[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 58 (Monday, March 26, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 12904-12905]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-05978]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration

30 CFR Parts 57, 70, 72, and 75

[Docket No. MSHA-2014-0031]
RIN 1219-AB86


Exposure of Underground Miners to Diesel Exhaust

AGENCY: Mine Safety and Health Administration, Labor.

ACTION: Request for information; reopening of the rulemaking record for 
public comments.

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SUMMARY: In response to requests from the public, the Mine Safety and 
Health Administration (MSHA) is reopening the rulemaking record for 
public comments on the Agency's request for information on Exposure of 
Underground Miners to Diesel Exhaust.

DATES: The comment period for the request for information, published on 
June 8, 2016 (81 FR 36826), which closed on January 9, 2018 (82 FR 
2284), is reopened. Comments must be received on or before midnight 
Eastern Standard Time on March 26, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments and informational materials for the 
rulemaking record, identified by RIN 1219-AB86 or Docket No. MSHA-2014-
0031, by one of the following methods:
     Federal E-Rulemaking Portal: http://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 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 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-AB86'' or 
``Docket No. MSHA-2014-0031.'' Do not include personal information that 
you do not want publicly disclosed; MSHA will post all comments without 
change to http://www.regulations.gov and http://arlweb.msha.gov/currentcomments.asp, including any personal information provided.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read comments received, go to 
http://www.regulations.gov or http://arlweb.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 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through 
Friday, except Federal Holidays. Sign in at the receptionist's desk in 
Suite 4E401.
    Email Notification: To subscribe to receive an email notification 
when MSHA publishes rules in the Federal Register, go to http://www.msha.gov/subscriptions.

[[Page 12905]]


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). These are not toll-free numbers.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June 8, 2016 (81 FR 36826), MSHA 
published a request for information (RFI) on Exposure of Underground 
Miners to Diesel Exhaust. The RFI sought input from the public that 
will help MSHA evaluate the Agency's existing standards and policy 
guidance on controlling miners' exposures to diesel exhaust and to 
evaluate the effectiveness of the protections now in place to preserve 
miners' health.
    MSHA held four public meetings on the RFI in 2016 (81 FR 41486), 
and the comment period was scheduled to close on September 6, 2016; 
however, in response to requests from the public, MSHA extended the 
comment period until November 30, 2016 (81 FR 58424).
    Also in response to requests from stakeholders during the comment 
period, MSHA and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and 
Health convened a Diesel Exhaust Health Effects Partnership 
(Partnership) with the mining industry, diesel engine manufacturers, 
academia, and representatives of organized labor to gather information 
regarding the complex questions contained in the RFI. The Partnership 
provides an opportunity for all relevant stakeholders from the mining 
community to come together to understand the health effects from 
underground miners' exposure to diesel exhaust. The Partnership also 
provides stakeholders an opportunity to consider best practices and new 
technologies, including engineering controls that enhance control of 
diesel exhaust exposures to improve protections for miners.
    The first meeting of the Partnership was held on December 8, 2016, 
in Washington, Pennsylvania; and the second meeting was held on 
September 19, 2017, in Triadelphia, West Virginia. During the comment 
period and at the first Partnership meeting, MSHA received requests 
from stakeholders to reopen the rulemaking record for comment on the 
RFI and allow the comment period to remain open during the Partnership 
proceedings. In response to those requests, MSHA reopened the record 
for comment and extended the comment period for one year, until January 
9, 2018 (82 FR 2284).
    However, since the close of the RFI rulemaking record, MSHA 
received additional stakeholder requests to reopen the record and 
further extend the comment period on the RFI during the Partnership 
proceedings. In response, MSHA is reopening the record and extending 
the comment period to March 26, 2019. The reopening of the rulemaking 
record for public comments will allow all interested parties an 
additional opportunity to re-evaluate all issues related to miners' 
exposure to diesel exhaust and to determine if improvements can be 
made.

David G. Zatezalo,
Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health.
[FR Doc. 2018-05978 Filed 3-23-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4520-43-P