Director, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances

1219-AB36 202310 The Regulatory Plan and the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions 1219 Mine Safety and Health Administration MSHA 1200 Department of Labor DOL Respirable Crystalline Silica

Many miners are exposed to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) in respirable dust. These miners can develop lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and various forms of pneumoconiosis, such as silicosis, progressive massive fibrosis, and rapidly progressive pneumoconiosis. These diseases are irreversible and may ultimately be fatal. MSHA’s existing standards limit miners’ exposures to RCS. MSHA will publish a final rule to address the existing permissible exposure limit of RCS for all miners and to update the existing respiratory protection standards under 30 CFR 56, 57, and 72.

]]> Section 3(f)(1) Significant Previously Published in The Unified Agenda Final Rule Stage Undetermined No 30 CFR 56 30 CFR 57 30 CFR 60 30 CFR 70 30 CFR 71 30 CFR 72 30 CFR 75 30 CFR 90 30 U.S.C. 811 30 U.S.C. 813(h) 30 U.S.C. 957 Yes

Many miners are exposed to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) in respirable dust, which can result in the onset of diseases such as silicosis and rapidly progressive pneumoconiosis. These lung diseases are irreversible and may ultimately be fatal. MSHA is examining the existing limit on miners’ exposures to RCS to safeguard the health of America’s miners. Based on MSHA’s experience with existing standards and regulations, as well as OSHA’s RCS standards and NIOSH research, MSHA will develop a rule applicable to metal, nonmetal, and coal operations.

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Sections 101(a), 103(h), and 508 of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (Mine Act), as amended (30 U.S.C. 811(a), 813(h), and 957).

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MSHA will examine one or two different levels of miners’ RCS exposure limit and assess the technological and economic feasibility of such option(s).

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To be determined.

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Miners face impairment risk of health and functional capacity due to RCS exposures. MSHA will examine the existing RCS standard and determine ways to reduce the health risks associate with RCS exposure.

]]> Request for Information (RFI) 08/29/2019 84 FR 45452 RFI Comment Period End 10/28/2019 NPRM 07/13/2023 88 FR 44852 NPRM Comment Period Extended 08/14/2023 88 FR 54961 NPRM Comment Period Extended End 09/11/2023 NPRM Notice of Public Hearings 07/26/2023 88 FR 48146 NPRM Public Hearing in Arlington Virginia 08/03/2023 NPRM Public Hearing in Beckley, West Virginia 08/10/2023 NPRM Public Hearing in Denver, Colorado 08/21/2023 Final Rule 04/00/2024 Undetermined Businesses Governmental Jurisdictions Local State No Undetermined No No S. Aromie Noe Director, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances 1219 Mine Safety and Health Administration MSHA 202 693-9440 202 693-9441 201 12th Street S, Suite 401, Arlington VA 22202