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December 18, 2007 The Technical Study Panel was created under Section 11 of the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act of 2006 (MINER Act)(Public Law 109-236), and in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The purpose of the Technical Study Panel was to "…provide independent scientific and engineering review and recommendations with respect to the utilization of belt air and the composition and fire retardant properties of belt materials in underground coal mining." (MINER Act, Sec. 11) Dr. Jan M. Mutmansky, Professor Emeritus of Mining Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania was the Technical Study Panel's elected chairman. Other Panel members were: Dr. Jurgen F. Brune, Director, Spokane Research Laboratory, Centers for Disease Control, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health; Dr. Felipe Calizaya, Associate Professor, University of Utah, Mining Engineering, Salt Lake City, Utah; Dr. Jerry C. Tien, Associate Professor, Department of Mining Engineering, University of Missouri-Rolla, Rolla, Missouri; Mr. Thomas P. Mucho, Thomas P. Mucho & Associates, Inc., Mining Consultancy, Washington, Pennsylvania; and Dr. James L. Weeks, Director, Evergreen Consulting, LLC, Silver Spring, Maryland. Final Report This report, which is the final product of the Technical Study Panel, contains the Panel's consensus recommendations.
On December 31, 2008, the Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration's (MSHA) final rule that implements the recommendations of the Technical Study Panel (Panel) on the Utilization of Belt Air and the Composition and Fire Retardant Properties of Belt Material in Underground Coal Mining was published in the Federal Register's Web site. The Secretary established the Panel in accordance with Section 11 of the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response (MINER) Act of 2006. The Panel conducted an independent scientific engineering review and issued its report on December 20, 2007. MSHA issued a proposed rule on June 19, 2008 and conducted four public hearings. Requirements of the Final Rule The final rule requires underground coal mine operators to:
Mine operators also must:
Fire Suppression Committee Stakeholder Meetings in March 2008
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