# 2026-00339: Coal Firm Petitions for Safer, Smarter Mine Rule Changes

2026-00339, Petition for Modification of Application of Existing Mandatory Safety Standards, is a Federal Register notice from Labor Department, Mine Safety and Health Administration published 2026-01-12, effective All comments on the petition must be received by MSHA's Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances on or before February 11, 2026. (as of 2026-06-08).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-00339
- As of: 2026-06-08
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-00339
- Title: Petition for Modification of Application of Existing Mandatory Safety Standards
- Type: Notice
- Agencies: Labor Department; Mine Safety and Health Administration
- Citation: 91 FR 1211
- Published: 2026-01-12
- Effective: All comments on the petition must be received by MSHA's Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances on or before February 11, 2026.
- Comments close: 2026-02-11
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: no
- Regulation identifier numbers: none
- Last updated: 2026-06-08

## In one line

Coal Firm Petitions for Safer, Smarter Mine Rule Changes

## Summary

Consol Pennsylvania Coal Company wants to change some safety rules at their mine to use a different method that keeps workers just as safe. They’ve asked the Mine Safety and Health Administration to approve this change, and everyone has until February 11, 2026, to share their thoughts. If approved, this could mean safer, smarter ways to work without extra costs or delays.

## Abstract

This notice is a summary of a petition for modification submitted to the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) by Consol Pennsylvania Coal Company, LLC.

## Effects PRIA read

- Allow specified non‑permissible diagnostic tools: benefit, medium. Consol Pennsylvania Coal Company asked MSHA to allow use of specific battery-powered, non‑permissible vibration analyzers (Emerson AMS 2140; Bentley Nevada vb7, Scout 100 EX, Commtest Scout 140/VBX/Scout Unit) and other battery-powered testing devices in return air outby the last open crosscut at t…
- Methane monitoring and 1% cutoff rule: benefit, high. As part of the proposed alternative, a qualified person must continuously monitor for methane immediately before and during use of non‑permissible electronic testing equipment and non‑permissible equipment must not be used if methane is detected at or above 1 percent; if 1 percent or more methane i…
- Posting and training requirements for miners: benefit, low. The petitioner must post the Petition at Bailey Mine and any other applicable mines in unobstructed locations for at least 60 consecutive days and include the listed terms and conditions in initial and annual refresher Part 48 training so miners are aware of the petition's stipulations. The petitio…

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## Sources
- [2026-00339 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/01/12/2026-00339/petition-for-modification-of-application-of-existing-mandatory-safety-standards)
- [2026-00339 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-01-12/pdf/2026-00339.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2026-00338, Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Comment Re…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-00338)
- [Next: 2026-00340, Petition for Modification of Application of Existing Mandatory Safety Standards](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-00340)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-00339 (as of 2026-06-08).