# 2026-23053: Federal Mine Rule Retires a One-Opening Pillar-Mining Scenario

2026-23053, Mining of Pillars, is a Federal Register rule from Labor Department, Mine Safety and Health Administration published 2026-11-12, effective 2026-12-14; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-11-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-23053
- As of: 2026-11-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-23053
- Title: Mining of Pillars
- Type: Rule
- Agencies: Labor Department; Mine Safety and Health Administration
- Citation: 91 FR 72784
- Published: 2026-11-12
- Effective: 2026-12-14
- Comments close: not stated
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: yes
- Regulation identifier numbers: 1219-AC15
- Last updated: 2026-11-12

## In one line

Federal Mine Rule Retires a One-Opening Pillar-Mining Scenario

## Summary

MSHA is scrapping old rules about mining pillars with just one mine opening because no one does that anymore—it’s unsafe! This change affects underground coal mines and kicks in on December 14, 2026. It won’t cost miners safety but will clear out outdated rules, making mining regulations simpler and safer.

## Abstract

MSHA is eliminating outdated requirements for the final mining of pillars from MSHA's regulations. These requirements are being removed because the practice of final mining of pillars with one mine opening is no longer used in the mining industry due to safety concerns.

## Effects PRIA read

- Ban on single‑opening pillar mining: benefit, high. MSHA removed 30 CFR 75.386, which had permitted final mining of pillars with only one mine opening if no more than 20 miners were in the mine and the distance between the mine opening and working face did not exceed 500 feet. As of December 14, 2026, the allowance is rescinded and operators must fo…
- No new cost burden for mine operators: benefit, low. MSHA states removing Sec. 75.386 will not impose new costs on underground coal mine operators because the single‑opening final pillar mining practice is no longer used. MSHA also certified the rule will not have a "significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities." The final ru…

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## Sources
- [2026-23053 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/11/12/2026-23053/mining-of-pillars)
- [2026-23053 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-11-12/pdf/2026-23053.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2026-23052, Electrical Equipment for Coal Seams Above the Water Table](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-23052)
- [Next: 2026-23060, Federal Reserve Bank Capital Stock](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-23060)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-23053 (as of 2026-11-12).