or 110 all miners who are idled by such order shall be entitled,
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.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HC52B6CB84C8942B1805A40B9ABCFB9F7"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Closure in
advance of order</header><text>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.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H39563B503BE44E3BA8DECF72AD7CD43F"><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="id700D3312D6064C81B507901453FA62DF"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Enforcement</header>
<paragraph id="idA2301E7B55C6463B817EF07CD004DD8E"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Commission
orders</header><text>The Commission shall have authority to order compensation
due under this section upon the filing of a complaint by a miner or his
representative and after opportunity for hearing subject to section 554 of
title 5, United States Code. Whenever the Commission issues an order sustaining
the complaint under this subsection in whole or in part, the Commission shall
award the complainant reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id90FE3D1BA2FE468292BB8A8B1870AE00"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Failure to pay
compensation due</header><text>Consistent with the authority of the Secretary
to order miners withdrawn from a mine under this Act, the Secretary shall order
a mine that has been subject to a withdrawal order under section 103, 104, 107,
108, or 110, and has reopened, to be closed again if compensation in accordance
with the provisions of this section is not paid by the end of the next
regularly scheduled payroll period following the lifting of a withdrawal
order.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><enum>V</enum><header>Modernizing health
and safety standards </header>
<section commented="no" id="H0888BD04609042E48E9E785F3116E987"><enum>501.</enum><header>Pre-shift
review of mine conditions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 303(d) (30 U.S.C. 863(d)) is amended
by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H12158459612B4C40B39E46E460092BFE" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H1041C0E3521D47FCA50CA3377E9BD84E" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H31495686D7BB4E83BD2F0E8B3C2CA647"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Not later than 30 days
after the issuance of the interim final rules promulgated under subparagraph
(C), each operator of an underground coal mine shall implement a communication
program at the underground coal mine to ensure that each miner entering the
mine is made aware, at the start of such miner’s shift, of the current
conditions of the mine, including—</text>
<clause id="H99F67ADFD616404786D849B8FC4AD319" indent="up1"><enum>(i)</enum><text>any conditions that are hazardous or
that violate a mandatory health or safety standard or a plan approved under
this Act; and</text>
</clause><clause id="HC76D029041BB4F28BDB39927038D657E" indent="up1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the general conditions of that
miner’s assigned working section or other area.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H835AB0D1A3D24B7D98C8C69B9FC470DE" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>In an effort to facilitate the
communications described in subparagraph (A), each agent of the operator who is
responsible for ensuring the safe and healthful working conditions at the mine,
including mine foremen, assistant mine foremen, and mine examiners, shall, upon
exiting the mine or workplace, verbally communicate with any oncoming agent
replacing the exiting agent on duty in order to update the oncoming agent on
the conditions the exiting agent observed during the exiting agent's shift,
including any conditions that are hazardous or that violate a mandatory health
or safety standard or a plan approved under this Act. Such communications
process shall be completed prior to the start of each shift at the mine and
recorded in a book designated for that purpose and available for inspection by
all interested parties. In the event the mine operation is idle prior to the
start of any shift, the oncoming agent of the operator shall meet with the
individual who was responsible for examining the mine to obtain the necessary
information.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5AF73CCB2C444CA5AE3283FA188A8770" indent="up1"><enum>(C)</enum><text>Not later than 90 days after the date
of enactment of the Robert C. Byrd Mine and Workplace Safety and Health Act of
2010, the Secretary shall promulgate interim final rules implementing the
requirements of subparagraphs (A) and
(B).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section id="H0744E1B67BC64DCE9306C9D34E29F251"><enum>502.</enum><header>Rock dust
standards</header>
<subsection id="H912A96C367BC4C72B12B17C0CB4F534F"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Standards</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 304(d) (30 U.S.C. 864(d)) is
amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H54243F124C0640EDA17A412147F3DEAD"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>Where rock</quote> and inserting the
following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H950D4225D66D417A9ACB275571B75978" style="OLC">
<text><header-in-text level="subsection" style="OLC">Rock dust</header-in-text>.—</text><paragraph id="H05379F3967CE483C8753C10EA2582561"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Where rock</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>;
</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H2ACB23BC788F474AA6E2BED797C6689A"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking <quote>65 per centum</quote>
and all that follows and inserting <quote>80 percent. 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="H2596C1ABE642475EA1A0F940957C259D"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by adding at the
end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H3A587D91C6F148A09D7BF33F9E66501E" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H60180DBAE26745A290FB699457B81AA1"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Methods of
measurement</header>
<subparagraph id="HF63750B306214E7498821AC4C8CFC61E"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Each operator of an underground coal mine shall take
accurate samples of the amount of coal dust, including float coal dust
deposited on rock-dusted surfaces, loose coal, and other combustible materials
in the active workings of such mines, to ensure that the coal dust is kept
below explosive levels through the appropriate application of rock
dusting.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H1509CB3902A14394B26E9F0F0E828376"><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 coal dust and the Department of Labor has approved
such monitors for use in underground coal mines, the Secretary shall require
operators to take coal dust samples using direct reading monitors.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H0AE62898F6C847EEB97CCF5BA153102E"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Regulations</header><text>The
Secretary shall, not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of the
Robert C. Byrd Mine and Workplace Safety and Health Act of 2010, promulgate an
interim final rule that prescribes methods for sampling of total incombustible
content of coal dust using direct reading monitors and includes requirements
for locations, methods, and intervals for mandatory operator sampling.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HDC4E8279C40B4C469E757DDA110D126B"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Recommendations</header><text>Not
later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Robert C. Byrd Mine and
Workplace 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><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H9CCF4B486BF1488CB88C4279C0065817"><enum>(b)</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>
<paragraph id="H8CE34BAC556F4E7894E6141989E469A5"><enum>(1)</enum><text>regarding whether
any direct reading device described in section 304(d)(2)(B) of the Federal Mine
Safety and Health Act of 1977 (30 U.S.C. 864(d)(2)(B)) is sufficiently reliable
and accurate for the enforcement of the mandatory health or safety standards by
the Secretary of Labor under such Act, and whether additional improvement to
such direct reading device, or additional verification regarding reliability
and accuracy, would be needed for enforcement purposes; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HF49F0BE56719434588935B5373137097"><enum>(2)</enum><text>identifying any
limitations or impediments for such use in underground coal mines.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="HF3AC7915216A419D802806E2BC1A6603"><enum>503.</enum><header>Atmospheric
monitoring systems</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 317
(30 U.S.C. 877) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H9A50C57A899B4DB2B21608EA43EF7BC5" style="OLC">
<subsection id="HD1D5DD6A318E478FA93B09FEA9E4BDEA"><enum>(u)</enum><header>Atmospheric
monitoring systems</header>
<paragraph id="HCA6C4EB99C1A47A8BC57A11077C8BA9D"><enum>(1)</enum><header>NIOSH
recommendations</header><text>Not later than 6 months after the date of
enactment of the Robert C. Byrd Mine and Workplace 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, shall
issue recommendations to the Secretary regarding—</text>
<subparagraph id="HD06365513BD24114A2A94A148B08B9E6"><enum>(A)</enum><text>how to ensure that
atmospheric monitoring systems are utilized in the underground coal mining
industry to maximize the health and safety of underground coal miners;
and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H3B02101F7BA0404FB88F0D6D654EB66D"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the implementation
of redundant systems, such as the bundle tubing system, that can continuously
monitor the mine atmosphere following incidents such as fires, explosions,
entrapments, and inundations.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HF3B16C7F07B045998911375E27DB57F2"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Atmospheric
monitoring system regulations</header><text>Not later than 270 days 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="HEC4BF3961232419683F80E20736699AB"><enum>(A)</enum><text>protect miners
where the miners normally work and travel;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H146692BADC514C9B8095F743034A0488"><enum>(B)</enum><text>provide real-time
information regarding methane and carbon monoxide levels, and airflow
direction, as appropriate, with sensing, annunciating, and recording
capabilities; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H01B13126E1494A86859362E05E3A09A6"><enum>(C)</enum><text>can, to the
maximum extent practicable, withstand explosions and
fires.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section id="HB60A8AAA7462489091737166987D1891"><enum>504.</enum><header>Technology
related to respirable dust</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 202(d) (30 U.S.C. 842(d)) is
amended—</text>
<paragraph id="HE3D4E7798CEB4F59A1871AEBFE22092A"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>of Health and Human Services</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H2254521CAEDA4627AD4556A492CDB1B2"><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 Mine and Workplace 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.</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H8CC273E7ACED4732A99966461757E21D"><enum>505.</enum><header>Refresher
training on miner rights and responsibilities</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HFAA2C281E67642C8A7C8C14A68D19B1C"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 115(a)(3) (30
