Aggregates Manager Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/94387
AGGBEAT Mandate data for MSHA 'duplicative, overly burdensome' The National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association (NSSGA) filed that a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) rule mandating that publicly- traded companies submit data on Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) compliance and injuries is "duplicative" and "overly-burdensome." The comments from NSSGA were filed on Aug. 29. The percentage of citations and orders for guarding-related violations has decreased significantly between 2006 and 2011, with that trend continuing so far this year. However, Main says that many issues remain and guard provision, placement, con- struction, and maintenance require regular attention. "A recent review shows that overall compliance is improving at mines after receiv- ing impact inspections," Main said during his July address to aggregates producers. He noted that, since MSHA launched the program in September 2010, violations per NSSGA says it submitted the com- ments to both the SEC and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in response to OMB's request for input on ways to relieve paperwork burden. Presidential Executive Order 13610, Identifying and Reducing Regulatory Burdens, requires that federal agen- cies take continuing steps to reassess regulatory requirements and, where appropriate, streamline, improve, or eliminate those requirements. The association says it believes that it is unnecessary to provide this infor- mation again after it has already been given to MSHA. According to NSSGA, examples of items needed for the SEC reporting include the following: under Section 104 of the Mine Act; orders under Section 104 (d); Section 107 (a); (b) (2); assessments; potential to have pattern of violations under Section 104 (e); and Mine Safety and Health Review Com- mission. "This duplicative reporting has done nothing to make operations any safer or more compliant," notes the NSSGA. Instead, is has led to a squandering of company resources because the requested information is already kept at the MSHA website. AGGREGATES MANAGER December 2012 5