The Director of the Office of Miners’ Health Safety and Training (OMHS&T) has proposed a series of amendments and new requirements to Title 56, Series 3 Rules Governing Those Employed in and Around Surface Mines in West Virginia. The rules are available on the agency’s homepage at http://www.wvminesafety.org. Copies are also available at the Association and can be electronically forwarded. The amendments are voluminous and primarily address the following sections: section 359-388 and section 15 relating to blasting operations; section 9 relating to instruction of employees; section 10 relating to daily inspections; section 13 relating to high wall safety & dump points; section 17 relating to haulage roadways & vehicles and the certification of coal truck drivers; section 19 (new) relating to high wall mining; section 21 (new) relating to steep slope safeguards; and, section 48 relating to mine mapping. A comment period runs through July 15th 2009 and a public hearing is set for 9am on July 2 at the Chief Logan Lodge and Conference Center in Logan.
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