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August 2016 www.coalage.com 39 ventilation continued deficit in energy and we face the prospect of greater taxation on energy." The companies noted that the projec- tion of lower energy use from this flexible system is not just an empty claim. With an extremely low K factor, it is much less resis- tant to air than the old standby metal and fiberglass products. Moving Into Coal With success in the hard rock mines of North America, including Alaska, EVPS felt there was no time like the present to share the design with the coal mining communi- ty. This is where the connection with Whit- field's Longwall Mining Services started, and the other two said the timing for the partnership was ideal. Together they are taking a thoughtful, detailed approach to the endeavor to enter coal, working with multiple operations in Pennsylvania on testing to gather additional feedback from mines of various sizes. "The coal mines in Pennsylvania where the product is being introduced seem eager to try it knowing it will help improve their ventilation system," Whit- field said. "The attitude is amazing." EVPS and LMS noted that the product already underwent testing with the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) before being sent into the front-line trials. Ideal placement in coal operations will be at key areas, the pair said, to bring air from a main air entry point and mov- ing it efficiently, with very little pressure loss, to the face of developing longwall sections where it is crucial to combat and move methane excursions for proper ex- haustion. It will also certainly play a role 120 South Main St, Richfield, UT 84701 800-825-9674 • www.classicmo.com/j8.htm mining@classicmo.com The Jeep ® J8 meets underground mining requirements, cuts downtime and improves the bottom line. • Powered by a MSHA-approved VM Motori 2.8L Turbo Diesel • Base J8 chassis available in either two-or four-door configurations • Flatbed or pickup style vehicles are available with customizable wheelbases based on customer specifications • The only underground utility vehicle manufactured and supported by a major international company, Jeep ® ! Visit online or call today to find out more about the Jeep ® J8. Tough, Reliable and Economical. The Jeep ® J8 combines everything you need in one rugged, servicable package. MSHA's Dust Rule Enters Final Phase After two years of phased implementation, the Mine Safety and Health Administration's third and final phase to lower overall permissible re- spirable dust levels in U.S. coal operations went into effect August 1. The outlines reduce allowed dust levels from 2 to 1.5 milligrams per cubic meter of air. For ventilation air in working areas, as well as miners already diagnosed with pneumoconiosis (black lung), the standard reduces allowable levels from 1 to .05 milligrams per cubic meter of air. In the time since the initial phase was ef- fective on August 1, 2014, MSHA said it and operators have collected a combined 122,000 respirable dust samples, 99% of which have met compliance levels. Additionally, last month, the agency said that 99% of the samples it collected between April 1 and June 30 of this year also were in compliance with the standards. It cited the use of continuous personal dust monitors (CPDMs) for the ability to analyze more than 20,000 un- derground operator samples in real time. "Black lung has claimed tens of thousands of lives," said Joseph Main, MSHA assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health. "The positive sampling results are due to the extraordinary efforts of MSHA and industry working to clean up the air that miners breathe and successfully implement the respirable dust rule." According to data from the National In- stitute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), black lung has caused or contributed to more than 76,000 coal miner deaths since 1968.