Mine Safety and Health Administration
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U.S. Department of Labor Mine Safety and Health Administration |
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[December 22, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 245)] [Unified Agenda] [Page 73212-73213] Department of Labor (DOL) (Prerule Stage) Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) _______________________________________________________________________ 2081. RESPIRABLE CRYSTALLINE SILICA STANDARD Priority: Other Significant. Major status under 5 USC 801 is undetermined. Legal Authority: 30 USC 811; 30 USC 813 CFR Citation: 30 CFR 70; 30 CFR 71; 30 CFR 90; 30 CFR 72; 30 CFR 58; . . . Legal Deadline: None Abstract: 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. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ ANPRM 05/00/04 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Undetermined Government Levels Affected: None Energy Effects: Statement of Energy Effects planned as required by Executive Order 13211. Agency Contact: Marvin W. Nichols Jr., Director, Office of Standards, Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health Administration, Room 2352, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, Room 2350, Arlington, VA 22209 Phone: 202 693--9440 Fax: 202 693--9441 Email: nichols-marvin@dol.gov RIN: 1219-AB36 _______________________________________________________________________ |
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Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) 1100 Wilson Boulevard, 21st Floor Arlington, VA 22209-3939 |
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