Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission July 18, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission (the ``Commission'') is an independent adjudicatory agency that provides hearings and appellate review of cases arising under the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, or Mine Act. Hearings are held before the Commission's Administrative Law Judges, and appellate review is provided by a five-member Review Commission appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. The Commission is adopting an interim rule to implement the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act of 2006, or MINER Act, which amended the Mine Act to improve the safety of miners and mining. The MINER Act provides for Commission review of disputes arising over the accident response plans of underground coal mine operators. The interim rule establishes procedures for the submission and consideration of such disputes. The Commission invites public comments on the interim rule.