U.S.C. 825(a)(3)) is amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HCAE7B3299B72482698058C290F26D6AF" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="HA27160691ACB4D49A04990408422CD3F"><enum>(3)</enum><text>all miners shall
receive not less than 9 hours of refresher training not less frequently than
once every 12 months, and such training shall include one hour of training on
the statutory rights and responsibilities of miners and their representatives
under this Act and other applicable Federal and State law, pursuant to a
program of instruction developed by the Secretary and delivered by 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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H93F2BCB6E220464798CAEE113C3B04BE"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Timing of
initial statutory rights training</header><text>Notwithstanding section 115 of
the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act (as amended by subsection (a)) (30
U.S.C. 825) or the health and safety training program approved under such
section, an operator shall ensure that all miners already employed by the
operator on the date of enactment of this Act shall receive the one hour of
statutory rights and responsibilities training described in section 115(a)(3)
of such Act not later than 180 days after such date.</text>
</subsection></section><section commented="no" id="H2FC4AB6D00174067A792B2782ABE2805"><enum>506.</enum><header>Authority to
mandate additional training</header>
<subsection id="H806AF4C7995D4EEBA4C6A4C09E976E6B"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 115 (30
U.S.C. 825) is further amended by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection
(f) and inserting after subsection (d) the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HFE6219FBE8084CA4B7E8485B7FD23932" style="OLC">
<subsection id="HE17FEDF702544ED79AB5CB9D85523A66"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Authority To
mandate additional training</header>
<paragraph id="H607FFD5A6C9D4851ACF3138470184E5C"><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="HFA8181446BF34B4D8B6ED31420F7A6CA"><enum>(A)</enum><clause commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H34E4DA17A2114033AABC88B373DA1425"><enum>(i)</enum><text>a serious or fatal
accident has occurred at such mine; or</text>
</clause><clause id="H1D00B3D53FD84E74B787631C87DA6343" 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="H178CA324B2FC433E81EA1F9A8FE411C6"><enum>(B)</enum><text>additional
training would benefit the health and safety of miners at the mine.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HBECD96738CC241668E449FD6B3D3D337"><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="H79CBE90DD3CB4B92A6A64993F4041A5B"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Conforming
amendments</header><text>Section 104(g)(2) (30 U.S.C. 814(g)(2)) is amended by
striking <quote>under paragraph (1)</quote> both places it appears and
inserting <quote>under paragraph (1) or under section 115(e)</quote>.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="H0CD452F3A6EA489696C3739492A621E0"><enum>507.</enum><header>Certification
of personnel</header>
<subsection id="H31468005EBC94E6BA847DC78509BE68B"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Title I is further
amended by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA3E0FFF0AEC5453FA594B6287FA80DA3" style="OLC">
<section id="HC54C0239FA214B4AA02344F42416E800"><enum>117.</enum><header>Certification
of personnel</header>
<subsection id="HB786A3DA09104EE2A38FD424A7863194"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Certification
required</header><text>Any person who is authorized or designated by the
operator of a coal 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="H0A6EC6974E264A389E5415734243095F"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Establishment of
certification requirements and procedures</header>
<paragraph id="HF2E2F95FBF1E423B9FC6CD83A796C14F"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the
Robert C. Byrd Mine and Workplace Safety and Health Act of 2010, the Secretary
shall issue mandatory standards to establish—</text>
<subparagraph id="H7F420B8C2F344230B1D90B3F15E0B440"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">requirements for such certification,
registration, qualification, or other approval, including the experience,
examinations, and references that may be required as appropriate;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H1CBEC58E43024E919FE33446EC580CA6"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">time limits for such certifications and
procedures for obtaining and renewing such certification, registration,
qualification, or other approval; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8F19772B19D44ABEA957B4233CF93648"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">procedures and criteria for revoking such
certification, registration, qualification, or other approval, including
procedures that ensure that the Secretary responds to requests for
revocation.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H56AB4BDD3A7942639DB214D0DE8BCA17"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Coordination
with States</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In developing
such standards, the Secretary shall consult with States that have miner
certification programs to ensure effective coordination with existing State
standards and requirements for certification. The standards required under
paragraph (1) may provide that the certification, registration, qualification,
or other approval of the State in which the coal or other mine is located
satisfies the requirement of subsection (a) if the State’s program of
certification, registration, qualification, or other approval is no less
stringent than the standards established by the Secretary under paragraph
(1).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="H6B159A258CA54D6C92117C1EA7FECAE0"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Operator Fees
for certification</header>
<paragraph commented="no" id="H44924BDC7DA24896BDF1D293EE5B7A51"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Assessment and
collection</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Beginning 180 days
after the date of enactment of the Robert C. Byrd Mine and Workplace 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="H731557C875964B4F8DCDD51F963AEC6F"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Mine Safety and
Health Certification Fund</header><text>There is established in the Treasury of
the United States a separate account for the deposit of fees collected under
this subsection to be known as the Mine Safety and Health Certification Fund.
The Secretary shall deposit any fees collected pursuant to
<internal-xref legis-path="30107.(b)">paragraph (1)</internal-xref> into the
fund.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H81C71B3991AC43E59820485018BEE21A"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Use</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Amounts in the Mine Safety and Health
Certification Fund shall be available to the Secretary, as provided in
paragraph (4), for making expenditures to carry out the certification programs
established under this subsection.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H501D1015D43F4AAAB844AD0878DD72A6"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Authorization of
appropriations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In addition to
funds appropriated under section 114, there is authorized to be appropriated
from the Mine Safety and Health Certification Fund to the Assistant Secretary
for Mine Safety and Health for each fiscal year in which fees are collected
under <internal-xref legis-path="30107.(b)">paragraph (1)</internal-xref> an
amount equal to the total amount collected during the previous fiscal year from
fees assessed pursuant to this subsection. Such amounts are authorized to
remain available until expended.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE806009ABDF745A7A98D642FB6536190"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Crediting and
Availability of Fees</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Fees
authorized and collected under this subsection shall be available for
obligation only to the extent and in the amount provided in advance in
appropriations Acts.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H9B1CB166640D4846859B0AF4E84533B1"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Citation;
withdrawal order</header><text>Any operator who permits a person to perform any
of the health or safety related functions described in subsection (a) without a
current certification which meets the requirements of this section shall be
considered to have committed an unwarrantable failure under section 104(d)(1),
and the Secretary shall issue an order requiring that the miner be withdrawn or
reassigned to duties that do not require such
certification.</text>
</subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.
</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="HAFD470697A9148C28DF65EF9C85400EE"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Conforming
amendments</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 318 (30
U.S.C. 878) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="HBA66E5957B02461FA1BAEE32CDE973AE"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking
subsections (a) and (b);</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H51C2126444B64DAA931798336AAEDE23"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection (c),
by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (3) as subparagraphs (A) through (C),
respectively;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H9AFDEA28CF8243BDADDFBB92C9AC4099"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subsection (g), by redesignating
paragraphs (1) through (4) as subparagraphs (A) through (D), respectively;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H2CE22A9E46814AF5B55D6A0F109D5990"><enum>(4)</enum><text>by redesignating
subsections (c) through (j) as paragraphs (1) through (8), respectively.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><enum>VI</enum><header>Additional mine
safety provisions</header>
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H53EC84490A33493785BBEFBD729A8DDE" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>601.</enum><header>Definitions</header>
<subsection id="H2FDE62FE3DD5476EBF260B8BB3E0CECE"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definition of
operator</header><text>Section 3(d) is amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HACF04EBD6E7E4C8B87A9A078C09100A6" style="OLC">
<subsection id="HF81F808B02DC4ED08C96C99BE3E7C274"><enum>(d)</enum><text><quote>operator</quote>
means—</text>
<paragraph id="H510549CB9C614A83A7A76A15602B84E9"><enum>(1)</enum><text>any owner, lessee,
or other person that—</text>
<subparagraph id="H6556A0F44EBA4D2BBB8F426210FE0152"><enum>(A)</enum><text>operates or
supervises a coal or other mine; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H2698C6AD953C4D02BB576E2F9577B4C4"><enum>(B)</enum><text>controls such mine
by making or having the authority to make management or operational decisions
that affect, directly or indirectly, the health or safety at such mine;
or</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HB1D18CF5B1FF4778BACA50611FC28448"><enum>(2)</enum><text>any independent
contractor performing services or construction at such
mine;</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HB437DEEEB729426080F8B41C2AC2A807"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Definition of
agent</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 3(e) (30 U.S.C.
