MSHA 2008 Six Final Rules Sealing of Abandoned Areas Mine Rescue Teams Mine Rescue Team Equipment Fire Extinguishers in UG Coal Mines Asbestos Exposure Limit Civil Penalties

MSHA 2008 Three Proposed Rules Refuge Alternatives for Underground Coal Mines Alcohol- and Drug-Free Mines Belt Materials in Underground Coal Mining

MINE IMPROVEMENT AND NEW EMERGENCY RESPONSE ACT OF 2006 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE - MINER Act SEC. 2. EMERGENCY RESPONSE Plans –"(i) provide for the evacuation of all individuals endangered "(ii) provide for the maintenance of individuals trapped POST-ACCIDENT COMMUNICATIONS POST-ACCIDENT TRACKING POST-ACCIDENT BREATHABLE AIR POST-ACCIDENT LIFELINES POST ACCIDENT COMMUNICATIONS (wireless)

MINER Act SEC. 4. MINE RESCUE TEAMS SEC. 5. PROMPT INCIDENT NOTIFICATION within 15 minutes of death, entrapment or injury of and with reasonable potential to cause death SEC. 8. PENALTIES. –Increased maximum –minimum penalty for 104(d) citation or order –flagrant violation means a reckless or repeated failure

MINER Act SEC. 10. SEALING OF ABANDONED AREAS SEC. 13. RESEARCH CONCERNING REFUGE ALTERNATIVES

FOR 2009 Proposed Rule Stage –Criteria for Proposed Assessment for Civil Penalties –Coal Mine Dust Personal Monitors

FOR 2009 Prerule Stage –Occupational Exposure to Coal Mine Dust (Lowering Exposure Limit) –Explosives and Blasting –Coal Mine Respirable Dust

2009 and Beyond ? Increased emphasis on Health

100% Plan 2008 First time in the 31-year history of MSHA that the agency has completed 100% of mandated E01 inspections.

Fatality Rates

Injury Rates

Violations per Inspection Hour For Coal Mines FY 2000 – FY 2008

Total Citations and Orders Issued for Coal Mines FY 2000 – FY 2008

Coal Enforcement Hiring MSHA’s goal: 757 FTE coal enforcement 365 new inspectors hired since July 2006 Net gain of 166 full time coal inspectors 753 Total Enforcement Personnel

Federal Mine Safety & Health Act of 1977 SEC. 2. Congress declares that– (a) the first priority and concern of all in the coal or other mining industry must be the health and safety of its most precious resource--the miner; (e) the operators of such mines with the assistance of the miners have the primary responsibility to prevent the existence of such conditions and practices in such mines

Next Steps More to do Ultimate goal: No injuries, no fatalities, and an end to occupational illness