Regulators: Coal dust samples compliant with new rule

ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — Federal regulators say samples collected from U.S. mines last year found the lowest levels of breathable coal dust since stepped-up efforts aimed at reducing miners’ exposure.

The U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration says nearly 99 percent of samples taken from August through December at underground and surface mines were compliant with a new federal rule.

The rule authorizes MSHA to cite an operator based on a single sample showing excessive dust, rather than on an average of samples.

MSHA says the yearly average of dust levels in underground mines has fallen every year since it launched a 2009 campaign to end black lung disease. Last year’s levels were the lowest.

MSHA director Joe Main says the results show miners should be breathing cleaner air at coal mines.

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