Regulations implementing the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969, as Amended; Extension of Comment Period; Additions to the Record

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment Standards Administration

20 CFR Parts 718, 722, 725, 726 and 727

[RIN 1215-AA99]

Regulations implementing the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety

Act of 1969, as Amended; Extension of Comment Period; Additions to the

Record

AGENCY: Employment Standards Administration, Labor.

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period; additions to the

record.

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SUMMARY: This document extends the period for filing comments regarding

the proposed rule to amend and revise the regulations implementing the

Black Lung Benefits Act. This action is taken to permit additional

comment from interested persons. In addition, this document informs all

interested persons that the Department is adding three medical articles

to the official rulemaking record and invites comments on those

articles.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before August 21, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments on the proposed rule to James L.

DeMarce, Director, Division of Coal Mine Worker's Compensation, Room C-

3520, Frances Perkins Building, 200 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington,

DC 20210.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

James L. DeMarce, (202) 219-6692.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the Federal Register of January 22, 1997

(62 FR 3338-3435), the Department of Labor published a proposed rule

intended to amend and revise the regulations implementing the Black

Lung Benefit Act, subchapter IV of the Federal Coal Mine Health and

Safety Act of 1969, as amended. Interested persons were requested to

submit comments on or before March 24, 1997. In the Federal Register of

February 24, 1997 (62 FR 8201), the Department extended the comment

period through May 23, 1997. The trade association representing coal

mine operators has requested that the Department once again extend the

comment period. The trade association seeks additional time to analyze

existing medical evidence and submit its analysis to peer review. The

Department deems it desirable to extend the comment period for all

interested persons. Therefore, the comment period for the proposed

rule, amending and revising 20 CFR Parts 718, 722, 725, 726 and 727, is

extended through August 21, 1997.

In addition, following publication of the proposed rule, the

Department learned of three medical articles relevant to its proposed

revision of the definition of the term ``pneumoconiosis'' at 20 CFR

718.201. See 62 FR 3343-44 (discussion), 3376 (definition). Those

articles are: Becklake, M., ``Occupational Exposures: Evidence for a

Causal Association with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease,''

American Review of Respiratory Disease, 140: S85-S91, 1989; ``Coal Dust

and Compensation,'' The Lancet, Vol. 335, No. 8685, pp. 322-324 (Feb.

10, 1990); and Wright, J. et al., ``State of the Art: Diseases of the

Small Airways,'' American Review of Respiratory Diseases, 146: 240-262,

1992. The Department gives notice of its inclusion of these articles in

the official rule-making record, and invites comments on them. Copies

of the articles may be reviewed at the Department of Labor.

Signed at Washington, D.C. this 5th day of May, 1997.

Bernard E. Anderson,

Assistant Secretary for Employment Standards.

[FR Doc. 97-12324 Filed 5-15-97; 8:45 am]

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