U.S. Department of Labor

Mine Safety and Health Administration 1100 Wilson Boulevard Arlington, Virginia 22209-3939

PROCEDURE INSTRUCTION LETTER NO. I12-IV-01 and I12-V-01

FROM:           KEVIN G. STRICKLIN
                       Administrator for
                       Coal Mine Safety and Health

                       NEAL H. MERRIFIELD
                       Administrator for Metal and Nonmetal Mine Safety and Health

                       LINDA F. ZEILER
                       Director of Technical Support

SUBJECT:     Transmittal of Technical Support Reports with Recommendations for Mine Operators

Scope
This Procedure Instruction Letter (PIL) applies to Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) personnel who are responsible for the drafting and transmittal of technical support investigation reports.

Purpose
The responsibilities of MSHA’s Directorate of Technical Support include conducting technical investigations requested by Coal and Metal/Nonmetal Mine Safety and Health (Coal and Metal and Nonmetal) enforcement personnel.  These investigations are primarily conducted to assist enforcement personnel in evaluating potential hazards encountered during mine inspections.  The investigation reports may contain recommendations for operators to improve safety and health of miners. 

Procedure Instruction
Effective immediately, MSHA will implement the following procedures to ensure timely transmittal of recommendations from on-site technical support investigations to mine operators and miners’ representatives.

1. Requests for Technical Support investigations will come from the District Manager or the Chief of Safety, Coal or Metal and Nonmetal to appropriate Technical Support Center Chief.  The District Manager will notify the Chief of Safety when Technical Support assistance has been requested. 

2. Immediately following a Technical Support investigation at a mine site resulting in recommendations for the mine operator, a close-out meeting will be held with mine management and the miners’ representative to discuss the preliminary results.

3. Technical Support on-site investigation reports containing recommendations to the mine operator will be sent to the District Manager and the Chief of Safety, Coal or Metal and Nonmetal.  The District Manager will transmit the report to the mine operator and miners’ representatives.  Delivery will be documented.

4. A copy of the report will be placed in the mine file.

Internet Availability
This PIL may be viewed on the Internet by accessing MSHA’s home page at www.msha.gov then choosing “Compliance Info” and then “Procedure Instruction Letters

Issuing Office and Contact Persons
Coal Mine Safety and Health
Deputy Administrator
Charles J. Thomas, (202) 693-9529
E-mail: Thomas.Charles@dol.gov

Metal and Nonmetal Mine Safety and Health
Deputy Administrator
Marvin D. Lichtenfels, (202) 693-9600
E-mail: Lichtenfels.Marvin@dol.gov

Technical Support
Deputy Director
George H. Gardner, (202) 693-9481
E-mail: Gardner.George@dol.gov

Distribution
MSHA Program Policy Manual Holders