[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