Although the ETS is effective on Sept. 23, mine operators will have additional time for compliance in order to purchase more rock dust-related materials and equipment. Mine operators must comply with the ETS for newly mined areas by Oct. 7, 2010, and all other areas of the mine by Nov. 22, 2010.

To meet these compliance dates, MSHA encourages mine operators to immediately begin rock dusting all other areas, starting with those that pose the greatest risk to miners: for example, areas near the active faces and areas that contain possible ignition sources, such as conveyer belt drives and belt entries. “We know that it will take mine operators a little bit of time to bring their mines into compliance with the new standard,” Main added. “But coal dust explosions are serious, and we expect mine operators to act quickly to reduce the threat to those mining coal underground.”

For a video overview of the danger of un-neutralized coal dust in mines explosions, go to http://www.msha.gov/streaming/wvx/floatcoal.wvx ..

See Program Information Bulletin: http://www.msha.gov/REGS/COMPLIAN/Pib/2010/pib10-18.asp