[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 134 (Tuesday, July 14, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 37796-37797]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-18688]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration

30 CFR Parts 72 and 75


Diesel Particulate Matter Exposure of Underground Coal Miners

AGENCY: Mine Safety and Health Administration, Labor.

ACTION: Proposed rule; Notice of preliminary determination of no 
significant environmental impact; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This document announces the preliminary determination by the 
Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) that the proposed rule 
establishing new health standards for underground coal mines that use 
diesel powered engines will have no significant environmental impact. 
MSHA is soliciting comments on its preliminary determination.

DATES: Submit written comments on or before August 10, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Comments 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: Mine Safety and Health 
Administration, Office of Standards, Regulations and Variances, 703-
235-5551. Send mail comments to: Mine Safety and Health Administration, 
Office of Standards, Regulations and Variances, Room 631, 4015 Wilson 
Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia 22203-1984. Interested persons are 
encouraged to supplement written comments with computer files or disks; 
please contact

[[Page 37797]]

the Agency with any questions about format.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April 9, 1998, MSHA published a proposed 
rule in the Federal Register (63 FR 17492) establishing health 
standards for underground coal mines that use equipment powered by 
diesel engines. The proposal is designed to reduce serious health 
hazards that are associated with exposure to high concentrations of 
diesel particulate matter (dpm). Dpm is a very small particle in diesel 
exhaust. Underground miners are exposed to far higher concentrations of 
this fine particulate than any other group of workers. The best 
available evidence indicates that exposure to diesel particulate matter 
puts miners at excess risk of a variety of adverse health effects, 
including lung cancer.
    The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 
4321 et. seq.), requires each Federal agency to consider the 
environmental effects of proposed actions and to prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement on major actions significantly affecting 
the quality of the human environment. MSHA has reviewed the proposed 
standard in accordance with the requirements of the NEPA, the 
regulation of the Council on Environmental Quality (40 CFR Part 1500), 
and the Department of Labor's NEPA procedures (29 CFR Part 11). As a 
result of this review, MSHA has preliminarily determined that this 
proposed standard will have no significant environmental impact.
    Commenters are encouraged to submit their comments on this 
determination on or before August 10, 1998.

    Dated: July 8, 1998.
J. Davitt McAteer,
Assistant Secretary for Mine Safety and Health.
[FR Doc. 98-18688 Filed 7-13-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P