[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 94 (Tuesday, May 14, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24334-24335]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-12074]



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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Mine Safety and Health Administration


Advisory Committee on the Elimination of Pneumoconiosis Among 
Coal Mine Workers; Meeting

AGENCY: Mine Safety and Health Administration, Labor.

ACTION: Notice of advisory committee meeting.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the date, time, place, and agenda 
summary for the third meeting of the Mine Safety and Health 
Administration's Advisory Committee on the Elimination of 
Pneumoconiosis Among Coal Mine Workers.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patricia W. Silvey, Director, Office 
of Standards, Regulations, and Variances, Mine Safety and Health 
Administration, 4015 Wilson Boulevard, room 631, Arlington, Virginia 
22203; phone 703-235-1910.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A public meeting of the advisory committee 
will be held as follows:
    (1) May 29, 1996, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
    (2) May 30, 1996, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
    The meeting will be held on both days at the Holiday Inn-Charleston 
House, 600 East Kanawha Blvd., Charleston, West Virginia 25301. Phone: 
304-344-4092.
    The Secretary of Labor established this advisory committee (60 FR 
5947) to develop recommendations for improved standards or other 
appropriate actions addressing: permissible exposure limits to 
eliminate black lung disease and silicosis; the means to control 
respirable coal mine dust levels; improved monitoring of respirable 
coal dust levels and the role of the miner in that monitoring; and the 
adequacy of operator sampling programs to determine the actual levels 
of dust concentrations to which miners are exposed. The advisory 
committee is chartered through September 30, 1996 (60 FR 55284), but 
must complete its deliberations by August 19, 1996.
    The agenda for the third meeting will include discussions on 
exposure monitoring and medical surveillance. Specific questions for 
discussion will include:

[[Page 24335]]

    (1) Should there be changes in the medical surveillance program and 
the way the data from the program is utilized?
    (2) In what ways can participation in the medical surveillance 
program be improved?
    (3) Is the Part 90 program accomplishing its goal?
    (4) Should there be changes in the methods and procedures for the 
evaluation of exposure to coal mine dust?
    (5) What improvements are needed in: the collection of coal mine 
dust exposure samples; the maintenance of dust controls; and the 
factoring in of production levels?
    (6) Under what circumstances is continuous monitoring of coal mine 
dust concentrations appropriate?
    (7) Under what circumstances does area sampling of the coal mine 
environment provide dust concentration data useful for the protection 
of coal miner health?
    (8) Should operator sampling results be used for evaluating 
compliance with the PEL?
    (9) In what ways can miner participation in eradicating dust 
related diseases be improved?
    There will also be a panel discussion by representatives of the 
National Black Lung Association followed by questions by members of the 
advisory committee.
    The public is invited to attend. The chairperson will provide an 
hour near the end of each day's meeting to allow interested persons to 
make comments. Official records of the meeting will be available for 
public inspection at the above MSHA address.

    Dated: May 9, 1996.
J. Davitt McAteer,
Assistant Secretary for Mine Safety and Health.
[FR Doc. 96-12074 Filed 5-10-96; 9:39 am]
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