U.S. Mine Safety & Health Administration proposes to switch to elemental carbon diesel emissions exposure standard

Diesel Fuel News, Sept 2, 2003

U.S. Mine Safety & Health Administration (MSHA) Proposes To Switch To Elemental Carbon (EC) Diesel Emissions Exposure Standard: To protect mine workers from excessive diesel emissions, MSHA proposes to switch to an EC rather than total carbon (TC) emissions standard for "permissible exposure limit" (PEL) for underground metal/non-metal miners.

According to an Aug. 14, 2003 Federal Register notice, the proposal responds in part to lawsuits over its diesel emissions rules issued Jan. 19, 2001. The proposal wouldn't allow mine owners to limit diesel emissions exposure merely by rotating miners around, nor by making them wear masks. MSHA and state mining authorities have found that diesel particulate filters (DPFs) can reduce miner health risks.