Mine Safety Laws and Regulation Updates

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• Emergency Filing: 56-3 Rules governing the Safety of Those Employed in and Around Surface Mines in West Virginia (PDF)
• 2025 Reference Manual – West Virginia Mine Safety Laws and Rules – Revised October 21, 2025 (PDF)
• 2024 Reference Manual – West Virginia Mine Safety Laws and Rules – Revised October 15, 2024 (PDF)
• 2023 Reference Manual – West Virginia Mine Safety Laws and Rules – Revised March 1, 2023  (PDF)
• 2020 Reference Manual – Rules Governing the Safety of Those Employed In and Around Quarries in West Virginia (PDF)
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• Code and Regulation Interpretations 1971 – Present (These are scanned images of policy memos, clarifications, and interpretations of various code and regulation sections)

2025

• 12/15/2025: Emergency Filing: 56-3 Rules governing the Safety of Those Employed in and Around Surface Mines in West Virginia (PDF)
• October 29, 2025 – Memo – Innovative Mine Safety Technology Approved for Purposes of the West Virginia Innovative Mine Safety Technology Tax Credit Act

Effective July 1, 2024

Final Filed & Approved – Amendment to Existing Rule: §36-19 Rule Governing Written Reports of Accidents

Effective April 24, 2024

• 56-2 Safety Provisions for Clearing Crews
• 56-4 Protective Clothing and Equipment
• 56-10 Reporting Requirements for Independent Contractors
• 56-12 Health and Safety Violations
• 56-14 Mine Safety Technology Tax Credit Act
• 56-18 Sharing of Information Between Employers
• 56-19 Substance Abuse Screening, Standards and Procedures
• 56-23 Operating Diesel Equipment in Underground Mines in West Virginia

Effective April 1, 2024

• Final Filed & Approved – Amendment to Existing Rule: §36-57 Rules Governing Proximity Detection Systems and Haulage Safety Generally

Effective January 10, 2024

• Final Filed & Approved – Amendment to Existing Rule: §48-4 Rules Governing Initial Training Program for Prospective Mine Rescue Team Members and Additional Mine Rescue Requirements
• Final Filed & Approved – Rule §48-9 Duties and Standards for Certification of Underground Outby Mine Examiners for Underground Coal Mines
  • Technical Amendment to Rule §48-9

Effective October 11, 2023

• Final §36-44: Rule Governing Mine Rescue Requirements for the Office of Miners’ Health, Safety and Training
  • Notice of §36-44
• Final §36-59: Supervision of Underground Apprentices in Areas Other Than the Working Section
  • Notice of §36-59
    

Effective March 1, 2023

• Final §36-57: Rule Governing Proximity Detection Systems and Haulage Safety Generally

2022

• Termination of the April 17, 2020, Suspension of parts of Titles 36-11-2.1.c and Title 48 of the Code of State Rules, December 19, 2022
• Termination of the April 7, 2020, Suspension of W.Va. R. § § 56-19-5.4 and 5.,5 March 16, 2022

Effective July 1, 2022

• Final §56-19: Substance Abuse Screening, Standards and Procedures

Effective May 5, 2022

• Final §56-03: Rule Governing the Safety of Those Employed in and Around Surface Mines in West Virginia

Effective April 5, 2022

• Final §56-11: Rule Governing First-Aid Training of Shaft and Slope Employees

Effective January 5, 2022

• Final §48-2: Safety Training Program for Prospective Underground Coal Miners
  • Notice of §48-2
• Final §48-3: Safety Training Program for Prospective Surface Coal Miners
  • Notice of §48-3

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Regulations – 2021

• Senate Bill 677
• Senate Bill 635

Effective October 7, 2021

• Final §48-4: Initial Training Program for Prospective Mine Rescue Team Members and Additional Mine Rescue Requirements
  • Notice of §48-4

Effective October 5, 2021

• Final §56-3: Rule Governing the Safety of Those Employed in and Around Surface Mines in West Virginia
  • §56-03: Notice of an Emergency Amendment to an Emergency Rule
  • §56-03: Notice of Rule Modification of a Proposed Rule
  • §56-03: Rule Governing the Safety of Those Employed in and Around Surface Mines in West Virginia
  • Notice of §56-03: Rule Governing the Safety of Those Employed in and Around Surface Mines in West Virginia

Effective September 7, 2021

• Final §36-32: Housekeeping Practices in Underground Mines and Surface Areas of Underground Mines.

Technical Amendment

• §36-57: Notice of Technical Amendment
  • Final §36-57: Rule Governing Proximity Detection Systems and Haulage Safety Generally
    • Notice of §36-57

Effective August 27, 2021

• Final §36-44: Rule Governing Mine Rescue Requirements for the Office of Miners’ Health, Safety & Training
  • Notice of §36-44
• Final §48-01: Standards for Certification of Underground Belt Examiners for Underground Coal Mines
  • Notice of §48-01

Effective June 7, 2021

• §56-03: Rule Governing the Safety of Those Employed in and Around Surface Mines in West Virginia (Notice of Emergency Filing)

Effective March 27, 2021

• Final §36-01: Shaft and/or Slope Operations in the State of West Virginia
  • Notice of §36-01
• Final §36-05: Rule Governing Telephone Service or Communication Facilities
  • Notice of §36-05
• Final §36-14: Rule Governing Electrical Equipment in Mines; Required Examinations
  • Notice of §36-14
• Final §36-25: Underground Equipment Requirements and Operations
  • Notice of §36-25
• Final §36-26: Rule Governing Construction and Rehabilitation Operations in Underground Mines
  • Notice of §36-26