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    <RIN_INFO>
        <RIN>1219-AB36</RIN>
        <PUBLICATION>
            <PUBLICATION_ID>200310</PUBLICATION_ID>
            <PUBLICATION_TITLE>The Regulatory Plan and the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions</PUBLICATION_TITLE>
        </PUBLICATION>
        <AGENCY>
            <CODE>1219</CODE>
            <NAME>Mine Safety and Health Administration</NAME>
            <ACRONYM>MSHA</ACRONYM>
        </AGENCY>
        <PARENT_AGENCY>
            <CODE>1200</CODE>
            <NAME>Department of Labor</NAME>
            <ACRONYM>DOL</ACRONYM>
        </PARENT_AGENCY>
        <RULE_TITLE>Respirable Crystalline Silica Standard</RULE_TITLE>
        <ABSTRACT><![CDATA[Current standards limit exposures to quartz (crystalline silica) in respirable dust.  The coal mining industry standard is based on the formula 10mg/m3 divided by the percentage of quartz where the quartz percent is 5.0 percent or greater calculated as an MRE equivalent concentration.  The metal and nonmetal mining industry standard is based on the 1973 American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Values formula: 10 mg/m3 divided by the percentage of quartz plus 2.  Overexposure to crystalline silica can result in some miners developing silicosis which may ultimately be fatal.  Both formulas are designed to maintain exposures to 0.1 mg/m3 (100 ug) of silica.
The Secretary of Labor's Advisory Committee on the Elimination of Pneumoconiosis Among Coal Mine Workers made several recommendations related to reducing exposure to silica.  NIOSH and ACGIH recommend a 50ug/ m3 exposure limit for respirable crystalline silica.  MSHA is considering several options to reduce miners' exposure to crystalline silica.]]></ABSTRACT>
        <PRIORITY_CATEGORY>Other Significant</PRIORITY_CATEGORY>
        <RIN_STATUS>First Time Published in The Unified Agenda</RIN_STATUS>
        <RULE_STAGE>Prerule Stage</RULE_STAGE>
        <MAJOR>Undetermined</MAJOR>
        <UNFUNDED_MANDATE_LIST>
            <UNFUNDED_MANDATE>No</UNFUNDED_MANDATE>
        </UNFUNDED_MANDATE_LIST>
        <CFR_LIST>
            <CFR>30 CFR 70</CFR>
            <CFR>30 CFR  71</CFR>
            <CFR>30 CFR  90</CFR>
            <CFR>30 CFR  72</CFR>
            <CFR>30 CFR  58</CFR>
            <CFR>...</CFR>
        </CFR_LIST>
        <LEGAL_AUTHORITY_LIST>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>30 USC 811</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>30 USC 813</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
        </LEGAL_AUTHORITY_LIST>
        <LEGAL_DLINE_LIST/>
        <RPLAN_ENTRY>No</RPLAN_ENTRY>
        <TIMETABLE_LIST>
            <TIMETABLE>
                <TTBL_ACTION>ANPRM</TTBL_ACTION>
                <TTBL_DATE>05/00/2004</TTBL_DATE>
            </TIMETABLE>
        </TIMETABLE_LIST>
        <RFA_REQUIRED>Undetermined</RFA_REQUIRED>
        <GOVT_LEVEL_LIST>
            <GOVT_LEVEL>None</GOVT_LEVEL>
        </GOVT_LEVEL_LIST>
        <FEDERALISM>No</FEDERALISM>
        <ENERGY_AFFECTED>Yes</ENERGY_AFFECTED>
        <PRINT_PAPER>NA</PRINT_PAPER>
        <INTERNATIONAL_INTEREST>Not Collected</INTERNATIONAL_INTEREST>
        <AGENCY_CONTACT_LIST>
            <CONTACT>
                <FIRST_NAME>Marvin</FIRST_NAME>
                <LAST_NAME>Nichols</LAST_NAME>
                <MIDDLE_NAME>W.</MIDDLE_NAME>
                <SUFFIX>Jr.</SUFFIX>
                <TITLE>Director, Office of Standards</TITLE>
                <AGENCY>
                    <CODE>1219</CODE>
                    <NAME>Mine Safety and Health Administration</NAME>
                    <ACRONYM>MSHA</ACRONYM>
                </AGENCY>
                <PHONE>202 693-9440</PHONE>
                <FAX>202 693-9441</FAX>
                <EMAIL>nichols-marvin@dol.gov</EMAIL>
                <MAILING_ADDRESS>
                    <STREET_ADDRESS>Room 2352, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, Room 2350,</STREET_ADDRESS>
                    <CITY>Arlington</CITY>
                    <STATE>VA</STATE>
                    <ZIP>22209</ZIP>
                </MAILING_ADDRESS>
            </CONTACT>
        </AGENCY_CONTACT_LIST>
    </RIN_INFO>
</REGINFO_RIN_DATA>
