Main Hedges on Lowering Coal Dust PEL

Tue, 12/08/2009 - 21:40

Joe Main refuses to say one way or the other whether new regulations under development at MSHA to eliminate black lung will include a lower exposure limit for respirable coal dust.

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Stepped-up timetables for release of new health rules by MSHA and OSHA highlight the two agencies’ regulatory plans that were officially released Dec. 7.

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MSHA has committed to an April 2011 date to propose rulemaking on respirable coal dust and silica, but the Agency’s response to a petition to act on the contaminants suggests a proposal may come sooner.

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MSHA supports lower permissible exposure limits for respirable coal dust, but believes feasibility needs to be considered before exposure limits for silica and other substances can be reduced.

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