§ 951. — Studies and research.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 30USC951]
TITLE 30--MINERAL LANDS AND MINING
CHAPTER 22--MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH
SUBCHAPTER V--ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS
Sec. 951. Studies and research
(a) Appropriate projects
The Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Health and Human
Services, as appropriate, shall conduct such studies, research,
experiments, and demonstrations as may be appropriate--
(1) to improve working conditions and practices in coal or other
mines, and to prevent accidents and occupational diseases
originating in the coal or other mining industry;
(2) to develop new or improved methods of recovering persons in
coal or other mines after an accident;
(3) to develop new or improved means and methods of
communication from the surface to the underground area of a coal or
other mine;
(4) to develop new or improved means and methods of reducing
concentrations of respirable dust in the mine atmosphere of active
workings of the coal or other mine;
(5) to develop epidemiological information to (A) identify and
define positive factors involved in occupational diseases of miners,
(B) provide information on the incidence and prevalence of
pneumoconiosis and other respiratory ailments of miners, and (C)
improve mandatory health standards;
(6) to develop techniques for the prevention and control of
occupational diseases of miners, including tests for
hypersusceptibility and early detection;
(7) to evaluate the effect on bodily impairment and occupational
disability of miners afflicted with an occupational disease;
(8) to prepare and publish from time to time, reports on all
significant aspects of occupational diseases of miners as well as on
the medical aspects of injuries, other than diseases, which are
revealed by the research carried on pursuant to this subsection;
(9) to study the relationship between coal or other mine
environments and occupational diseases of miners;
(10) to develop new and improved underground equipment and other
sources of power for such equipment which will provide greater
safety;
(11) to determine, upon the written request by any operator or
authorized representative of miners, specifying with reasonable
particularity the grounds upon which such request is made, whether
any substance normally found in a coal or other mine has potentially
toxic effects in the concentrations normally found in the coal or
other mine or whether any physical agents or equipment found or used
in a coal or other mine has potentially hazardous effects, and shall
submit such determinations to both the operators and miners as soon
as possible; and
(12) for such other purposes as they deem necessary to carry out
the purposes of this chapter.
(b) Responsibility for carrying out prescribed activities
Activities under this section in the field of coal or other mine
health shall be carried out by the Secretary of Health and Human
Services through the National Institute for Occupational Safety and
Health established under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970
[29 U.S.C. 651 et seq.], and activities under this section in the field
of coal or other mine safety shall be carried out by the Secretary of
the Interior in coordination with the Secretary.
(c) Contracting with and grants to public and private agencies;
availability of information; exceptions
In carrying out the provisions for research, demonstrations,
experiments, studies, training, and education under this section and
sections 861(b) and 952(a) of this title, the Secretary of the Interior
and the Secretary of Health and Human Services in coordination with the
Secretary may enter into contracts with, and make grants to, public and
private agencies and organizations and individuals. No research,
demonstrations, or experiments shall be carried out, contracted for,
sponsored, cosponsored, or authorized under authority of this chapter,
unless all information, uses, products, processes, patents, and other
developments resulting from such research, demonstrations, or
experiments will (with such exception and limitation, if any, as the
Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Health and Human Services
in coordination with the Secretary may find to be necessary in the
public interest) be available to the general public.
(d) Prevention of diseases affecting persons working with mine products
The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall also conduct
studies and research into matters involving the protection of life and
the prevention of diseases in connection with persons, who although not
miners, work with, or around the products of, coal or other mines in
areas outside of such mines and under conditions which may adversely
affect the health and well-being of such persons.
(e) Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of the
Interior such sums as may be necessary to carry out his responsibilities
under this section and section 861(b) of this title at an annual rate of
not to exceed $20,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1970,
$25,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1971, and $60,000,000
for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1972, and for each succeeding fiscal
year thereafter. There is authorized to be appropriated annually to the
Secretary of Health and Human Services such sums as may be necessary to
carry out his responsibilities under this chapter. Such sums shall
remain available until expended.
(f) Exceptions to mandatory health and safety standards for improving
techniques and equipment
The Secretary is authorized to grant on a mine-by-mine basis an
exception to any mandatory health or safety standard under this chapter
for the purpose of permitting, under such terms and conditions as he may
prescribe, accredited educational institutions the opportunity for
experimenting with new and improved techniques and equipment to improve
the health and safety of miners. No such exception shall be granted
unless the Secretary finds that the granting of the exception will not
adversely affect the health and safety of miners and publishes his
findings.
(g) Grants for research and development of respiratory equipment
The Secretary of Health and Human Services is authorized to make
grants to any public or private agency, institution, or organization,
and operators or individuals for research and experiments to develop
effective respiratory equipment.
(Pub. L. 91-173, title V, Sec. 501, Dec. 30, 1969, 83 Stat. 798; Pub. L.
95-164, title III, Sec. 303(a), Nov. 9, 1977, 91 Stat. 1320; Pub. L. 96-
88, title V, Sec. 509(b), Oct. 17, 1979, 93 Stat. 695.)
References in Text
The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, referred to in
subsec. (b), is Pub. L. 91-596, Dec. 29, 1970, 84 Stat. 1590, as
amended, which is classified principally to chapter 15 (Sec. 651 et
seq.) of Title 29, Labor. For complete classification of this Act to the
Code, see Short Title note set out under section 651 of Title 29 and
Tables.
Amendments
1977--Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 95-164, Sec. 303(a)(1), (2), (6),
substituted ``The Secretary of the Interior and'' for ``The Secretary
and'' in provisions preceding par. (1), inserted references to mines and
mining other than coal mines and coal mining in pars. (1), (2), (3),
(4), and (9), added par. (11), and redesignated former par. (11) as
(12).
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 95-164, Sec. 303(a)(1), (3), inserted
references to mines other than coal mines, inserted ``through the
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health established under
the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970'' after ``Secretary of
Health, Education, and Welfare'', and substituted ``carried out by the
Secretary of the Interior in coordination with the Secretary'' for
``carried out by the Secretary''.
Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 95-164, Sec. 303(a)(4), substituted ``the
Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Health, Education, and
Welfare in coordination with the Secretary'' for ``the Secretary and the
Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare'' and ``the Secretary of the
Interior or the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare in
coordination with the Secretary'' for ``the Secretary or the Secretary
of Health, Education, and Welfare''.
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 95-164, Sec. 303(a)(1), inserted reference to
mines other than coal mines.
Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 95-164, Sec. 303(a)(5), substituted ``Secretary
of the Interior'' for ``Secretary'' and ``$60,000,000'' for
``$30,000,000''.
Change of Name
``Secretary of Health and Human Services'' substituted for
``Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare'' in subsecs. (a) to (e)
and (g) pursuant to section 509(b) of Pub. L. 96-88 which is classified
to section 3508(b) of Title 20, Education.
Effective Date of 1977 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 95-164 effective 120 days after Nov. 9, 1977,
except as otherwise provided, see section 307 of Pub. L. 95-164, set out
as a note under section 801 of this title.
Effective Date
Subchapter effective Dec. 30, 1969, see section 509 of Pub. L. 91-
173, Dec. 30, 1969, 83 Stat. 742, set out as a note under section 801 of
this title.
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in sections 951a, 952, 958, 961 of this
title; title 35 section 210.
