MSHA has identified 27 specific areas for which it is seeking additional comment.

The notice will be available for viewing on March 7 at the Office of the Federal Register, Public Inspection Desk: www.federalregister.gov/inspection.aspx.

The proposed rule, Lowering Miners’ Exposure to Respirable Coal Mine Dust, Including Continuous Personal Dust Monitors, was published on October 19 last year (75 FR 64412) and is available on MSHA’s web site.

All comments must be received or postmarked by midnight EDT on May 2.

MSHA is also extending a comment period for its proposed changes to existing requirements for underground coal mine examinations to allow additional time for public input.

The official notice appeared in the Federal Register March 1 and will formally extend the open comment time from February 25 to March 28.

The initial notice of the proposed rule, Examinations of Work Areas in Underground Coal Mines for Violations of Mandatory Health or Safety Standards, was published December 27.

If it becomes a regulation in its original form, the adjustments would have an impact on pre-shift, supplemental, on-shift and weekly examinations.

Operators would be required to perform complete workplace examinations, correct violations, and each quarter review all citations and orders with mine examiners in areas where these types of examination are required.