802(e)) is amended by striking <quote>the miners</quote> and inserting
<quote>any miner</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HAC5A28DEF9574218B9A95C5CFD8CC365"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Definition of
miner</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 3(g) (30 U.S.C.
802(g)) is amended by inserting after <quote>or other mine</quote> the
following: <quote> , and includes any individual who is not currently working
in a coal or other mine but would be currently working in such mine, but for an
accident in such mine</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HF95790A267714DD4A7092519E4CEF0DF"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Definition of
significant and substantial violations</header><text>Section 3 (30 U.S.C. 802)
is further amended—</text>
<paragraph id="HEFBCA3F7497F41628D703889166BB856"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection (m),
by striking <quote>and</quote> after the semicolon;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H0CACB6603A534026A351B4A1E92D1A19"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection (n),
by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HC0C17A3CF22A48A68C13FBAB55FF302C"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in subsection (o),
by striking the period at the end and inserting <quote>; and</quote>;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HEABF871604CD46CFBCBF52F8805A3D82"><enum>(4)</enum><text>by adding at the
end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6A1BEF9A145A487BA2BE1585772E5FA2" style="OLC">
<subsection id="HBD094B5C398648EC860C888E1C967D7A"><enum>(p)</enum><text><term>significant
and substantial violation</term> means a violation of this Act, including any
mandatory health or safety standard or regulation promulgated under this Act,
that is of such nature as could significantly and substantially contribute to
the cause and effect of a coal or other mine safety or health hazard as
described in section
104(d).</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="HACD3540467AA482FA66981973A63D3F9"><enum>602.</enum><header>Assistance to
States</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 503 (30 U.S.C.
953(a)) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H58D858AE00284F8AA48925A9A521F2C4"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection
(a)—</text>
<subparagraph id="H9559240AF1314611AEDC238226B3C6B9"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in the matter
preceding paragraph (1), by striking <quote>, in coordination with the
Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare and the Secretary of the
Interior,</quote>;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H81119DF9DC914BE18688C3B6F88492CB"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in paragraph (2),
by striking <quote>and</quote> after the semicolon;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA44A1241BE37438EA0ECB0BC5472237E"><enum>(C)</enum><text>in paragraph (3),
by striking the period and inserting <quote>; and</quote>; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5DBD95D2D65A41E9B8D97C692839A34A"><enum>(D)</enum><text>by adding at the
end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1E3AC41DDE884B8A852765E6CFE7A67D" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H51A9FDCF78334C8EAFDB35C82FF98993"><enum>(4)</enum><text>to assist such
State in developing and implementing any certification program for coal or
other mines required for compliance with section
117.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>;
and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H0CC33FC93D74443A8B521BBEBC2202B5"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection (h),
by striking <quote>$3,000,000 for fiscal year 1970, and $10,000,000 in each
succeeding fiscal year</quote> and inserting <quote>$20,000,000 for each fiscal
year</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></section><section id="HF62A21A3A4224AA4AA2F5CE194726ED8"><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="id5689098731904CBBA52A931FA59D3052" style="OLC">
<section id="HC0AD624E1858478D986FFDE4A70B03C8"><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 commented="no" id="id8C03664C390B456685CCABBF3C608918"><enum>604.</enum><header>Study on
workforce needs</header>
<subsection commented="no" id="id0772101B185B40DDB81EBC6F5EE55B1D"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 18
months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the
United States shall conduct a study on the workforce needs of the mining
industry and Federal and State enforcement agencies, including the need for
engineers and mine safety and health professionals.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" id="idD7E9B1B028FE42B29413EC1458A10211"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Issues To be
studied</header><text>The study in subsection (a) shall include—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" id="id6B9CA653F36C4661820A2F1AED48224E"><enum>(1)</enum><text>an analysis of
the training and expertise of the mine engineers and the safety and health
workforce; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="id3DB09BB544BB4157B70050518F2B6ECF"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the need for a
highly trained workforce of engineers and safety and health professionals
within—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="idB5720D9D77D64D44B9D78AE231CFE4BE"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the mining
industry;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id5133F13A1E3E4D498258489E9EF76C26"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the Mine Safety
Health Administration; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="idD8140497D1FB44F6B5818E0B51830077"><enum>(C)</enum><text>State enforcement
agencies responsible for mine safety and health.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="idCFFE12AD1104403D890276A738CD1E3B"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Report</header><text>The
Comptroller General of the United States shall prepare and submit to the
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and to the
Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives a report on
the study in subsection (a).</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" id="id3C52E6A235BC4AF59D6FFC9B49988458"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Recommendations</header><text>As
needed, the Comptroller General of the United States shall provide
recommendations for improvement in the report in subsection (c).</text>
</subsection></section><section commented="no" id="id3807973DDD2F463B8B9DDB2E1E1DB8CF"><enum>605.</enum><header>Mine Safety
and Health Administration strategic planning</header>
<subsection commented="no" id="id6C1AA6C146154C08BCD32D8D396DDCC1"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Strategic
plan</header><text>Not later than December 31, 2011, the Secretary of Labor,
acting through the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health,
shall submit to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget and to the
Congress and post on the public website of the Mine Safety and Health
Administration, a 5-year strategic plan for program activities. Such plan shall
be—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" id="idF8A3EDB1246A47449245C3C0D66DEC32"><enum>(1)</enum><text>prepared in
accordance with the requirements for agency strategic plans under section 306
of title 5, United States Code, except as otherwise provided in this
section;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="id9DA11747B0DC4AAFA0EC64BFA5949C95"><enum>(2)</enum><text>aligned with the
strategic plan of the Department of Labor; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="id9AF13EAF65D348D29570BA50F24440B0"><enum>(3)</enum><text>revised at least
once every 4 years.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="id66D74102D8674C1DB7070E077F0DFA57"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Annual
performance plan</header><text>Beginning with the Mine Safety and Health
Administration budget submission for fiscal year 2013, the Secretary of Labor,
acting through the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health,
shall submit to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget an annual
performance plan covering each program activity set forth in the budget of the
Mine Safety and Health Administration. Such plan shall—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" id="id372141E3218647EEA3DD964E7AE9CB43"><enum>(1)</enum><text>be prepared in
accordance with the requirements for performance plans under section 1115 of
title 31, United States Code, except as otherwise provided in this
section;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="idDB8DDB7B4E454580AAC8F3362EF1657A"><enum>(2)</enum><text>be consistent
with the strategic plan of the Mine Safety and Health Administration under
subsection (a); and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="id2047B9A9FC1943E2BFF2266FB07CB31C"><enum>(3)</enum><text>include a
strategic workforce plan that provides a clear line of sight between the
performance goals and objectives of the Mine Safety and Health Administration
and the human capital strategies employed to meet such goals and
objectives.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="id9916AC1A726F418FBCC20F425EA2EF5E"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not
later than 150 days after the end of a fiscal year, beginning with fiscal year
2013, the Secretary of Labor, acting through the Assistant Secretary of Labor
for Mine Safety and Health, shall prepare and submit to the President and the
Congress and post on the public website of the Mine Safety and Health
Administration, a report on the program performance for the previous fiscal
year. Such report shall—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" id="id76014BAC63BF4E65BE9343C8EBB69600"><enum>(1)</enum><text>be prepared in
accordance with the requirements for program performance reports under section
1116 of title 31, United States Code; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="id5DA4FA775D07414CAA51EB0990CEBF28"><enum>(2)</enum><text>address the
extent to which the Mine Safety and Health Administration is using performance
