MSHA seeks additional feedback on mine roof control, ventilation proposals

The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has reopened the comment period for proposed changes to the approval criteria for its mine roof control and ventilation plans. The proposed rules were originally published in the Federal Register on July 1, 2025.

Under the proposed rules, MSHA district managers would no longer have the authority to modify or require additions to these plans. The proposals state that current standards “may violate statutory authority; the Appointments Clause [of the U.S. Constitution], by vesting significant regulatory authority in district managers; and the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), by skipping notice and comment.”

The public can comment on the proposed rules until September 30 by searching Docket No. MSHA-2025-0072 (roof control) and Docket No. MSHA-2025-0084 (ventilation) at www.regulations.gov.

MSHA will hold virtual hearings on the proposals: roof control on September 15 and ventilation on September 16.