[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 57 (Monday, March 25, 2019)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 11028-11029]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-05443]


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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; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: In response to requests from the public, the Mine Safety and 
Health Administration (MSHA) is extending the comment period for the 
Agency's request for information on Exposure of Underground Miners to 
Diesel Exhaust. This extension will provide stakeholders an opportunity 
to review and comment on information presented at the Diesel Exhaust 
Health Effects Partnership meetings that are anticipated for 2019 and 
2020.

DATES: The comment period for the request for information, published on 
June 8, 2016 (81 FR 36826), which was scheduled to close on March 26, 
2019 (58 FR 12904) is extended. Comments must be received on or before 
midnight Eastern Daylight Time on September 25, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments and informational materials for the

[[Page 11029]]

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.

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).
    In response to requests from stakeholders during the comment 
period, MSHA and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and 
Health (NIOSH) 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).
    On March 26, 2018, MSHA reopened the rulemaking record and extended 
the comment period for one year, until March 26, 2019 (83 FR 12904).
    On January 23, 2019, the Partnership sponsored a Diesel Technology 
Workshop (Workshop) in Washington, DC. The Workshop focused on the 
types of advanced low-emissions diesel technologies--including new 
engines, equipment, after-treatment systems, and retrofits--that are 
available for use in underground mines. The Workshop included five 
panels of experts that presented information and data on current 
emissions/control technologies, engine controls, emission reduction/
exposure reduction, current barriers to deployment of technologies, and 
strategies addressing miners' exposures to diesel exhaust.
    Partnership proceedings--including additional meetings--are 
anticipated for 2019 and 2020 to address topics relevant to the RFI. 
Extending the comment period commensurate with these proceedings will 
enable stakeholders to add information and data related to these 
proceedings to the record. Accordingly, in response to requests from 
stakeholders to allow the comment period on the RFI to remain open 
during Partnership proceedings, and to allow all interested parties an 
additional opportunity to review and comment on information and data 
from the proceedings, MSHA is extending the comment period on the RFI 
to September 25, 2020.

David G. Zatezalo,
Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health.
[FR Doc. 2019-05443 Filed 3-22-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4520-43-P