information to improve program performance.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><enum>VII</enum><header>Amendments to
the Occupational Safety and Health Act</header>
<section id="H02BDFA1A88AC462E8AA609E95EAADE8A"><enum>701.</enum><header>Enhanced
protections from retaliation</header>
<subsection id="id9477930D18814180A63E32F35C797A3A"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Employee
actions</header><text>Section 11(c)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health
Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 660(c)(1)) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="id3BABF30BD5E742A9963BFD7E79C898DE"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>discharge</quote> and all that follows through <quote>because
such</quote> and inserting the
following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id0323D7D2AC6C45AAB1A2572126DCF689" style="OLC">
<text>discharge or cause to be discharged,
or in any manner discriminate against or cause to be discriminated against, any
employee because—</text><subparagraph id="id90514555B2B348218DA5EE2FDEB097F9" indent="up1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>such</text>
</subparagraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idEB7EB22E23EA46CEBEE6674A9F4CF0AD"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>this Act or has</quote> and inserting the
following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id7E03F48BC0124639BFA20E61EF1851DF" style="OLC">
<text>this Act;</text><subparagraph id="idBB3DECCF1FA24BC6BB5C92FD24E2C5D8" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>such employee
has</text>
</subparagraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="id7A74B9DF19C9417BB5BDDA0DCB3CC10C"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>such proceeding or because of the exercise</quote> and inserting the
following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id20E569F2F45A4F8A90F3CD42C759883A" style="OLC">
<text>before Congress or in any Federal or
State proceeding related to safety or health;</text><subparagraph commented="no" id="idD43E602916B4415FB76F8AC5CEE0D5F5" indent="up1"><enum>(C)</enum><text>such employee has refused to violate
any provision of this Act; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4FE4285B6E994FFE954B222B4064297A" indent="up1"><enum>(D)</enum><text>of the
exercise</text>
</subparagraph><after-quoted-block>;
and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id7C9F4618D5DA4037A3033EF9283EA612"><enum>(4)</enum><text>by inserting
before the period at the end the following: <quote>, including the reporting of
any injury, illness, or unsafe condition to the employer, agent of the
employer, safety and health committee involved, or employee safety and health
representative involved</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H9C4B4F291F114525BD7C4AF44A4EF442"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Prohibition of
retaliation</header><text>Section 11(c) of such Act (29 U.S.C. 660(c)) is
amended by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="HF7719545B2274A23BE32712FED81478D" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H88FDCFFF20494490A0B107FF85D68CEE" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H8D3CE1D2C2494550B12108D4397D12C5"><enum>(A)</enum><text>No person shall
discharge, or cause to be discharged, or in any manner discriminate against, or
cause to be discriminated against, an employee for refusing to perform the
employee’s duties if the employee has a reasonable apprehension that performing
such duties would result in serious injury to, or serious impairment of the
health of, the employee or other employees.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF5265233520C4E168722CF81C361E23F" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For purposes of subparagraph (A), the
circumstances causing the 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 employee, would
conclude that there is such a hazard. In order to qualify for protection under
this paragraph, the employee, when practicable, shall have communicated or
attempted to communicate the safety or health concern to the employer and have
not received from the employer a response reasonably calculated to allay such
concern.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="HA6B12C25592340F0A7BD99AA212B1F43"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Procedure</header><text>Section
11(c) of such Act (29 U.S.C. 660(c)) is amended by striking paragraph (3) and
inserting the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HBAE419D1941D4A51904C4E62A427E7DE" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H512006DDBE9A43AB8B8D229B20C603F4"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Complaint</header><text>Any
employee who believes that the employee has been discharged, disciplined, or
otherwise discriminated against by any person in violation of paragraph (1) or
(2) may seek relief for such violation by filing a complaint with the Secretary
under <internal-xref idref="H7FEE27C2D9F444C68DA87E2339FA8C9A" legis-path="(5)">paragraph (5).</internal-xref></text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HD9A9B5E10E224B2FAE62B4F68D9B29CE"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Statute of
limitations</header>
<subparagraph id="HF1C0597D38514F06888719F86A39117C"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>An employee may take the action permitted by paragraph
(3)(A) not later than 180 days after the later of—</text>
<clause id="H84E6595E605E44968E11047D0EE22B66"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the date on which
an alleged violation of paragraph (1) or (2) occurs; or</text>
</clause><clause id="H99DFA17EAA7744448020E88A3D573242"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the date on which
the employee knows or should reasonably have known that such alleged violation
occurred.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HEDD07A9A8CF44C90BB0088A5D3C1C738"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Repeat
violation</header><text>Except in cases when the employee has been discharged,
a violation of paragraph (1) or (2) shall be considered to have occurred on the
last date an alleged repeat violation occurred.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H7FEE27C2D9F444C68DA87E2339FA8C9A"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Investigation</header>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="HAD4A9A71E9694A2E85A4AA8CD5DE21C4"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>An employee may, within the time period required under
<internal-xref idref="HEDD07A9A8CF44C90BB0088A5D3C1C738" legis-path="(4)(B)">paragraph (4)(B)</internal-xref>, file a complaint with the
Secretary alleging a violation of paragraph (1) or (2). If the complaint
alleges a prima facie case, the Secretary shall conduct an investigation of the
allegations in the complaint, which—</text>
<clause id="H0CA10E07F78A424BBE5D18E2C97DEF93"><enum>(i)</enum><text>shall
include—</text>
<subclause id="HA40E02292E8644B78BC46CC3F3AED17B"><enum>(I)</enum><text>interviewing the
complainant;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="HA394A05A67BC490D92BECCCC47D0C539"><enum>(II)</enum><text>providing the
respondent an opportunity to—</text>
<item id="HC24DD4D8613349E5BFAEB4EAA1D5953A"><enum>(aa)</enum><text>submit to the
Secretary a written response to the complaint; and</text>
</item><item id="H05C151A2C5894F90ACBCEE90FC2397C1"><enum>(bb)</enum><text>meet with the
Secretary to present statements from witnesses or provide evidence; and</text>
</item></subclause><subclause id="H2082B767A5F4452F9A1DB9DE155D517F"><enum>(III)</enum><text>providing the
complainant an opportunity to—</text>
<item id="H6CA4BA13236E4B9B86053590C6674F63"><enum>(aa)</enum><text>receive any
statements or evidence provided to the Secretary;</text>
</item><item id="H0109C8ABAA6E4785989792C24386C90F"><enum>(bb)</enum><text>meet with the
Secretary; and</text>
</item><item id="H038D3C1052E54610AA89232E2558B2D0"><enum>(cc)</enum><text>rebut any
statements or evidence; and</text>
</item></subclause></clause><clause id="HC7D35304133D426691FD75F415ED8279"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>may include
issuing subpoenas for the purposes of such investigation.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HB338EDA90FFE4DE38C2A22C4D1B9A2EF"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Decision</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 90 days after the filing of
the complaint, the Secretary shall—</text>
<clause id="H65576C16C65D43518BB1AF6AF7DCFC1F"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">determine whether reasonable cause exists
to believe that a violation of paragraph (1) or (2) has occurred; and</text>
</clause><clause id="HD34C86E3E44E4AD5A0F2490284141756"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">issue a decision granting or denying
relief.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H8F214394E3564EDCBB0BC2BB6A24D40B"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Preliminary
order following investigation</header><text>If, after completion of an
investigation under
<internal-xref idref="H7FEE27C2D9F444C68DA87E2339FA8C9A" legis-path="(5)">paragraph (5)(A)</internal-xref>, the Secretary finds
reasonable cause to believe that a violation of paragraph (1) or (2) has
occurred, the Secretary shall issue a preliminary order providing relief
authorized under
<internal-xref idref="HB40234DB62C7452687D14BE43E596D5E" legis-path="(14)">paragraph (14)</internal-xref> at the same time the Secretary
issues a decision under
<internal-xref idref="HB338EDA90FFE4DE38C2A22C4D1B9A2EF" legis-path="(5)(B)">paragraph (5)(B)</internal-xref>. If a de novo hearing is
not requested within the time period required under
<internal-xref idref="HFDA2981541A04A1E837F04AABC6BCE75" legis-path="(7)">paragraph (7)(A)(i)</internal-xref>, such preliminary order
shall be deemed a final order of the Secretary and is not subject to judicial
review.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HFDA2981541A04A1E837F04AABC6BCE75"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Hearing</header>
<subparagraph id="HAEDC93BC630F447F8EA7B01C70634ED2"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Request for
