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Testing, Evaluation, and Approval of Electric Motor-Driven Mine Equipment and Accessories (Part 18)

MSHA proposes to revise 30 CFR part 18 that sets out the testing, evaluation, and approval requirements for electric motor-driven mine equipment and accessories intended for use in gassy mines.  Under this proposal, MSHA would accept voluntary consensus standards that are suitable for gassy mining environments and that provide protection against fire or explosion dangers, to replace approval requirements in 30 CFR part 18. Under the proposed rule, during a one-year transition period, mine operators could use equipment and accessories that meet either 14 voluntary consensus standards (VCS) or the existing MSHA approval requirements. After that period, operators would have to use the consensus standards for equipment and accessories covered by consensus standards. This proposal is intended to promote the use of innovative and advanced technologies that lead to improvements in mine safety and health.

The comment period for the proposed rule closed on December 21, 2020.

A copy of each standard in the proposed rule is available for inspection at MSHA, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances, 201 12th Street South, Arlington, Virginia 22202–5452 and at MSHA, Approval and Certification Center, 765 Technology Drive, Triadelphia, WV 26059.

Additionally, during the public comment period, a free, read-only copy of each standard is available at the American National Standards Institute’s (ANSI) Standards Connect portal, which is accessible to anyone who registers at this link: (this link will direct you to an ANSI survey to access the voluntary consensus standards in this proposed rule).