The agency announced Monday that the deadline for input on its proposed Lowering Miners’ Exposure to Respirable Coal Mine Dust, Including Continuous Personal Dust Monitors ruling initially set for May 2 was now midnight Eastern Daylight Time on May 31.

It is the second comment period extension for the rule; the initial February 28 deadline was pushed in January to May 2.

“Our goal to end black lung is a longstanding one and was one of the commitments I made when I came to MSHA,” assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health Joseph Main said.

“Not surprisingly, there has been an overwhelming response to this proposed rule. The additional time hopefully will give everyone who wants to comment the opportunity to do so.”

Those wishing to submit comments by the new deadline can so do by marking the documentation “RIN 1219-AB64” and submitting it to MSHA electronically through http://www.regulations.gov or by fax, mail, or hand delivery.

A full version of the proposed rule, published in the Federal Register October 19, 2010 (75 FR 64412), is available at the MSHA web site.