hearing</header>
<clause id="H207D1D37EA854E0B8FB4AE474930C3F5"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>A de novo hearing on the record before an administrative
law judge may be requested—</text>
<subclause id="HB6E9ACDFC76C40F0A6A39031A260DDB9"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by the complainant or respondent within 30
days after receiving notification of a decision granting or denying relief
issued under paragraph 5(D) or paragraph (6) respectively;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H704AFFD7CD5140489048946AFD511456"><enum>(II)</enum><text>by the
complainant within 30 days after the date the complaint is dismissed without
investigation by the Secretary under
<internal-xref idref="H7FEE27C2D9F444C68DA87E2339FA8C9A" legis-path="(5)">paragraph (5)</internal-xref>(A); or</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H20B04738AAB4402F836FA8B4E5D711DA"><enum>(III)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by the complainant within 120 days after
the date of filing the complaint, if the Secretary has not issued a decision
under <internal-xref idref="H7FEE27C2D9F444C68DA87E2339FA8C9A" legis-path="(5)">paragraph (5)(</internal-xref>B).</text>
</subclause></clause><clause id="HA2B39CD563C74218B598EB63EA7C6225"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Reinstatement
order</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The request for a
hearing shall not operate to stay any preliminary reinstatement order issued
under <internal-xref idref="H8F214394E3564EDCBB0BC2BB6A24D40B" legis-path="(6)">paragraph (6)</internal-xref>.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H404A380010424D16BA55568498C6AC3B"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Procedures</header>
<clause id="HA0B658E9C17D4A6FB59E3A9955133E9E"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>A hearing requested under this paragraph shall be
conducted expeditiously and in accordance with rules established by the
Secretary for hearings conducted by administrative law judges.</text>
</clause><clause id="HD1CBEA9CD0A24E21A9830E47CDDF1466"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Subpoenas;
production of evidence</header><text>In conducting any such hearing, the
administrative law judge may issue subpoenas. The respondent or complainant may
request the issuance of subpoenas that require the deposition of, or the
attendance and testimony of, witnesses and the production of any evidence
(including any books, papers, documents, or recordings) relating to the matter
under consideration.</text>
</clause><clause id="H31CED0818A364784AAE706A239DD2D03"><enum>(iii)</enum><header>Decision</header><text>The
administrative law judge shall issue a decision not later than 90 days after
the date on which a hearing was requested under this paragraph and promptly
notify, in writing, the parties and the Secretary of such decision, including
the findings of fact and conclusions of law. If the administrative law judge
finds that a violation of paragraph (1) or (2) has occurred, the judge shall
issue an order for relief under
<internal-xref idref="HB40234DB62C7452687D14BE43E596D5E" legis-path="(14)">paragraph (14)</internal-xref>. If review under paragraph (8)
is not timely requested, such order shall be deemed a final order of the
Secretary that is not subject to judicial review.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H4F5AD686DC2B4888AB3F44FBFD37C667"><enum>(8)</enum><header>Administrative
appeal</header>
<subparagraph id="H0946AF8D103E4067AF618ED816F859ED"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Not later than 30 days after the date of notification of
a decision and order issued by an administrative law judge under
<internal-xref idref="HFDA2981541A04A1E837F04AABC6BCE75" legis-path="(7)">paragraph (7)</internal-xref>, the complainant or respondent
may file, with objections, an administrative appeal with an administrative
review body designated by the Secretary (referred to in this paragraph as the
<quote>review board</quote>).</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5B5484C87AAB4B789322B043655E2E48"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Standard of
Review</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In reviewing the
decision and order of the administrative law judge, the review board shall
affirm the decision and order if it is determined that the factual findings set
forth therein are supported by substantial evidence and the decision and order
are made in accordance with applicable law.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID62eb7aae9d774adab67f99e84abc932b"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Decisions</header><text>If
the review board grants an administrative appeal, the review board shall issue
a final decision and order affirming or reversing, in whole or in part, the
decision under review by not later than 90 days after receipt of the
administrative appeal. If it is determined that a violation of paragraph (1) or
(2) has occurred, the review board shall issue a final decision and order
providing relief authorized under paragraph (14). Such decision and order shall
constitute final agency action with respect to the matter appealed.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H10E182AF221F4CD1A52CEC4CF8B2C91E"><enum>(9)</enum><header>Settlement in
the Administrative Process</header>
<subparagraph id="HB4B1C10DEBEC48EDBB038178A1FF96ED"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>At any time before issuance of a final order, an
investigation or proceeding under this subsection may be terminated on the
basis of a settlement agreement entered into by the parties.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H3A15FD38080A4C358B0C0F3C56D7D9FA"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Public policy
considerations</header><text>Neither the Secretary, an administrative law
judge, or review board conducting a hearing under this subsection shall accept
a settlement that contains conditions conflicting with the rights protected
under this Act or that are contrary to public policy, including a restriction
on a complainant’s right to future employment with employers other than the
specific employers named in a complaint.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HFA33996DF1734C6285FE1544E3AF0D23"><enum>(10)</enum><header>Inaction by the
review board or administrative law judge</header>
<subparagraph id="H224583D5B40D48CDA58CEADAECA4F596"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The complainant may bring a de novo action described in
<internal-xref idref="H3F38822F4C1A4D8AA94F3A9928C21C33" legis-path="(10)(B)">subparagraph (B)</internal-xref> if—</text>
<clause id="HA981690D2F3A4574857F581D17CCD40D"><enum>(i)</enum><text>an
administrative law judge has not issued a decision and order within the 90-day
time period required under
<internal-xref idref="HFDA2981541A04A1E837F04AABC6BCE75" legis-path="(7)">paragraph (7)</internal-xref>(B)(iii); or</text>
</clause><clause id="H578E6AAE7014459FA08993150DC26C42"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the review board
has not issued a decision and order within the 90-day time period required
under <internal-xref idref="H4F5AD686DC2B4888AB3F44FBFD37C667" legis-path="(8)">paragraph (8)</internal-xref>(C).</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H3F38822F4C1A4D8AA94F3A9928C21C33"><enum>(B)</enum><header>De novo
action</header><text>Such de novo action may be brought at law or equity in the
United States district court for the district where a violation of paragraph
(1) or (2) allegedly occurred or where the complainant resided on the date of
such alleged violation. The court shall have jurisdiction over such action
without regard to the amount in controversy and to order appropriate relief
under paragraph (14). Such action shall, at the request of either party to such
action, be tried by the court with a jury.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HB50F2E7430E141428DD4112BC2375DAC"><enum>(11)</enum><header>Judicial
review</header>
<subparagraph id="H443824B587F34017B74E77DF43A806D8"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Timely Appeal to
the court of appeals</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any
party adversely affected or aggrieved by a final decision and order issued
under this subsection may obtain review of such decision and order in the
United States Court of Appeals for the circuit where the violation, with
respect to which such final decision and order was issued, allegedly occurred
or where the complainant resided on the date of such alleged violation. To
obtain such review, a party shall file a petition for review not later than 60
days after the final decision and order was issued. Such review shall conform
to chapter 7 of title 5, United States Code. The commencement of proceedings
under this subparagraph shall not, unless ordered by the court, operate as a
stay of the final decision and order.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H3AA305C37C434ACBB078167D6F34E2DC"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Limitation on
collateral attack</header><text>An order and decision with respect to which
review may be obtained under subparagraph (A) shall not be subject to judicial
review in any criminal or other civil proceeding.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H2EAEDB6C3D794CCAACB265BFCED0068D"><enum>(12)</enum><header>Enforcement of
order</header><text>If a respondent fails to comply with an order issued under
this subsection, the Secretary or the complainant on whose behalf the order was
issued may file a civil action for enforcement in the United States district
court for the district in which the violation was found to occur to enforce
such order. If both the Secretary and the complainant file such action, the
action of the Secretary shall take precedence. The district court shall have
jurisdiction to grant all appropriate relief described in paragraph
(14).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H2C1CF2D9205C4819873A51D3D128E762"><enum>(13)</enum><header>Burdens of
proof</header>
<subparagraph id="H03FB052725494A8DBC1509F80B35F691"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Criteria for
