G/TBT/N/USA/2017/Add.1  
 
28 July 2023  
(23-5149)  Page: 1/2 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original: English  
 
NOTIFICATION  
Addendum  
The following communication , dated  27 July 2023, is being circulated at the request of the delegation 
of the United States of America . 
 
_______________  
 
 
Title:  Lowering Miners' Exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica and Improving Respiratory 
Protection  
 
Reason for Addendum:  
[ ] Comment period changed - date:   
[ ] Notified measure adopted - date:  
[ ] Notified measure published - date:  
[ ] Notified measure enters into force - date:  
[ ] Text of final measure available from1:  
[ ] Notified measure withdrawn or revoked - date:  
Relevant symbol if measure re -notified:   
[ ] Content or scope of notified measure changed  and text available from1:  
New deadline for comments (if applicable):   
[ ] Interpretive guidance issued and text available from1:  
[X] Other:  
Announcement of third public hearing for 10 August 2023 (Beckley, West Virginia)  
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR -2023-07-26/html/2023 -15592.htm  
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR -2023-07-26/pdf/2023 -15592.pdf  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2023/TBT/USA/23_11319_00_e.pdf  
 
Description:  TITLE: Lowering Miners' Exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica and Improving 
Respiratory Prote ction 
AGENCY: Mine Safety and Health Administration, Labor  
ACTION: Proposed rule; notice of public hearings  
SUMMARY: The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) will hold three public hearings on the 
proposed rule, Lowering Miners' Exposure to Respira ble Crystalline Silica and Improving Respiratory 
Protection. The proposed rule was published on 13 July 2023 and is available at 
 
1 This information can be provided by including a website address, a pdf attachment, or other 
information on where the text of the final /modified  measure and/or interpretive guidance can be obtained.  G/TBT/N/USA/2017/Add.1  
 
- 2 - 
 
  https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR -2023-07-13/html/2023 -14199.htm  and MSHA's website 
at www.MSHA.gov . The proposed rule would amend MSHA's existing standards to better protect 
miners agains t occupational exposure to respirable crystalline silica, a carcinogenic hazard, and to 
improve respiratory protection for all airborne hazards.  
In response to requests from the public, MSHA will hold a third public hearing on the Silica proposed 
rule, in addition to the two public hearings announced in the notice of proposed rulemaking. The 
Agency believes that the public would benefit from a third hearing which would allow the public an 
additional opportunity to present their views in a location accessibl e to miners, mine operators, and 
other members of the public.  
DATES: Hearings will be held on the following dates: 3 August 2023 (Arlington, Virginia), 10 August 
2023 (Beckley, West Virginia), and 21 August 2023 (Denver, Colorado). Post -hearing comments 
must be received or postmarked by midnight ( Eastern Time ) on 28 August 2023. WTO Members and 
their stakeholders are asked to submit comments to the USA TBT Enquiry Point . 
This proposed rule; notice of public hearings and the proposed rule; request for comments; notice 
of public hearings notified as G/TBT/N/USA/2017  are identified by Docket Number MSHA -2023-
0001. The Docket Folder is available on Regulations.gov at 
https://www.regulations.gov/docket/MSHA -2023-0001/document  and provides access to primary 
and supporting documents as well as comments received. Documents are also accessible from 
Regulations.gov  by searching the Docket Number. WTO Members and their stakeholders are asked 
to submit comments to the USA TBT Enquiry Point . Comments received by the USA TBT Enquiry 
Point from WTO Members and their stakeholders by 4pm Eastern Time  on 28 August 2023 will be 
shared with the regulator and will also be submitted to the Docket  on Regulations.gov if received 
within the comment period.  
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