Mine Safety and Health Administration April 18, 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This final rule revises MSHA's Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) and addresses sealing abandoned areas in underground coal mines. The final rule includes requirements for seal strength, design, construction, maintenance and repair of seals and monitoring and control of atmospheres behind seals in order to reduce the risk of seal failure and the risk of explosions in abandoned areas of underground coal mines. It also addresses the level of overpressure for new seals.