[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 175 (Tuesday, September 12, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 42765]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-19380]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration

30 CFR Parts 56 and 57

[Docket No. MSHA-2014-0030]
RIN 1219-AB87


Examinations of Working Places in Metal and Nonmetal Mines

AGENCY: Mine Safety and Health Administration, Labor.

ACTION: Proposed rule; delay of effective date.

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SUMMARY: On January 23, 2017, the Mine Safety and Health Administration 
(MSHA) published a final rule in the Federal Register amending the 
Agency's standards for the examination of working places in metal and 
nonmetal mines. MSHA is proposing to delay the effective date of the 
Agency's final rule to March 2, 2018. This extension would offer 
additional time for MSHA to provide stakeholders training and 
compliance assistance.

DATES: Comments must be received or postmarked by midnight Eastern 
Daylight Saving Time (DST) on September 26, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments and informational materials, identified by 
RIN 1219-AB87 or Docket No. MSHA-2014-0030, by one of the following 
methods:
    Federal E-Rulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. Follow 
the on-line instructions for submitting comments.
    Email: [email protected].
    Mail: MSHA, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances, 201 
12th Street South, Suite 4E401, Arlington, Virginia 22202-5452.
    Hand Delivery or Courier: 201 12th Street South, Suite 4E401, 
Arlington, Virginia, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays. Sign in at the receptionist's desk on the 4th 
Floor East, Suite 4E401.
    Fax: 202-693-9441.
    Instructions: All submissions must include RIN 1219-AB87 or Docket 
No. MSHA-2014-0030. Do not include personal information that you do not 
want publicly disclosed; MSHA will post all comments without change, 
including any personal information provided.
    Email Notification: To subscribe to receive email notification when 
MSHA publishes rulemaking documents in the Federal Register, go to 
https://www.msha.gov/subscriptions.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read comments received, go to 
http://www.regulations.gov or http://www.msha.gov/currentcomments.asp. 
To read background documents, go to http://www.regulations.gov. Review 
the docket in person at MSHA, Office of Standards, Regulations, and 
Variances, 201 12th Street South, Arlington, Virginia, between 9 a.m. 
and 5 p.m. DST Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Sign in 
at the receptionist's desk on the 4th Floor East, Suite 4E401.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sheila A. McConnell, Director, Office 
of Standards, Regulations, and Variances, MSHA, at 
[email protected] (email); 202-693-9440 (voice); or 202-693-
9441 (facsimile).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Delay of Effective Date

    On January 23, 2017, MSHA published a final rule in the Federal 
Register (82 FR 7680) amending the Agency's standards for the 
examination of working places in metal and nonmetal mines. The final 
rule was scheduled to become effective on May 23, 2017. On May 22, 
2017, MSHA published a final rule delaying the effective date to 
October 2, 2017 (82 FR 23139), to assure that mine operators and miners 
affected by the final examinations rule have the training and 
compliance assistance they need prior to the rule's effective date.
    At this time, the Agency is proposing to delay the rule's effective 
date beyond October 2, 2017, to March 2, 2018. As MSHA has reiterated 
to industry stakeholders, MSHA made a commitment to the industry to 
hold informational meetings around the country and to develop and 
distribute compliance assistance material prior to enforcing the rule. 
MSHA also committed to conducting compliance assistance visits at metal 
and nonmetal mines throughout the country. Further, extending the 
effective date would permit more time for MSHA to address issues raised 
by stakeholders during quarterly training calls and stakeholder 
meetings and compliance assistance visits. MSHA is considering concerns 
raised by stakeholders on certain provisions in the rule and how best 
to address them. MSHA intends to collaborate with and seek input from 
stakeholders regarding these issues. At the same time, MSHA is seeking 
comment on a proposed rule that may address some of these issues. The 
extension also would provide MSHA more time to train its inspectors to 
help assure consistency in MSHA enforcement. MSHA will make the 
Agency's inspector training materials available to the mining community 
to assist miners and mine operators in effectively implementing the 
rule, thus enhancing the safety of miners.

Wayne D. Palmer,
Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health.
[FR Doc. 2017-19380 Filed 9-11-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4520-43-P