FACACLASSIC

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HHS - 932 - Mine Safety and Health Research Advisory Committee - Statutory (Congress Created)

GENERAL INFORMATION

Committee Name	Mine Safety and Health Research Advisory Committee	Agency Name	Department of Health and Human Services
Fiscal Year	2025	Committee Number	932
Original Establishment Date	11/19/1977	Committee Status	Chartered
Actual Termination Date		Committee URL	https://www.cdc.gov/faca/committees/mshrac.html
Actual Merged Date		Presidential Appointments*	No
New Committee This FY	No	Max Number of Members*	13
Terminated This FY	No	Designated Fed Officer Position Title*	DFO
Merged This FY		Designated Federal Officer Prefix	Mr.
Current Charter Date	11/30/2024	Designated Federal Officer First Name*	Robert
Date Of Renewal Charter	11/30/2026	Designated Federal Officer Middle Name	F.
Projected Termination Date		Designated Federal Officer Last Name*	Randolph
Exempt From Renewal*	No	Designated Federal Officer Suffix
Specific Termination Authority		Designated Federal Officer Phone*	(412) 386-4660
Establishment Authority*	Statutory (Congress Created)	Designated Federal Officer Fax*	(404) 498-2570
Specific Establishment Authority*	30 U.S.C. 812	Designated Federal Officer Email*	rgr4@cdc.gov
Effective Date Of Authority*	11/9/1977
Exempt From EO 13875 Discretionary Cmte	Not Applicable
Committee Type*	Continuing
Presidential*	No
Committee Function*	Scientific Technical Program Advisory Board

RECOMMENDATION/JUSTIFICATIONS

Agency Recommendation*	Continue
Legislation to Terminate Required	Not Applicable
Legislation Status	Not Applicable
How does cmte accomplish its purpose?*	The Committee provides guidance and direction on high priority worker health & safety research topics for the mining industry through dialogue with the NIOSH Director, Associate Director for Mining, key research staff, and through presentations and discussion at the annual public meetings. The mining safety and health research program focused on several key topics including the reorganization of the Pittsburgh and Spokane Mining Research Divisions, the projects and facilities at the Pittsburgh Mining Research Division, the extramural contracts program, the updates to the Mining Program Strategic Plan, intramural elongated mineral particle (EMP) research and extramural contracts related to respirable mine dust and crystalline silica. The Committee continues to be part of the process of review, development, and implementation of the research programs in these as well as other areas and the input and guidance from the Committee has been invaluable. There were other notable inputs from the Committee, however, these examples were identified as the most critical needs for the organization and highlighted at the Committee meeting.
How is membership balanced?*	The Committee is comprised of 10 public members and 3 ex-officio members; these members include both minority and female representatives. The membership includes a balanced mix of members representing key mining stakeholder groups from both labor and industry in the coal, metal/nonmetal, and stone, sand, and gravel sectors; the remaining members are from appropriate research and public health and safety organizations such as academia, medical fields, or relevant public institutions and provide further opportunity to achieve balance.
How frequent & relevant are cmte mtgs?*	Meetings take place annually, at the discretion of the Designated Federal Official (DFO), Associate Director for Mining, and the Chair, but on occasion meetings have been held twice a year when necessary. The meetings are relevant as the Committee provides direction and guidance on high priority topics and research needs for the mining industry. This guidance is used by NIOSH leadership in formulating and directing research programs.
Why advice can't be obtained elsewhere?*	The Committee was established under the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 to provide advice and recommendations on the conduct of mine health and safety research. The health and safety research needs of the mining industry are both complex and varied and the guidance and input received from the Committee helps ensure that NIOSH’s mining program addresses the most critical needs on a timely basis. Since the Committee is composed of representatives from all major mining stakeholder groups and representatives from the occupational health and safety community, the input received during the committee meetings is invaluable for program planning. The Committee members also provide help and guidance on conducting NIOSH research studies by identifying the relevance and applicability of specific experiments, and guidance to facilitate the transfer of NIOSH products, services, and information to mine workers.
Why close or partially close meetings?	All meetings held are open - no meetings are closed to the public.
Recommendation Remarks	No formal reports are required in the charter or legislation; the committee provides advice and recommendations through various means other than formal reports. One new workgroup was established, Mace Underground Mine Safety and Health Research Laboratory Development Workgroup in FY 2023. Two workgroups concluded their activities during the last fiscal year but led to the formation of two partnerships, the Automation & Emerging Technologies H&S Partnership, and the Miner Health Partnership; MSHRAC members participate individually in Partnership meetings. One new workgroup was established, the Respirable Coal Mine Dust Workgroup, to report on potential health and safety issues related to respirable coal mine dust (RCMD) and respirable crystalline silica (RCS) in all mining segments. While still in the planning stages, the workgroup plans to organize and facilitate a mining stakeholder public meeting to discuss RCMD and RCS as input to their report to the full Committee. Committee members appointment start dates were updated: Kristina Behringer, 6/6/2021 - 12/23/2024; Andrea Brickey, 6/4/2021 - 12/34/2024; Thomas Duffy, 6/4/2021 - 12/23/2024; Steven Schafrik, 6/3/2021 - 12/23/2024; and Matthew Stewart, 6/4/2021 - 12/23/2024. Ex Officio Members were added: Giovanna Biscontin, appointment start date 03/8/2022 - 03/7/2026; and Melanie D. Calhoun, appointment start date 3/27/2019 - 3/26/2024. Aubrey Miller resigned 11/23/23.