determination</header><text>In making a determination or adjudicating a
complaint pursuant to this subsection, the Secretary, administrative law judge,
review board, or a court may determine that a violation of paragraph (1) or (2)
has occurred only if the complainant demonstrates that any conduct described in
paragraph (1) or (2) with respect to the complainant was a contributing factor
in the adverse action alleged in the complaint.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H307AD8D6865C492682D55DF406B3C56A"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Prohibition</header><text>Notwithstanding
subparagraph (A), a decision or order that is favorable to the complainant
shall not be issued in any administrative or judicial action 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>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HB40234DB62C7452687D14BE43E596D5E"><enum>(14)</enum><header>Relief</header>
<subparagraph id="HC5C9D9B923564847A4FE7C572BD7FF54"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Order for
relief</header><text>If the Secretary, administrative law judge, review board,
or a court determines that a violation of paragraph (1) or (2) has occurred,
the Secretary or court, respectively, shall have jurisdiction to order all
appropriate relief, including injunctive relief, compensatory and exemplary
damages, including—</text>
<clause id="HF5232BBDF3C04AC7B1706C5A2C2126C8"><enum>(i)</enum><text>affirmative action
to abate the violation;</text>
</clause><clause id="H162C97AC401D4EE3B6B8F087FED75A0A"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>reinstatement
without loss of position or seniority, and restoration of the terms, rights,
conditions, and privileges associated with the complainant’s employment,
including opportunities for promotions to positions with equivalent or better
compensation for which the complainant is qualified;</text>
</clause><clause id="HF43068EFE7E44196B0A6CDBDB609D499"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>compensatory and
consequential damages sufficient to make the complainant whole, (including back
pay, prejudgment interest, and other damages); and</text>
</clause><clause id="H4408BCF1EFD2411B8F04350BDD8F4AF1"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>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><subparagraph id="HA6A6A67B0F734182A6FF119F29DA5483"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Attorneys’ fees
and costs</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If the Secretary or
an administrative law judge, review board, or court grants an order for relief
under subparagraph (A), the Secretary, administrative law judge, review board,
or court, respectively, shall assess, at the request of the employee against
the employer—</text>
<clause id="H088BDF7BE3E547D298354F1A61CF101F"><enum>(i)</enum><text>reasonable
attorneys’ fees; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H9FAD81ED380E4FBEA15A1E8CF877EA1A"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>costs (including
expert witness fees)) reasonably incurred, as determined by the Secretary,
administrative law judge, review board, or court, respectively, in connection
with bringing the complaint upon which the order was issued.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H07BE41CE25B648B6A08CEA65155C4B6B"><enum>(15)</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="H9C270898181645FCBC773210F2ACEA38"><enum>(16)</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><paragraph id="H7FBAEB7D29144DE6A85769138040DB20"><enum>(17)</enum><header>Election of
venue</header>
<subparagraph id="H6601F3614F5543CF887BC7CC3DEA05D6"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>An employee of an employer who is located in a State that
has a State plan approved under section 18 may file a complaint alleging a
violation of paragraph (1) or (2) by such employer with—</text>
<clause id="H33342721D8AB4EA7924004EAD2E0B572"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the Secretary
under <internal-xref idref="H7FEE27C2D9F444C68DA87E2339FA8C9A" legis-path="(5)">paragraph (5)</internal-xref>; or</text>
</clause><clause id="H996DF20A4A50494DB39EC0C1BB51976C"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>a
State plan administrator in such State.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE60E18760EFD430C8CD20C4DD1C376C9"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Referrals</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If—</text>
<clause id="HA9130DA5A26B49BEABD6DADDCD2B8AEF"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the Secretary
receives a complaint pursuant to subparagraph (A)(i), the Secretary shall not
refer such complaint to a State plan administrator for resolution; or</text>
</clause><clause id="H62663EEC083448348686778FEDEC13F5"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>a
State plan administrator receives a complaint pursuant to subparagraph (A)(ii),
the State plan administrator shall not refer such complaint to the Secretary
for
resolution.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="H0558925CD7C545E9AA40FF953744DA98"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Relation to
enforcement</header><text>Section 17(j) of such Act (29 U.S.C. 666(j)) is
amended by inserting before the period the following: <quote>, including the
history of violations under section 11(c)</quote>.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="H6D300F1B4E2841D89624E82E8EB3223D"><enum>702.</enum><header>Victims’
rights</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Occupational Safety
and Health Act of 1970 is amended by inserting after section 9 (29 U.S.C. 658)
the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="H62957FB76C9B4D29A59F3C6139554025" style="OLC">
<section id="H77E47CE7805F446AAE66DA52D3997CFB"><enum>9A.</enum><header>Victims'
rights</header>
<subsection id="H5641CC1BCDF94944A66CB6266E6E15AD"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Rights before
the Secretary</header><text>A victim or the representative of a victim, shall
be afforded the right, with respect to an inspection or investigation conducted
under section 8 to—</text>
<paragraph id="HBBCDDA252D41442B90C623A639460206"><enum>(1)</enum><text>meet with the
Secretary regarding the inspection or investigation conducted under such
section before the Secretary’s decision to issue a citation or take no
action;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H37C8AF9CD9C743E887B1FA7332A04320"><enum>(2)</enum><text>receive, at no
cost, a copy of any citation or report, issued as a result of such inspection
or investigation, at the same time as the employer receives such citation or
report;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H42016AB804424D65BE0D1A1837355D7C"><enum>(3)</enum><text>be informed of any
notice of contest or addition of parties to the proceedings filed under section
10(c); and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H729195A1601A40BA88E0211E887E1A09"><enum>(4)</enum><text>be provided
notification of the date and time or any proceedings, service of pleadings, and
other relevant documents, and an explanation of the rights of the employer,
employee and employee representative, and victim to participate in proceedings
conducted under section 10(c).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H715FCE6F3D524FB99158828EC7F339EF"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Rights before
the Commission</header><text>Upon request, a victim or representative of a
victim shall be afforded the right with respect to a work-related bodily injury
or death to—</text>
<paragraph id="HB8FC01C9496A44ECA2985391584DCC76"><enum>(1)</enum><text>be notified of the
time and date of any proceeding before the Commission;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HA1745C0B19B74EEC97D13D2AB9736179"><enum>(2)</enum><text>receive pleadings
and any decisions relating to the proceedings; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HAE902DE0C1A84F23A99C3FB049CBA807"><enum>(3)</enum><text>be provided an
opportunity to appear and make a statement in accordance with the rules
prescribed by the Commission.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H396EBAFA0D584CC19ECF5CD2A0354287"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Modification of
Citation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Before entering into
an agreement to withdraw or modify a citation issued as a result of an
inspection or investigation of an incident under section 8, the Secretary shall
notify a victim or representative of a victim and provide the victim or
representative of a victim with an opportunity to appear and make a statement
before the parties conducting settlement negotiations. In lieu of an
appearance, the victim or representative of the victim may elect to submit a
letter to the Secretary and the parties.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HB7D17A23762747B08F05151388C8C761"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Secretary
Procedures</header><text>The Secretary shall establish procedures—</text>
<paragraph id="H2FDA216E1A6848B988600EC0EF03D928"><enum>(1)</enum><text>to inform victims
of their rights under this section; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H91F3C4E0A73C4C6F97A05A386EE65138"><enum>(2)</enum><text>for the informal
review of any claim of a denial of such a right.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H1AF315AF9BAA429198FC25D69E5714A3"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Commission
procedures and considerations</header><text>The Commission shall—</text>
<paragraph id="id1D001D1E0C3F4E59A13F48B2CDB9DDDC"><enum>(1)</enum><text>establish
procedures relating to the rights of victims to be heard in proceedings before
the Commission; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id875D96034C6D4FD6BD72C427050EA17B"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in rendering any
decision, provide due consideration to any statement or information provided by
any victim before the Commission.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="H3B7834E043D64A869AAEEC42B0E2AB77"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Family
liaisons</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall
designate at least 1 employee at each area office of the Occupational Safety
