[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 25 (Thursday, February 6, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 5554-5555]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-3001]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration

30 CFR Parts 56, 57, 62, 70, and 71

RIN 1219-AA53


Health Standards for Occupational Noise Exposure

AGENCY: Mine Safety and Health Administration, (MSHA) Labor.

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period and notice of 
hearings.

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SUMMARY: MSHA is extending the period for public comment regarding the 
Agency's proposed rule for occupational noise exposure, which was 
published in the Federal Register on December 17, 1996. The Agency also 
is announcing that it intends to hold public hearings. These hearings 
will be held under section 101 of the Federal Mine Safety and Health 
Act of 1977. The rulemaking record will remain open until June 16, 
1997.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 21, 1997. All 
requests to make oral presentations for the record should be submitted 
at least 5 days prior to each hearing date. However, you do not have to 
give a written request to be provided an opportunity to speak. The 
public hearings are scheduled to be held at the following locations on 
the dates indicated:

May 6, 1997-Beaver, West Virginia (Beckley)
May 8, 1997-St. Louis, Missouri
May 13, 1997-Denver, Colorado
May 15, 1997-Las Vegas, Nevada
May 20, 1997-Atlanta, Georgia
May 22, 1997-Washington, DC

    Each hearing will last from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., but will 
continue into the evening if necessary.
    The record will remain open after the hearings until June 16, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the proposed rule may be transmitted by 
electronic mail, fax, or mail. Comments by electronic mail must be 
clearly identified as such and sent to this e-mail address: 
[email protected]. Comments by fax must be clearly identified as such and 
sent to: MSHA, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances, 703-
235-5551. Send mail comments to: MSHA, Office of Standards, 
Regulations, and Variances, Room 631, 4015 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, 
VA 22203-1984, or any MSHA district or field office. The Agency will 
have copies of the proposal available for review by the mining public 
at each district and field office location, and each technical support 
center. The document will also be available for loan to interested 
members of the public on an as needed basis. MSHA will also accept 
written comments from the mining public in the field and district 
offices and technical support centers. These comments will be a part of 
the official rulemaking record. Interested persons are encouraged to 
supplement written comments with computer files or disks; please 
contact the Agency with any questions about format.
    Send requests to make oral presentations to: MSHA, Office of 
Standards, Regulations, and Variances, Room 631, 4015 Wilson Boulevard, 
Arlington, VA 22203-1984.
    The hearings will be held at the following locations:

May 6, 1997, National Mine Health & Safety Academy, Auditorium, 1301 
Airport Road, Beaver, West Virginia (Beckley) 25813.
May 8, 1997, Harley Hotel, North Ballroom, 3400 Rider Trail South, St. 
Louis, Missouri 63134.
May 13, 1997, Four Points Sheraton Hotel, Mount Evans Room, 3535 Quebec 
Street, Denver, Colorado 80207.
May 15, 1997, Quality Inn, 377 E. Flamingo Road, Las Vegas, Nevada 
89109.
May 20, 1997, Holiday Inn Airport, 5010 Old National Highway, Atlanta, 
Georgia 30349.
May 22, 1997, Department of Labor, Frances Perkins Building, 
Auditorium, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 17, 1996, MSHA published in the 
Federal Register (61 FR 66348) a proposed rule to revise the Agency's 
existing health standards for occupational noise, allowing 60 days for 
public comment. The Agency has received a number of requests from the 
mining community to extend the period for comment. These requests 
include a range of from 15 to 180 additional days. The comment period 
was scheduled to close on February 18, 1997. MSHA does not believe that 
an extension of 180 days (until August 17, 1997) is warranted. The 
Agency believes that a more reasoned response is an extension until 
April 21, 1997, an additional 60 days beyond the original comment 
period. The Agency believes that this extension will provide sufficient 
time for all interested parties to review and comment on the proposal, 
and does not

[[Page 5555]]

anticipate that any further extensions are necessary or appropriate.
    In addition to this action extending the comment period, MSHA will 
hold public hearings to receive comments. The hearings will address any 
issues relevant to the rulemaking such as the requirements for dose 
determination, threshold level, exchange rate, action level, 
permissible exposure level, administrative/engineering controls, dual 
hearing protection level, ceiling level, operator exposure monitoring, 
employee notification, hearing protectors, training, audiometric 
testing, follow-up evaluation, follow-up corrective measures, 
notification of results, reporting requirements, access to records, and 
transfer of records.
    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 may ask questions of speakers. 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 for public review.
    MSHA will accept additional written comments and other appropriate 
data for the record 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 posthearing comments, the record will remain open until June 16, 
1997. This provides a total of 6 months from publication for the public 
to comment on this proposed rule.

    Dated: January 31, 1997.
J. Davitt McAteer,
Assistant Secretary for Mine Safety and Health.
[FR Doc. 97-3001 Filed 2-5-97; 8:45 am]
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