The Small Business Administration is calling on the Mine Safety and Health Administration to update its rules on the use of explosives in mines to reflect modern industry standards. The SBA has developed a “Top Ten” list of rules the agency says are ripe for review or reform. The regulation was nominated by the Institute of Makers of Explosives and the International Society of Explosives Engineers. These groups say current MSHA rules negatively affect small-business mine operations, and do not address some fundamental aspects of explosive safety, such as electronic detonation. The explosives groups say a small business could receive a citation despite operating in conformance with current industry best practices, because those practices are inconsistent with what the groups call “MSHA's outdated rules.”

OSHA EXPANDS CRYSTALLINE SILICA EMPHASIS PROGRAM

Industries dealing in crushed stone are among the sectors targeted under a new crystalline silica compliance directive issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The directive implements a National Emphasis Program for silica and expands upon policies and procedures instituted in OSHA's 1996 Special Emphasis Program. The document lists industries commonly known to have overexposures to silica. It also provides: detailed information on potential hazards linked to silica and current research regarding silica exposure hazards; guidance on calculating the Permissible Exposure Limits for dust containing respirable crystalline silica in the construction and maritime industries; and guidance on conducting silica-related inspections. Two other elements in the directive include: an evaluation procedure for recording reductions of employee exposures to silica; and information on outreach programs, partnerships and alliances with employers to share resources and training in order to reduce employee exposures.

BUSH DRAWS CRITICISM ON INFRASTRUCTURE PROPOSALS

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee is booing the Bush administration's infrastructure budget for FY09. The panel recently produced its own views and estimates to accompany a budget resolution for funding programs in 2009. Committee Chairman Jim Oberstar said the Bush plan “shortchanges highways, transit, rail, and air transportation programs, as well as emergency preparedness, inland water transportation, and environmental infrastructure development.” The panel is supporting funding aviation programs at the levels authorized by H.R. 2881, the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2007, as approved by the House last year. The committee also supports funding highway development, highway safety and transit programs at the levels originally authorized by SAFETEA-LU for FY09, with no reduction for Revenue Aligned Budget Authority. In terms of water infrastructure programs, the committee supports increasing funding for the Army Corps of Engineers to $8 billion in FY09, to begin to address the nation's water infrastructure needs as identified in the Water Resources Development Act of 2007.

HOUSE COMMITTEE IS BACKING GREEN TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH

The House Science Committee has approved H.R. 5161, a bill to authorize green transportation research and educational programs within the Federal Highway Administration and the Research Innovative Technology Administration's University Transportation Centers program. The new R&E programs would yield information for contractors, builders and policymakers on implementation and benefits of green transportation and infrastructure. This legislation also will authorize the FHWA to build green infrastructure and construction training into the National Highway Institute's curriculum.

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Washington Correspondent

Charlotte S. Garvey is a Washington, D.C.-based writer specializing in environmental, natural resources and other public policy issues.