and Health Administration to serve as a family liaison to—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" id="H2E7B87E4DC0B4742A715DA498D606999"><enum>(1)</enum><text>keep victims
informed of the status of investigations, enforcement actions, and settlement
negotiations; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H1ACE323E40B14DBBBD12398EFDC751E6"><enum>(2)</enum><text>assist victims in
asserting their rights under this section.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H93D9656740F848F0A7D34CFBFD10821A"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Definition</header><text>In
this section, the term <term>victim</term> means—</text>
<paragraph id="H502A9BC3579447C7A6C6D7DE7D0A0060"><enum>(1)</enum><text>an employee,
including a former employee, who has sustained a work-related injury or illness
that is the subject of an inspection or investigation conducted under section
8; or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HD7FF15CA62AD46D0A25AB53143A3998E"><enum>(2)</enum><text>a family member
(as further defined by the Secretary) of a victim described in paragraph (1),
if—</text>
<subparagraph id="H71E3DCC674D641C8A64FFEA1A6BB58CF"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the victim dies as
a result of a incident that is the subject of an inspection or investigation
conducted under section 8; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HFD13EA72B683449B909499A98092F404"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the victim
sustains a work-related injury or illness that is the subject of an inspection
or investigation conducted under section 8, and the victim because of
incapacity cannot reasonably exercise the rights under this
section.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section id="H7659F32F3B4045E8B92FAE66E729744D"><enum>703.</enum><header>Correction of
serious, willful, or repeated violations pending contest and procedures for a
stay</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 10 of the
Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 659) is amended by adding
at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="H5E6A27BAB4FC4BE59D3B4AF095EA0723">
<subsection commented="no" id="HF5EB0583CC4A443F9B1C66CA7C87CD92"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Correction of
serious, willful, or repeated violations pending contest and procedures for a
stay</header>
<paragraph id="H0CA4608613204FECA74B46CDFB3BE490"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Period permitted
for correction of serious, willful, or repeated violations</header><text>For
each violation which the Secretary designates as serious, willful, or repeated,
the period permitted for the correction of the violation shall begin to run
upon receipt of the citation.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HF48C29E484724ACF8596DAFAD161CD4B"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Filing of a
motion of contest</header><text>The filing of a notice of contest by an
employer—</text>
<subparagraph id="H3C2A5604CFE341B58EA4907FA99A5347"><enum>(A)</enum><text>shall not operate
as a stay of the period for correction of a violation designated as serious,
willful, or repeated; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H974AFEFB71FD4E6EBDB9EE59CEF89CCB"><enum>(B)</enum><text>may operate as a
stay of the period for correction of a violation not designated by the
Secretary as serious, willful, or repeated.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HDAA892949B294BD4BA1393119B1F08C2"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Criteria and
rules of procedure for stays</header>
<subparagraph id="H134AC1AFC0394D6AB4B3B3057CCEB1D7"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Motion for a
stay</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">An employer may file
with the Commission a motion to stay a period for the correction of a violation
designated as serious, willful, or repeated.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HDF192F9EF5C341E8AA6A0D866F5B1330"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Criteria</header><text>In
determining whether a stay should be issued on the basis of a motion filed
under subparagraph (A), the Commission shall consider whether—</text>
<clause id="HA17A59CD66A449C8AE73E9CCA27A6225"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the employer has
demonstrated a substantial likelihood of success on its contest to the
citation;</text>
</clause><clause id="HE6D9C920358F489A8C48ED74FDC88DC2"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the employer will
suffer irreparable harm absent a stay; and</text>
</clause><clause id="HEF4A7120755346F18500AEAA95AD5467"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>a stay will
adversely affect the health and safety of workers.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H70E24E4DEF084500A318B54D5D3F6C2C"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Rules of
Procedure</header><text>The Commission shall develop rules of procedure for
conducting a hearing on a motion filed under subparagraph (A) on an expedited
basis. At a minimum, such rules shall provide:</text>
<clause commented="no" id="H72D63B9749354FEEA9A00C35ABE4109D"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">That a hearing before an administrative law
judge shall occur not later than 15 days following the filing of the motion for
a stay (unless extended at the request of the employer), and shall provide for
a decision on the motion not later than 15 days following the hearing (unless
extended at the request of the employer).</text>
</clause><clause id="HF7219A9D830740498D647499593F66AF"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>That a decision
of an administrative law judge on a motion for stay is rendered on a timely
basis.</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" id="H137E6F7FB5A54918A1BA392921230C0B"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>That if a party
is aggrieved by a decision issued by an administrative law judge regarding the
stay, such party has the right to file an objection with the Commission not
later than 5 days after receipt of the administrative law judge’s decision.
Within 10 days after receipt of the objection, a Commissioner, if a quorum is
seated pursuant to section 12(f), shall decide whether to grant review of the
objection. If, within 10 days after receipt of the objection, no decision is
made on whether to review the decision of the administrative law judge, the
Commission declines to review such decision, or no quorum is seated, the
decision of the administrative law judge shall become a final order of the
Commission. If the Commission grants review of the objection, the Commission
shall issue a decision regarding the stay not later than 30 days after receipt
of the objection. If the Commission fails to issue such decision within 30
days, the decision of the administrative law judge shall become a final order
of the Commission.</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" id="H9BAB9F316EDF4081B7ABDA27642A8A2B"><enum>(iv)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For notification to employees or
representatives of affected employees of requests for such hearings and shall
provide affected employees or representatives of affected employees an
opportunity to participate as parties to such
hearings.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section id="ID71b2934a59234c819044bd21e430bd49"><enum>704.</enum><header>Conforming
amendments</header>
<subsection id="ID49dbbd3ff12045c3b7042be13ec2e9a4"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Section
17</header><text>Section 17(d) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of
1970 (29 U.S.C. 666(d)) (29 U.S.C. 666(d)) is amended to read as
follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idFB6E8017BFF64FF9859E00C4135464F3" style="OLC">
<subsection id="ID530b5f163d154d0b824967bdaaed820b"><enum>(d)</enum><text>Any employer who
fails to correct a violation designated by the Secretary as serious, willful,
or repeated and for which a citation has been issued under section 9(a) within
the period permitted for its correction (and a stay has not been issued by the
Commission under section 10(d)) may be assessed a civil penalty of not more
than $7,000 for each day during which such failure or violation continues. Any
employer who fails to correct any other violation for which a citation has been
issued under section 9(a) of this title within the period permitted for its
correction (which period shall not begin to run until the date of the final
order of the Commission in the case of any review proceeding under section 10
initiated by the employer in good faith and not solely for delay of avoidance
of penalties) may be assessed a civil penalty of not more than $7,000 for each
day during which such failure or violation
continues.</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><section id="H85994872199141A69A9E2CD95CC8E8F9"><enum>705.</enum><header>Civil
penalties</header>
<subsection id="H5575B285D4AE4128A962C9E8FE7FD6FF"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
General</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 17 of the
Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 666) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H89CCFF13F5CC47A09AE8BD853999D99D"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection
(a)—</text>
<subparagraph id="HE812141493A140D28A98805D8D007813"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>$70,000</quote> and inserting <quote>$120,000</quote>;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB05A04B27A9B4D1387E4DB9F6BBD8B18"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>$5,000</quote> and inserting <quote>$8,000</quote>; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H98E6B29F31434EA9A94529ABE5D57EAA"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by adding at the
end the following: <quote>In determining whether a violation is repeated, the
Secretary shall consider the employer's history of violations under this Act
and under State occupational safety and health plans established under section
18. If such a willful or repeated violation caused or contributed to the death
of an employee, such civil penalty amounts shall be increased to not more than
