2023-15592: Lowering Miners' Exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica and Improving Respiratory Protection

Summary

The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) will hold three public hearings on the proposed rule, Lowering Miners' Exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica and Improving Respiratory Protection. The proposed rule was published on July 13, 2023 and is available at https://www.regulations.gov and MSHA's website at www.MSHA.gov. The proposed rule would amend MSHA's existing standards to better protect miners against occupational exposure to respirable crystalline silica, a carcinogenic hazard, and to improve respiratory protection for all airborne hazards.

The agency’s own summary, as published.

What this changes

Amends 8 parts of the Code of Federal Regulations — the standing rules this notice rewrites.

• 30 CFR 56 Safety and Health Standards—Surface Metal and Nonmetal Mines
• 30 CFR 57 Safety and Health Standards—Underground Metal and Nonmetal Mines
• 30 CFR 60 Respirable Crystalline Silica
• 30 CFR 70 Mandatory Health Standards—Underground Coal Mines
• 30 CFR 71 Mandatory Health Standards—Surface Coal Mines and Surface Work Areas of Underground Coal Mines
• 30 CFR 72 Health Standards for Coal Mines
• 30 CFR 75 Mandatory Safety Standards—Underground Coal Mines
• 30 CFR 90 Mandatory Health Standards—Coal Miners Who Have Evidence of the Development of Pneumoconiosis