Safety Standards for Underground Coal Mine Ventilation

This final rule revises the Mine Safety and Health Administration's (MSHA's) existing safety standards for ventilation of underground coal mines. After publication of the existing standards, the U.S. Court of Appeals in the D.C. Circuit stayed the application of one standard and MSHA stayed two standards. The rule revises these stayed provisions, revises or clarifies other provisions in the rule and includes some new provisions. The provisions of the final rule are expected to decrease the potential for fatalities, particularly accidents which can result in multiple deaths, and to reduce the risk of injuries and illnesses in underground coal mines. For the convenience of the reader, MSHA has published the full text of the ventilation standards for underground coal mines in this document.