Training and Retraining of Miners Engaged in Shell Dredging or Employed at Sand, Gravel, Surface Stone, Surface Clay, Colloidal Phosphate, or Surface Limestone Mines

This final rule amends MSHA's existing health and safety training regulations by establishing new training requirements for shell dredging, sand, gravel, surface stone, surface clay, colloidal phosphate, and surface limestone mines. Congress has prohibited MSHA from expending funds to enforce training requirements at these mines since fiscal year 1980. This final rule implements the training requirements of section 115 of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 and provides for effective miner training at the affected mines. At the same time, the final rule allows mine operators the flexibility to tailor their training programs to the specific needs of their miners and operations.