$250,000 for each such violation, but not less than $50,000 for each such
violation, except that for an employer with 25 or fewer employees such penalty
shall not be less than $25,000 for each such violation.</quote>;</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H1F936AA571C04429AC2BDC6CF284AA00"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection
(b)—</text>
<subparagraph id="HE0ABDC132EF04CA4BAFE2FB0127BE03F"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>$7,000</quote> and inserting <quote>$12,000</quote>; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H234B045A885544FC8AF0776B9DF4B165"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by adding at the
end the following: <quote>If such a violation caused or contributed to the
death of an employee, such civil penalty amounts shall be increased to not more
than $50,000 for each such violation, but not less than $20,000 for each such
violation, except that for an employer with 25 or fewer employees such penalty
shall not be less than $10,000 for each such violation.</quote>;</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H68CCDC77A7BC401191A2BF4FFF62256F"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in subsection (c),
by striking <quote>$7,000</quote> and inserting <quote>$12,000</quote>;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H39DCC4D701854DBEA81EA538639A4204"><enum>(4)</enum><text>in subsection (d),
as amended, by striking <quote>$7,000</quote> each place it occurs and
inserting <quote>$12,000</quote>;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HC47F86B1794243D99E6B3765FB48DD4F"><enum>(5)</enum><text>by redesignating
subsections (e) through (l) as subsections (f) through (m), respectively;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HB65CE8EE8DE34EC6BE1E1AE99F278FB8"><enum>(6)</enum><text>in subsection (j)
(as redesignated by paragraph (5)), by striking <quote>$7,000</quote> and
inserting <quote>$12,000;</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HB918B885ECAB4B86A1EB473796CE6E50"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Inflation
Adjustment</header><text>Section 17 is further amended by inserting after
subsection (d) the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="HEC73C76B0DF247BE8867C16EB49C6926" style="OLC">
<subsection id="H16DF4E72E1904B27BCFD39F549CAECA4"><enum>(e)</enum><text>Amounts provided
under this section for civil penalties shall be adjusted by the Secretary at
least once during each 4-year period beginning January 1, 2015, to account for
the percentage increase or decrease in the Consumer Price Index for all urban
consumers during such
period.</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><section id="H9DED76A8BD874D65A17C76F0877EB1CB"><enum>706.</enum><header>Criminal
penalties</header>
<subsection id="HFA12506AF2D147EA9CE4211C69871AD0"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
General</header><text>Section 17 (29 U.S.C. 666) (as amended by section 705) is
further amended—</text>
<paragraph id="HDBC31E7DB30345ACA90F49213BD611A1"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by amending
subsection (f) to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block id="H9F03FC75D76A401B8B030230C372BB1A" style="OLC">
<subsection id="HD10FA33FEB6D4320A1C563FA92ABB5B2"><enum>(f)</enum><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H882C9BD12D304772B9E8F9999610E078"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Any employer who
knowingly violates any standard, rule, or order promulgated under section 6 of
this Act, or of any regulation prescribed under this Act, and that violation
caused or contributed to the death of any employee, shall, upon conviction, be
punished by a fine in accordance with title 18, United States Code, or by
imprisonment for not more than 10 years, or both, except that if the conviction
is for a violation committed after a first conviction of such person under this
subsection or subsection (i), punishment shall be by a fine in accordance title
18, United States Code, or by imprisonment for not more than 20 years, or by
both.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HEE8B61D063CC472B9A74FEF5E5257AE6" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>For the purpose of this subsection,
the term <term>employer</term> means, in addition to the definition contained
in section 3 of this Act, any officer or
director.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HEF65F964E99F4FABB7352B8028B2DC76"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection (g),
by striking <quote>fine of not more than $1,000 or by imprisonment for not more
than six months,</quote> and inserting <quote>fine in accordance with title 18,
United States Code, or by imprisonment for not more than 2
years,</quote>;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H1B37938435974C4A9798E72EE2821325"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in subsection (h),
by striking <quote>fine of not more than $10,000, or by imprisonment for not
more than six months,</quote> and inserting <quote>fine in accordance with
title 18, United States Code, or by imprisonment for not more than 5
years,</quote>;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H056F04D825D8451B971A9AF527DB80B7"><enum>(4)</enum><text>by redesignating
subsections (j) through (m) as subsections (k) through (n), respectively;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H39B4A32BB9E44AE1B5C3B1BCB4CBA240"><enum>(5)</enum><text>by inserting after
subsection (i) the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="H6E678D327BF041E59A83F0D97707854A" style="OLC">
<subsection id="H43A6C01AF0A14E0A86AEA741F3A0B968"><enum>(j)</enum><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H7E8DA02A958D4A0FBC1E6C4EEC748589"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Any employer who
knowingly violates any standard, rule, or order promulgated under section 6, or
any regulation prescribed under this Act, and that violation causes or
contributes to serious bodily harm to any employee but does not cause death to
any employee, shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine in accordance with
title 18, United States Code, or by imprisonment for not more than 5 years, or
by both, except that if the conviction is for a violation committed after a
first conviction of such person under this subsection or subsection (e),
punishment shall be by a fine in accordance with title 18, United States Code,
or by imprisonment for not more than 10 years, or by both.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HD7DB93DA881A4FB9B07193385110E139" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For the purpose of this subsection, the
term <term>employer</term> means, in addition to the definition contained in
section 3 of this Act, any officer or director.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HE9F159CC0A4C4D0C95CCAE2B705EC3CA" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For purposes of this subsection, the term
<term>serious bodily harm</term> means bodily injury or illness that
involves—</text>
<subparagraph id="H5142981F96AD4FF5B4F7B5192CC7F1A0"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a
substantial risk of death;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H1333B52F1B8D49AA966D9C097D77B7B0"><enum>(B)</enum><text>protracted unconsciousness;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H644E5DF692C348C381F89FC34B008BA4"><enum>(C)</enum><text>protracted and obvious physical
disfigurement; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H104521958506484F96F093422491008B"><enum>(D)</enum><text>protracted loss or impairment, either
temporary or permanent, of the function of a bodily member, organ, or mental
faculty.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HA586CDC243EC4795BD1A46B3A82C8007"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Jurisdiction for
Prosecution Under State and Local Criminal Laws</header><text>Section 17 (29
U.S.C. 666) (as amended by section 705 and subsection (a)) is further amended
by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="HEB1030C78CA54CD1BC52C393DEA6FDA1" style="OLC">
<subsection id="HCCB5F59104F749268546E28E60909D05"><enum>(o)</enum><text>Nothing in this
Act shall preclude a State or local law enforcement agency from conducting
criminal prosecutions in accordance with the laws of such State or
locality.</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><section id="idA5D7C963497E45868D21453F2DCA84A4"><enum>707.</enum><header>Penalties</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 17(n) (as redesignated by section
706(a)(4)) (29 U.S.C. 666(n)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
<quote>Pre-final order interest on such penalties shall begin to accrue on the
date the party contests a citation issued 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 year.</quote>.</text>
</section><section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H08E025E8F78A4F7D9FA6B5AE82D7A46D" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>708.</enum><header>Effective
date</header>
<subsection id="H1E88A6A34B8E4CB5A41D2FBA2100CCFD"><enum>(a)</enum><header>General
Rule</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Except as provided for
in subsection (b), this title and the amendments made by this title shall take
effect not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this
Act.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6E24A94F4DD349ADBDAFA3ED4B88749A"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Exception for
States and political subdivisions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A State that has a State plan approved
under section 18 (29 U.S.C. 667) shall amend its State plan to conform with the
requirements of this Act and the amendments made by this Act not later than 12
months after the date of the enactment of this Act. The Secretary of Labor may
extend the period for a State to make such amendments to its State plan by not
more than 12 months, if the State’s legislature is not in session during the
12-month period beginning with the date of the enactment of this Act. Such
amendments to the State plan shall take effect not later than 90 days after the
adoption of such amendments by such State.</text>
</subsection></section>