# 2026-00351: West Virginia Coal Operation Requests Safety Rule Adjustment

2026-00351, 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/2026-00351
- As of: 2026-06-08
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-00351
- Title: Petition for Modification of Application of Existing Mandatory Safety Standards
- Type: Notice
- Agencies: Labor Department; Mine Safety and Health Administration
- Citation: 91 FR 1207
- 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

West Virginia Coal Operation Requests Safety Rule Adjustment

## Summary

Greenbrier Smokeless Coal Mining wants to change some safety rules at their mine to use a different method that keeps workers just as safe. This petition affects miners at their West Virginia site and could save the company time or money while still protecting everyone. Comments on this request must be sent by February 11, 2026, so don’t miss your chance to weigh in!

## Abstract

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

## Effects PRIA read

- Monthly Fan Test Method Change: benefit, low. Greenbrier Smokeless Coal Mining asked MSHA to allow a simulated signal test every 31 days instead of stopping the main mine fan at Mountaineer Pocahontas No. 1 Mine (MSHA ID 46-09172) in Greenbrier County, West Virginia. The petition also proposes full shutdown (stop-the-fan) tests only every 6 or…
- Potential Company Time and Cost Savings: benefit, low. The petitioner says stopping and restarting the main fan causes operational delays, hazards, and equipment damage; by using simulated signal tests every 31 days and fewer full shutdowns, the company could reduce those disruptions and associated time or costs at the Mountaineer Pocahontas No. 1 Mine…

## Related documents

- [2026-15717](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-15717): Ventilation Plan Approval Criteria, 2026-08-03
- [2026-15670](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-15670): Roof Control Plan Approval Criteria, 2026-08-03
- [2026-10456](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-10456): Department of Labor Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Annual Adjustments for 2026, 2026-05-27
- [2026-19837](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-19837): Proposed Extension of Information Collection: Certification and Qualification To Examine, Test, Operate Hoists and Perform Other Duties, 2026-09-29
- [2026-19266](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-19266): Proposed Extension of Information Collection: Refuse Piles and Impoundment Structures, 2026-09-21
- [2026-15141](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-15141): Proposed Extension of Information Collection: Safety Program for Surface Mobile Equipment, 2026-07-27

## Sources
- [2026-00351 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/01/12/2026-00351/petition-for-modification-of-application-of-existing-mandatory-safety-standards)
- [2026-00351 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-01-12/pdf/2026-00351.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2026-00350, Petition for Modification of Application of Existing Mandatory Safety Standards](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-00350)
- [Next: 2026-00352, Petition for Modification of Application of Existing Mandatory Safety Standards](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-00352)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-00351 (as of 2026-06-08).