[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 158 (Wednesday, August 17, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-20199]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: August 17, 1994]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration

30 CFR Part 75

RIN 1219-AA11

 

Safety Standards for Ventilation of Underground Coal Mines

AGENCY: Mine Safety and Health Administration, Labor.

ACTION: Notice of public hearings.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) will hold 
public hearings to receive comments on the May 19, 1994, proposed rule 
revising certain provisions of the existing safety standards for 
ventilation of underground coal mines. These hearings are being held 
under section 101 of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977. 
The hearings will be held in Price, Utah; Monaville, West Virginia; and 
Washington, Pennsylvania.

DATES: All requests to make oral presentations for the record should be 
submitted at least 5 days prior to each hearing date. Immediately 
before each hearing, any unallotted time will be made available to 
persons making late requests. The public hearings will be held at the 
following locations on the dates indicated:

September 27, 1994, in Price, Utah.
October 4, 1994, in Monaville, West Virginia.
October 17, 1994, in Washington, Pennsylvania.

    Each hearing will last from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and will 
continue into the next day if necessary.

ADDRESSES: The hearings will be held at the following locations:

September 27, 1994, College of Eastern Utah, Students' Activities 
Center, Ballroom, 451 East, 400 North, Price, Utah 84501.
October 4, 1994, National Guard Armory, 150 Armory Road, Drill Hall, 
Monaville, West Virginia 25653.
October 17, 1994, Meadowlands Holiday Inn, Conference Center, 340 Race 
Track Road, Washington, Pennsylvania 15301.

    Send requests to make oral presentations to: Mine Safety and Health 
Administration, Office of Standards, Regulations and Variances, Room 
631, 4015 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia 22203.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patricia W. Silvey, Director, Office 
of Standards, Regulations and Variances, MSHA (703) 235-1910.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 19, 1994, MSHA published a proposed 
rule in the Federal Register (59 FR 26356) revising stayed provisions 
of MSHA's existing safety standards for ventilation of underground coal 
mines. The proposal also revised, clarified or reproposed certain other 
provisions in the existing rule; included some new provisions; and 
addressed concerns raised by the public. The comment period was 
scheduled to close on July 18, 1994, but, in response to a request from 
the mining community for additional time in which to prepare comments, 
MSHA extended the comment period to August 8, 1994 (59 FR 35071).
    The purpose of the hearings is to receive relevant comments and to 
answer questions interpreting or clarifying the proposal. The hearings 
will be conducted in an informal manner by a panel of MSHA officials. 
Although formal rules of evidence or cross examination will not apply, 
the presiding official may exercise discretion to ensure the orderly 
progress of the hearings and may exclude irrelevant or unduly 
repetitious material and questions.
    Each session will begin with an opening statement from MSHA, 
followed by an opportunity for members of the public to make oral 
presentations. The hearing panel will be available to address relevant 
questions. At the discretion of the presiding official, the time 
allocated to speakers for their presentations may be limited. In the 
interest of conducting productive hearings, MSHA will schedule speakers 
in a manner that allows all points of view to be heard as effectively 
as possible.
    Verbatim transcripts of the proceedings will be prepared and made a 
part of the rulemaking record. Copies of the hearing transcripts will 
be made available to the public for review.
    MSHA will also accept for the record additional written comments 
and other appropriate data from any interested party, including those 
not presenting oral statements. Written comments and data submitted to 
MSHA will be included in the rulemaking record. To allow for the 
submission of any post-hearing comments the record will remain open 
until November 18, 1994.

    Dated: August 11, 1994.
J. Davitt McAteer,
Assistant Secretary for Mine Safety and Health.
[FR Doc. 94-20199 Filed 8-16-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P