PERFORMANCE MEASURES

Outcome Improvement To Health Or Safety*	Yes	Action Reorganize Priorities*	Yes
Outcome Trust In Government	No	Action Reallocate Resources	Yes
Outcome Major Policy Changes	No	Action Issued New Regulations	No
Outcome Advance In Scientific Research	No	Action Proposed Legislation	No
Outcome Effective Grant Making	No	Action Approved Grants Or Other Payments	No
Outcome Improved Service Delivery	No	Action Other	No
Outcome Increased Customer Satisfaction	Yes	Action Comment	NA
Outcome Implement Laws/Reg Requirements	No	Grants Review*	No
Outcome Other	No	Number Of Grants Reviewed	0
Outcome Comment	The Committee is composed of representatives from all major stakeholder groups of the mining community. This includes labor and industry representatives from the coal, metal/nonmetal, and stone, sand, and gravel mining sectors, as well as other federal government agencies, the academic community, and other health and safety practitioners. The input received from the members and the message they carry back to their respective organization has helped the collaboration and implementation of research projects at specific mine sites and the technology transfer of research findings to the mining industry.	Number Of Grants Recommended	0
Cost Savings*	Unable to Determine	Dollar Value Of Grants Recommended	$0.00
Cost Savings Comment	NA	Grants Review Comment	MSHRAC is not a grant review committee.
Number Of Recommendations*	26	Access Contact Designated Fed. Officer*	Yes
Number Of Recommendations Comment	The Committee made no recommendation during fiscal year 2025. The Underground Mine Safety and Health Research Laboratory Development Workgroup presented a draft report to the committee at the November 2024 meeting.	Access Agency Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented*	100.00%	Access Committee Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented Comment	All recommendations have been accepted by the agency.	Access GSA FACA Website	Yes
% of Recs Partially Implemented*	0.00%	Access Publications	Yes
% of Recs Partially Implemented Comment	NA	Access Other	No
Agency Feedback*	Yes	Access Comment	N/A
Agency Feedback Comment*	All recommendations of the Committee are conveyed in the meeting minutes and posted on the Agency website. The DFO coordinates any required responses to specific recommendations to the Committee by email. The responses are addressed and discussed at the next Committee meeting and included in the posted minutes.	Narrative Description*	The Committee provides both a scientific and peer review of the current mining health and safety research program, as well as guidance for future program planning. The program reviews have focused on the high-priority research topics and the Committee helps ensure the scientific integrity of these programs. The members of the Committee have helped transfer the knowledge and findings from the research program by carrying the information back to their respective organizations. In some cases, Committee members have provided both assistance and direction in finding appropriate field sites for conducting research experiments once the laboratory phase of the study has been completed.

COSTS

1. Payments to Non-Federal Members*		1. Est Paymnts to Non-Fed Membrs Nxt FY*
2. Payments to Federal Members*		2. Est. Payments to Fed Members Next FY*
3. Payments to Federal Staff*		3. Estimated Payments to Federal Staff*
4. Payments to Consultants*		4. Est. Payments to Consultants Next FY*
5. Travel Reimb. For Non-Federal Membrs*		5. Est Travel Reimb Non-Fed Membr nxtFY*
6. Travel Reimb. For Federal Members*		6. Est Travel Reimb For Fed Members*
7. Travel Reimb. For Federal Staff*		7. Est. Travel Reimb to Fed Staf Nxt FY*
8. Travel Reimb. For Consultants*		8. Est Travel Reimb to Consltnts Nxt FY*
10. Other Costs		10. Est. Other Costs Next FY*
11. Total Costs	$0.00	11. Est. Total Next FY*	$0.00
Date Cost Last Modified	3/14/2025 9:15 AM	Est. Fed Staff Support Next FY*
Federal Staff Support (FTE)*		Est Cost Remarks
Cost Remarks

Interest Areas

Category Area Health Safety Labor Occupational Safety and Health Workforce and Occupations Research Basic Research Research and Development

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