Diesel Particulate Matter Exposure of Underground Metal and Nonmetal Miners

요약

MSHA is initiating rulemaking to amend certain provisions of its existing health standard entitled, "Diesel Particulate Matter Exposure (DPM) of Underground Metal and Nonmetal Miners," published in the Federal Register on January 19, 2001 (66 FR 5706), and amended on February 29, 2002 (67 FR 9180). This rulemaking is part of a settlement agreement reached in response to a legal challenge to the January 19, 2001 DPM standard. Accordingly, the scope of this rulemaking will be limited to the terms of the settlement agreement that MSHA shared with the public in its recent Federal Register document (final rule; stay of effectiveness notice) of July 18, 2002 (67 FR 47296). MSHA will propose to revise Sec. 57.5060, limit on concentration of DPM; Sec. 57.5061, compliance determinations; and, Sec. 57.5062, diesel particulate matter control plan. In addition, MSHA will address technological and economic feasibility for the underground metal and nonmetal mining industry to comply with revised interim and final DPM concentration limits. Some mine operators have begun to implement control technology on their underground diesel-powered equipment as a result of the January 19, 2001 final rule. Th