ISSUE DATE: 03/31/08 

PROGRAM INFORMATION BULLETIN NO. P08-07 

FROM: KEVIN G. STRICKLIN

 Administrator for 

Coal Mine Safety and Health 

SUBJECT: Submission of Respirable Dust Samples using the MSHA Individual 

Identification Number (MIIN) 

Scope

This Program Information Bulletin (PIB) applies to Mine Safety and Health 

Administration (MSHA) Coal Mine Safety and Health (CMS&H) personnel, coal mine 

operators, and independent contractors. 

Purpose

This PIB provides information on the new MSHA individual identification number that 

eliminates the need for mining industry personnel to use their Social Security Number 

(SSN) on documents submitted to MSHA. 

Information

MSHA issued Program Policy Letter (PPL) No. P08-III-01, with an effective date of 

April 21, 2008, Replacing Social Security Numbers with a Unique Identifier – MSHA 

Individual Identification Number (MIIN). This PPL requires personnel who hold 

MSHA certification for collection of respirable dust samples and/or certification for the 

maintenance and calibration of respirable dust sampling units to obtain a MIIN to 

continue to perform these functions. MSHA will void any respirable dust sample 

submitted on or after 

July 1, 2008, that: 

• does not have a valid MIIN recorded in the certified person (item 13) section of 

the dust data card that accompanies each respirable dust sample, or 

• has a SSN recorded in the certified person section of the dust data card, or 

• leaves the certified person section of the dust data card blank. 

It is important that certified persons planning to submit respirable dust samples to 

MSHA on or after July 1, 2008, register for the new MIIN as soon as possible. 

Registration for a MIIN will start on April 21, 2008. 

Mining industry personnel may register for the new MIIN by: 
2

• Visiting MSHA’s website (www.msha.gov) and navigating through Quick Links, 

Forms/Online Filing, to MIIN registration form. 

• Mailing a completed MIIN registration form to: 

MSHA 

Qualification & Certification Unit 

P.O. Box 25367, DFC 

Denver, CO 80225. 

• Faxing a completed MIIN registration form to MSHA Qualification & 

Certification Unit, secure fax number (303) 231-5474 (note: this is not a toll-free 

line). 

• Calling the MSHA Qualification & Certification Unit toll-free, at 1-800-579-2647. 

Miners need to be prepared to provide their correct SSN when using any of the above 

methods to request their MIIN. 

Part 90 miners are currently tracked and identified by their SSN. Active Part 90 miners 

will be assigned a MIIN by MSHA. A notice will be mailed to the Part 90 miner and the 

mine operator, notifying both parties of the assigned MIIN. The new MIIN must be 

recorded on respirable dust data cards submitted with samples and used when 

contacting MSHA concerning the Part 90 miner’s status on or after July 1, 2008. In 

addition, any miner exercising Part 90 miner rights will be assigned a MIIN by MSHA. 

The letter notifying the mine operator of the miner’s decision to become a Part 90 miner 

will include the MIIN assigned to this miner. A copy of this letter, which will provide 

notice to the miner of the assigned MIIN, will be mailed to the Part 90 miner. 

Current respirable dust data cards label sections 12 and 13 of the card as SSN. New 

dust data cards have replaced the SSN label with the MIIN label. Mine operators will 

be able to continue to use any dust data cards that are marked with the SSN label. The 

SSN and the MIIN both consist of 9 characters. Once a MIIN is obtained, the MIIN 

should be entered in the 9 blocks provided. The first character of the MIIN is the letter 

“M” followed by 8 digits. MSHA will accept dust data cards that utilize a MIIN 

anytime after April 21, 2008. 

 

Background

MSHA is aware that mining industry personnel are concerned with the recording and 

collection of their SSNs on documents such as the dust data card submitted to the 

Agency. MSHA shares this concern and is committed to developing a system to 

eliminate the need to record the SSN on submitted documents. 

Authority

Sections 101(a) and 103(a)(2) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, as 

amended, 30 U.S.C. § 801 et seq. at §§ 811(a) and 813(a)(2): 30 C.F.R. parts 70, 71 and 90. 
3

Internet Availability

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

www.msha.gov choosing “Compliance Assistance” and “Compliance Information” and 

selecting “Program Information Bulletins.” 

Issuing Office and Contact Person

Coal Mine Safety and Health, Health Division 

Robert Thaxton, (202) 693-9515 

e-mail: thaxton.robert@dol.gov 

Distribution

Coal Program Policy Manual Holders 

Coal Mine Operators 

Coal Independent Contractors 

Coal Special Interest Groups