# 2026-00349: Coal Company Seeks Tweak to Mine Safety Rules for Efficiency

2026-00349, 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/2026-00349
- As of: 2026-06-08
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-00349
- Title: Petition for Modification of Application of Existing Mandatory Safety Standards
- Type: Notice
- Agencies: Labor Department; Mine Safety and Health Administration
- Citation: 91 FR 1215
- 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 Company Seeks Tweak to Mine Safety Rules for Efficiency

## Summary

Consol Pennsylvania Coal Company asked to change some mine safety rules to use a different method that keeps miners just as safe. This change could affect how safety standards apply at their mines, and everyone has until February 11, 2026, to share their thoughts. The goal? Keep miners safe while possibly making safety checks easier or more efficient, without extra costs.

## 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

- Request to Use Non‑Permissible Test Gear: benefit, high. Consol Pennsylvania Coal Company asked MSHA to allow battery-powered, non‑permissible testing and diagnostic equipment to be used in return air outby the last open crosscut at the Harvey Mine (MSHA ID 36-10045) under a petition to modify 30 CFR 75.507-1(a). The petition specifically lists vibration…
- Safety Conditions: Methane Monitoring and Exams: benefit, high. If the modification is granted, the petition requires that non‑permissible electronic testing equipment be examined by a qualified person before use and that those exam results be recorded in the weekly examination book. It also requires continuous methane monitoring immediately before and during u…
- Training and Notice Requirements: benefit, low. The petitioner must post the petition on mine bulletin boards and other conspicuous places at all mines to which it applies for at least 60 consecutive days and make a copy available to miners' representatives. The petitioner also must include the listed terms and conditions in initial and annual P…

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## Sources
- [2026-00349 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/01/12/2026-00349/petition-for-modification-of-application-of-existing-mandatory-safety-standards)
- [2026-00349 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-01-12/pdf/2026-00349.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2026-00348, Petition for Modification of Application of Existing Mandatory Safety Standards](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-00348)
- [Next: 2026-00350, Petition for Modification of Application of Existing Mandatory Safety Standards](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-00350)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-00349 (as of 2026-06-08).