ISSUE DATE: 08/16/2010 

PROGRAM INFORMATION BULLETIN NO. P10-10 

FROM: KEVIN G. STRICKLIN

Administrator for 

Coal Mine Safety and Health 

SUBJECT: Inadequate Ventilation 

Scope

This Program Information Bulletin (PIB) applies to operators of underground coal mines, 

miners' representatives, Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) enforcement 

personnel, and other interested parties. 

Purpose

The purpose of this Program Information Bulletin (PIB) is to emphasize requirements to 

ensure that the working face and working places of underground coal mines are 

ventilated by a sufficient quantity of air so as to continuously dilute, render harmless, 

and carry away flammable, explosive, noxious, and harmful gases, dusts, smoke, and 

fumes produced during mining. 

Information

Providing sufficient air quantity in an underground mine is the principal means of 

ensuring that flammable, explosive, noxious, and harmful gases, dusts, smoke, and 

fumes are continuously diluted, rendered harmless, and carried away, as required by 

Section 303 of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977. It is essential to miners' 

safety and health that each working face is ventilated by sufficient air quantity. 

Insufficient air quantity allows methane and dust to accumulate, potentially resulting in a 

mine fire or explosion. Dust accumulations can also cause miners to be exposed to 

harmful levels of respirable dust, which can cause pneumoconiosis, or "black lung 

disease." 

In general, 30 C.F.R. § 75.325 establishes minimum quantities of air that must be 

provided at specified underground locations. For bituminous and lignite mines, 

§ 75.325 requires a minimum of 3,000 cubic feet per minute (cfm) of air at each working 

face, as determined at or near the face end of the line curtain, ventilation tubing or other 

ventilation control device. The last open crosscut of each set of entries or rooms on 

each working section and the quantity of air reaching the intake end of a pillar line must 
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be 9,000 cfm, at a minimum. This also includes sections of the mine that are not 

operating, but are capable of producing coal by simply energizing section equipment. 

The working face of longwalls and shortwalls must receive at least 30,000 cfm of air. 

Section § 75.325 also requires operators to maintain adequate ventilation during 

installation and removal of mechanized mining equipment. 

In some cases, the specified quantities of air may be inadequate to continuously dilute, 

render harmless, and carry away flammable, explosive, noxious, and harmful gases, 

dusts, smoke, and fumes. In those cases, greater quantities of ventilating air will be 

required and will be specified in the operator's approved ventilation plan. 

MSHA maintains an anonymous hotline to report hazardous conditions, including 

inadequate ventilation. The phone number is 1-800-746-1553. Persons may also 

report hazardous conditions to their MSHA District office. MSHA will promptly 

investigate any report of a hazardous condition at a mine. 

Background

On April 21, 2010, MSHA launched inspections at 57 coal mines whose enforcement 

history indicated a significant number of violations related to methane accumulations, 

ventilation, rock dusting and mine examinations. These impact inspections followed the 

April 5, 2010 explosion at Upper Big Branch Mine in Montcoal, West Virginia, and 

focused attention on mine ventilation, rock dusting, methane monitoring and mine 

examinations. 

In addition, on May 24, 2010, the House Education and Labor Committee conducted a 

hearing on the Upper Big Branch explosion. The Committee heard testimony from 

deceased miners’ families. The testimony addressed issues regarding safety conditions 

in existence prior to the explosion including inadequate ventilation, intentional changes 

to ventilation systems, high levels of methane, excessive coal float dust, “bridging out” 

methane monitors on mining equipment, advance notice of MSHA inspections, and 

retaliation for miners who raised safety and health issues. 

This PIB emphasizes that MSHA intends for mine operators to fully comply with the 

Mine Act and MSHA’s regulatory requirements.

Authority 

The Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, as amended, 30 U.S.C. § 801 et seq., 

and 30 C.F.R. § 75.325 

Issuing Office and Contact Person

Coal Mine Safety and Health 

John Arrington, (202) 693-9549 

E-mail: arrington.john@dol.gov

Internet Availability

This PIB may be viewed on the Internet by accessing MSHA's home page at 

 
 

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(www.msha.gov), choosing "Compliance Info" and "Program Information Bulletins." 

Distribution 

Program Policy Manual Holders 

Underground Coal Mine Operators 

Miners' Representatives 

Independent Contractors 

Special Interest Groups