The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is re-opening the rulemaking record for MSHA’s existing rule on Refuge Alternatives for the limited purpose of obtaining comments on the frequency for motor task (hands-on), decision-making, and expectations training for miners to deploy and use refuge alternatives in underground coal mines.
MSHA published a notice in the Federal Register (78 FR 48592) on August 8, 2013, re-opening the record. The comment period closed on October 7, 2013, during the government shutdown. Due to the government shutdown, the public requested additional time to comment. This notice reopens the rulemaking record to provide an additional 30 days for public comment. The notice will be published in the Federal Register on November 15, 2013, and the comment period will close on December 16, 2013.
Responses to this request will help improve the overall strategy for training miners for survival in an underground coal mine emergency.