The Department of Labor sent its proposed overhaul of a Biden-era rule protecting miners from dangerous silica dust to the White House for review Monday, kicking off a comment period that’s expected to draw heated responses from the mining industry, unions and health advocacy groups.
The Mine Safety and Health Administration proposal is the latest chapter in the decadeslong saga over how to shield miners from airborne silica — crystals that can reach deeply into the lungs. Exposure to silica, which is 20 times more dangerous than coal dust, can lead to incurable lung diseases, including silicosis, cancer and black lung.
The proposal’s arrival at the White House was noted by RegInfo.gov, the website that tracks regulatory developments for the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. The rule’s text isn’t publicly available, and MSHA did not respond when asked for details.
Last month, MSHA said the Biden rule, which was finalized in 2024, would be frozen “indefinitely” amid an ongoing legal fight and “limited rulemaking” to reconsider aspects of the regulation.
