2019-18478: Respirable Silica (Quartz)
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Metal and nonmetal (MNM) miners and coal miners exposed to silica (quartz) in respirable dust can develop various forms of pneumoconiosis that are irreversible, life limiting, and may lead to death. MSHA's existing standards limit miners' exposures to quartz in respirable dust. In this Request for Information (RFI), MSHA solicits information and data on feasible, best practices to protect miners' health from exposure to quartz in respirable dust, including an examination of an appropriately reduced permissible exposure limit, potential new or developing protective technologies, and/or technical and educational assistance.
The agency’s own summary, as published.
What this changes
Amends 6 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 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 90 Mandatory Health Standards—Coal Miners Who Have Evidence of the Development of Pneumoconiosis
Rulemaking docket
We haven’t pulled this rulemaking’s full docket yet. View docket MSHA-2016-0013 on Regulations.gov →
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