96-21800. Safety Standards for Underground Coal Mines

[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 169 (Thursday, August 29, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 45322]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-21800]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration

30 CFR Parts 70 and 71


Safety Standards for Underground Coal Mines

AGENCY: Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), Labor.

ACTION: Notice of MSHA acceptance of new personal noise dosimeters.

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SUMMARY: After testing and evaluation, the Mine Safety and Health 
Administration (MSHA) announces the acceptance of the Quest 
Technologies Models Q-100, Q-200, Q-300, and Q-400 Personal Noise 
Dosimeters for use in coal mines.

EFFECTIVE DATE: August 29, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert G. Peluso, Pittsburgh Technical 
Support Center, Mine Safety and Health Administration, 4800 Forbes 
Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On September 12, 1978, the Mine Safety and 
Health Administration (MSHA) published a final rule that became 
effective on October 1, 1978 and amended the mandatory health standards 
governing noise dosimeters (43 FR 40760). Those amendments to 30 CFR 
parts 70 and 71 permitted the use of personal noise dosimeters to make 
required noise exposure measurements in coal mines and set forth the 
procedures to be followed in taking such noise measurements. When noise 
exposure measurements and surveys required by parts 70 and 71 are taken 
by personal noise dosimeters, the dosimeters must be acceptable to 
MSHA.
    The test and criteria used by MSHA to determine acceptability of 
personal noise dosimeters are published in ``MSHA Test Procedures and 
Acceptability Criteria for Noise Dosimeters,'' MSHA Informational 
Report IR-1072.
    MSHA has recently completed testing and evaluation of the Quest 
Technologies Models Q-100, Q-200, Q-300 and Q-400 Personal Noise 
Dosimeters. MSHA has determined that the dosimeters met all of the 
criteria listed in MSHA's Informational Report IR-1072 and hereby gives 
notice that these dosimeters are acceptable for use under 30 CFR 70.505 
and 71.801.
    Accordingly, operators may use the Quest Technologies Models to 
take the noise exposure measurements and surveys at underground coal 
mines as required by 30 CFR 70.503, 508 and 509 and at surface coal 
mines as required by 30 CFR 71.802, 803 and 804.

    Dated: August 14, 1996.
J. Davitt McAteer,
Assistant Secretary for Mine Safety and Health.
[FR Doc. 96-21800 Filed 8-28-96; 8:45 am]
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