West Virginia legislation · 2025 Regular Session
West Virginia HB3331: Relating to diesel-powered equipment regulations in underground coal mines
Status: Introduced, March 12, 2025
The purpose of this bill is to streamline diesel equipment regulations in West Virginia mines by aligning them with federal MSHA standards, removing unnecessary site-specific testing, eliminating additional approval requirements, and reducing the frequency of maintenance inspections to conform with federal rules.
What the bill says
To amend and reenact §22A-2A-308, §22A-2A-309, §22A-2A-310, and §22A-2A-401 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; to amend the code by adding five new sections designated §22A-2A-1002, §22A-2A-1003, §22A-2A-1004, §22A-2A-1005, and §22A-2A-1006; and to repeal §22A-2A-402, §22A-2A-403, §22A-2A-404, and §22A-2A-405, relating to diesel powered equipment used in mines; creating rules authority; removing site-specific testing; establishing regulatory limitations; clarifying approval standards; establishing diesel equipment operating requirements and exemptions; and providing an effe.
From the introduced text, March 12, 2025:
A BILL to amend and reenact §22A-2A-308, §22A-2A-309, §22A-2A-310, and §22A-2A-401 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; to amend the code by adding five new sections designated §22A-2A-1002, §22A-2A-1003, §22A-2A-1004, §22A-2A-1005, and §22A-2A-1006; and to repeal §22A-2A-402, §22A-2A-403, §22A-2A-404, and §22A-2A-405, relating to diesel powered equipment used in mines; creating rules authority; removing site-specific testing; establishing regulatory limitations; clarifying approval standards; establishing diesel equipment operating requirements and exemptions; and providing an effective date; ARTICLE 2A. USE OF DIESEL-POWERED EQUIPMENT IN UNDERGROUND COAL MINES. §22A-2A-308. Director's authority to promulgate legislative rules; continuation of rules adopted by the commission Authority of the Director to propose rules. (a) The director has the power and authority to propose legislative rules to carry out and implement the provisions of this article in accordance with the provisions of article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code. In proposing rules for legislative approval, the director shall consider the highest achievable measures of protection for miners' health and safety through available technology, engineering controls and performance requirements and shall further consider the cost, availability, adaptability and suitability of any available technology, engineering controls and performance requirements as they relate to the use of diesel equipment in underground coal mines. The Director of the Office of Miners' Health, Safety, and Training shall have the authority to propose …