MSHA Proposed Rule
Diesel Particulate Matter Exposure of Underground Coal Miners [07/14/1998]
[PDF Version]
Volume 63, Number 134, Page 37796-37797
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Mine Safety and Health Administration
30 CFR Parts 72 and 75
Diesel Particulate Matter Exposure of Underground Coal Miners
AGENCY: Mine Safety and Health Administration, Labor.
ACTION: Proposed rule; Notice of preliminary determination of no
significant environmental impact; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: This document announces the preliminary determination by the
Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) that the proposed rule
establishing new health standards for underground coal mines that use
diesel powered engines will have no significant environmental impact.
MSHA is soliciting comments on its preliminary determination.
DATES: Submit written comments on or before August 10, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be transmitted by electronic mail, fax or mail.
Comments by electronic mail must be clearly identified as such and sent
to this e-mail address: comments@msha.gov. Comments by fax must be
clearly identified as such and sent to: Mine Safety and Health
Administration, Office of Standards, Regulations and Variances, 703-
235-5551. Send mail comments to: Mine Safety and Health Administration,
Office of Standards, Regulations and Variances, Room 631, 4015 Wilson
Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia 22203-1984. Interested persons are
encouraged to supplement written comments with computer files or disks;
please contact
[[Page 37797]]
the Agency with any questions about format.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patricia W. Silvey, Director, Office
of Standards, Regulations and Variances, 703-235-1910.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April 9, 1998, MSHA published a proposed
rule in the Federal Register (63 FR 17492) establishing health
standards for underground coal mines that use equipment powered by
diesel engines. The proposal is designed to reduce serious health
hazards that are associated with exposure to high concentrations of
diesel particulate matter (dpm). Dpm is a very small particle in diesel
exhaust. Underground miners are exposed to far higher concentrations of
this fine particulate than any other group of workers. The best
available evidence indicates that exposure to diesel particulate matter
puts miners at excess risk of a variety of adverse health effects,
including lung cancer.
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 (42 U.S.C.
4321 et. seq.), requires each Federal agency to consider the
environmental effects of proposed actions and to prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement on major actions significantly affecting
the quality of the human environment. MSHA has reviewed the proposed
standard in accordance with the requirements of the NEPA, the
regulation of the Council on Environmental Quality (40 CFR Part 1500),
and the Department of Labor's NEPA procedures (29 CFR Part 11). As a
result of this review, MSHA has preliminarily determined that this
proposed standard will have no significant environmental impact.
Commenters are encouraged to submit their comments on this
determination on or before August 10, 1998.
Dated: July 8, 1998.
J. Davitt McAteer,
Assistant Secretary for Mine Safety and Health.
[FR Doc. 98-18688 Filed 7-13-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P
