Diesel Particulate Matter Exposure of Underground Metal and Nonmetal Miners

At the initiation of the United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union (USW) and the National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association (NSSGA), and with the concurrence of other interested parties, we (the Mine Safety and Health Administration) are delaying the applicability date of 30 CFR 57.5060(b) addressing "Diesel Particulate Matter Exposure of Underground Metal and Nonmetal Miners (DPM)" published in the Federal Register on January 19, 2001 (66 FR 5706) from January 20, 2006 to May 20, 2006, to provide sufficient time to complete the September 7, 2005 proposal to amend the 2001 DPM rule. Section 57.5060(b) is also being revised to reflect this new applicability date. By a separate document published in today's Federal Register we are extending the period for comments on the proposed rule published on September 7, 2005 (70 FR 53280) and rescheduling the public hearings on the proposed rule from September 26, 28, and 30, 2005 to January 5, 9, 11, and 13, 2006. The comment period on that rulemaking will close on January 27, 2006. We find these actions necessary to provide sufficient time and an orderly process for affected parties to comment on that proposed rule.