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August 13, 2026 - The White House has completed its review of a proposed rule that would replace Biden administration protections for coal miners against toxic dust tied to incurable lung diseases, including silicosis, cancer and black lung. The draft rule from the Labor Department’s Mine Safety and Health Administration moved through the interagency review Monday. The agency telegraphed earlier this year that it would release its rule to limit miners’ silica exposure while addressing legal challenges that industry groups brought against the current regulation, which was finalized in 2024.
The Biden-era rule would have lowered the maximum exposure level for respirable crystalline silica to 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air over the course of an eight-hour shift, down from the previous level of 100 micrograms.
Last year, the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals granted the National Sand, Gravel & Stone Association’s request for an emergency stay of the rule. The group argued the rule was “deeply flawed” and faulted MSHA for not allowing companies to include personal respirators toward compliance.
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