[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 155 (Monday, August 14, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 54961]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-17370]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration

30 CFR Parts 56, 57, 60, 70, 71, 72, 75, and 90

[Docket No. MSHA-2023-0001]
RIN 1219-AB36


Lowering Miners' Exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica and 
Improving Respiratory Protection

AGENCY: Mine Safety and Health Administration, Department of Labor.

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is extending 
the comment period on the proposed rule entitled Lowering Miners' 
Exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica and Improving Respiratory 
Protection published in the Federal Register on July 13, 2023, with an 
established public comment period that is scheduled to end on August 
28, 2023. In response to requests for additional time to develop and 
submit comments on the proposed rule, MSHA is extending the comment 
period for an additional 15 days--that is, from August 28, 2023, to 
September 11, 2023.

DATES: The comment period for the proposed rule that was published on 
July 13, 2023, at 88 FR 44852 is extended. All comments must be 
submitted by midnight Eastern Time on September 11, 2023.

ADDRESSES: All submissions must include RIN 1219-AB36 or Docket No. 
MSHA-2023-0001. You should not include personal or proprietary 
information that you do not wish to disclose publicly. If you mark 
parts of a comment as ``business confidential'' information, MSHA will 
not post those parts of the comment. Otherwise, MSHA will post all 
comments without change, including any personal information provided. 
MSHA cautions against submitting personal information.
    You may submit comments and informational materials, clearly 
identified by RIN 1219-AB36 or Docket Id. No. MSHA-2023-0001, by any of 
the following methods:
    1. Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. Follow 
the online instructions for submitting comments for MSHA-2023-0001.
    2. Email: [email protected]. Include ``RIN 1219-AB36'' in the 
subject line of the message.
    3. Regular Mail: MSHA, Office of Standards, Regulations, and 
Variances, 201 12th Street South, Suite 4E401, Arlington, Virginia 
22202-5450.
    4. Hand Delivery or Courier: MSHA, Office of Standards, 
Regulations, and Variances, 201 12th Street South, Suite 4E401, 
Arlington, Virginia, between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays. Before visiting MSHA in person, call 
202-693-9440 to make an appointment.
    Docket. For access to the docket to read comments, hearing 
transcripts, supporting materials, and other documents, go to https://www.regulations.gov. The docket can also be reviewed in person at MSHA, 
Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances, 201 12th Street South, 
Arlington, Virginia, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays. Before visiting MSHA in person, call 202-693-
9440 to make an appointment.
    Email Notification. To subscribe to receive an email notification 
when MSHA publishes rulemaking documents in the Federal Register, go to 
https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDOL/subscriber/new.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: S. Aromie Noe, 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 July 13, 2023, MSHA published in the 
Federal Register the proposed rule entitled Lowering Miners' Exposure 
to Respirable Crystalline Silica and Improving Respiratory Protection 
(88 FR 44852). The proposed rule is available at the Federal 
eRulemaking Portal, https://regulations.gov, and at MSHA's website, 
https://www.msha.gov. The proposed rule would amend MSHA's existing 
standards to better protect miners against occupational exposure to 
respirable crystalline silica, a carcinogen, and to improve respiratory 
protection for all airborne hazards.
    The public comment period for this proposed rule was scheduled to 
close on August 28, 2023, 45 days after publication of the proposed 
rule. MSHA received requests from commenters for both an extension of 
the comment period and for no extension of the comment period. Several 
requested that there not be any extension, so that a final rule can be 
promulgated without delay to prevent additional diseases among miners. 
Others requested that the comment period be extended to prepare 
comments, gather data and information, and address the questions MSHA 
raised in the proposal. Generally, those requesters asked for an 
additional 60, 90 or 120 days.
    After reviewing these comments, MSHA has determined that it is 
appropriate to extend the public comment period until September 11, 
2023, in order to provide stakeholders and interested parties an 
additional 15 days to review the proposal and prepare comments.

Authority and Signature

(Authority: 30 U.S.C. 811)

    Dated: August 8, 2023.
Christopher J. Williamson,
Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health.
[FR Doc. 2023-17370 Filed 8-11-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4520-43-P