[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 69 (Friday, April 10, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 17781]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-9597]


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

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: Supplemental proposed rule; extension of comment period and 
close of record.

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

SUMMARY: MSHA is extending the post-hearing comment period and close of 
record regarding the Agency's supplemental proposed rule for 
occupational noise exposure, which was published in the Federal 
Register on December 31, 1997.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 24, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Comments on this supplemental proposed rule must be clearly 
identified as such and may be transmitted by electronic mail to 
[email protected]; by fax to MSHA, Office of Standards, Regulations, 
and Variances, 703-235-5551; or by mail to MSHA, Office of Standards, 
Regulations, and Variances, 4015 Wilson Boulevard, Room 631, Arlington, 
VA 22203. Interested persons are encouraged to supplement written 
comments with computer files or disks; please contact the Agency with 
any format questions.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 31, 1997, MSHA published in the 
Federal Register (62 FR 68468) a proposed rule which would supplement 
MSHA's proposed rule for occupational noise exposure in coal and metal 
and nonmetal mines, published December 17, 1996 (61 FR 66348). The 
supplemental proposal would require mine operators to provide affected 
miners and miners' representatives with an opportunity to observe 
operator monitoring required under Sec. 62.120(f) of MSHA's proposed 
rule for occupational noise exposure. It also would require mine 
operators to inform miners and miners' representatives of the dates and 
times of planned operator noise monitoring so that miners and miners' 
representatives would have an opportunity to exercise the right to 
observe monitoring.
    The comment period closed on February 17, 1998. MSHA held a public 
hearing on March 10, 1998, in Washington, DC. To allow for the 
submission of post-hearing comments the record was scheduled to close 
on April 9, 1998. Due to requests from the mining community, the Agency 
is extending the post-hearing comment period and close of record to 
April 24, 1998. MSHA believes that this extension will provide 
sufficient time for all interested parties to review and comment on the 
proposal, and on the written comments and testimony that the Agency has 
received thus far. All interested members of the mining public are 
encouraged to submit comments prior to April 24, 1998.

    Dated: April 7, 1998.
J. Davitt McAteer,
Assistant Secretary for Mine Safety and Health.
[FR Doc. 98-9597 Filed 4-8-98; 9:53 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P