§951. Studies and research

(a) Appropriate projects

The Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, as appropriate, shall conduct such studies, research, experiments, and demonstrations as may be appropriate-

(1) to improve working conditions and practices in coal or other mines, and to prevent accidents and occupational diseases originating in the coal or other mining industry;

(2) to develop new or improved methods of recovering persons in coal or other mines after an accident;

(3) to develop new or improved means and methods of communication from the surface to the underground area of a coal or other mine;

(4) to develop new or improved means and methods of reducing concentrations of respirable dust in the mine atmosphere of active workings of the coal or other mine;

(5) to develop epidemiological information to (A) identify and define positive factors involved in occupational diseases of miners, (B) provide information on the incidence and prevalence of pneumoconiosis and other respiratory ailments of miners, and (C) improve mandatory health standards;

(6) to develop techniques for the prevention and control of occupational diseases of miners, including tests for hypersusceptibility and early detection;

(7) to evaluate the effect on bodily impairment and occupational disability of miners afflicted with an occupational disease;

(8) to prepare and publish from time to time, reports on all significant aspects of occupational diseases of miners as well as on the medical aspects of injuries, other than diseases, which are revealed by the research carried on pursuant to this subsection;

(9) to study the relationship between coal or other mine environments and occupational diseases of miners;

(10) to develop new and improved underground equipment and other sources of power for such equipment which will provide greater safety;

(11) to determine, upon the written request by any operator or authorized representative of miners, specifying with reasonable particularity the grounds upon which such request is made, whether any substance normally found in a coal or other mine has potentially toxic effects in the concentrations normally found in the coal or other mine or whether any physical agents or equipment found or used in a coal or other mine has potentially hazardous effects, and shall submit such determinations to both the operators and miners as soon as possible; and

(12) for such other purposes as they deem necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter.

(b) Responsibility for carrying out prescribed activities

Activities under this section in the field of coal or other mine health shall be carried out by the Secretary of Health and Human Services through the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health established under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 [29 U.S.C. 651 et seq.], and activities under this section in the field of coal or other mine safety shall be carried out by the Secretary of the Interior in coordination with the Secretary.

(c) Contracting with and grants to public and private agencies; availability of information; exceptions

In carrying out the provisions for research, demonstrations, experiments, studies, training, and education under this section and sections 861(b) and 952(a) of this title, the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Health and Human Services in coordination with the Secretary may enter into contracts with, and make grants to, public and private agencies and organizations and individuals. No research, demonstrations, or experiments shall be carried out, contracted for, sponsored, cosponsored, or authorized under authority of this chapter, unless all information, uses, products, processes, patents, and other developments resulting from such research, demonstrations, or experiments will (with such exception and limitation, if any, as the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Health and Human Services in coordination with the Secretary may find to be necessary in the public interest) be available to the general public.

(d) Prevention of diseases affecting persons working with mine products

The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall also conduct studies and research into matters involving the protection of life and the prevention of diseases in connection with persons, who although not miners, work with, or around the products of, coal or other mines in areas outside of such mines and under conditions which may adversely affect the health and well-being of such persons.

(e) Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of the Interior such sums as may be necessary to carry out his responsibilities under this section and section 861(b) of this title at an annual rate of not to exceed $20,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1970, $25,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1971, and $60,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1972, and for each succeeding fiscal year thereafter. There is authorized to be appropriated annually to the Secretary of Health and Human Services such sums as may be necessary to carry out his responsibilities under this chapter. Such sums shall remain available until expended.

(f) Exceptions to mandatory health and safety standards for improving techniques and equipment

The Secretary is authorized to grant on a mine-by-mine basis an exception to any mandatory health or safety standard under this chapter for the purpose of permitting, under such terms and conditions as he may prescribe, accredited educational institutions the opportunity for experimenting with new and improved techniques and equipment to improve the health and safety of miners. No such exception shall be granted unless the Secretary finds that the granting of the exception will not adversely affect the health and safety of miners and publishes his findings.

(g) Grants for research and development of respiratory equipment

The Secretary of Health and Human Services is authorized to make grants to any public or private agency, institution, or organization, and operators or individuals for research and experiments to develop effective respiratory equipment.

( Pub. L. 91–173, title V, §501, Dec. 30, 1969, 83 Stat. 798 ; Pub. L. 95–164, title III, §303(a), Nov. 9, 1977, 91 Stat. 1320 ; Pub. L. 96–88, title V, §509(b), Oct. 17, 1979, 93 Stat. 695 .)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This chapter, referred to in subsecs. (a)(12), (c), (e), and (f), was in the original "this Act", meaning Pub. L. 91–173, Dec. 30, 1969, 83 Stat. 742 , known as the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 801 of this title and Tables.

The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, referred to in subsec. (b), is Pub. L. 91–596, Dec. 29, 1970, 84 Stat. 1590 , which is classified principally to chapter 15 (§651 et seq.) of Title 29, Labor. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 651 of Title 29 and Tables.

Amendments

1977-Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 95–164, §303(a)(1), (2), (6), substituted "The Secretary of the Interior and" for "The Secretary and" in provisions preceding par. (1), inserted references to mines and mining other than coal mines and coal mining in pars. (1), (2), (3), (4), and (9), added par. (11), and redesignated former par. (11) as (12).

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 95–164, §303(a)(1), (3), inserted references to mines other than coal mines, inserted "through the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health established under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970" after "Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare", and substituted "carried out by the Secretary of the Interior in coordination with the Secretary" for "carried out by the Secretary".

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 95–164, §303(a)(4), substituted "the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare in coordination with the Secretary" for "the Secretary and the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare" and "the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare in coordination with the Secretary" for "the Secretary or the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare".

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 95–164, §303(a)(1), inserted reference to mines other than coal mines.

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 95–164, §303(a)(5), substituted "Secretary of the Interior" for "Secretary" and "$60,000,000" for "$30,000,000".

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

"Secretary of Health and Human Services" substituted for "Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare" in subsecs. (a) to (e) and (g) pursuant to section 509(b) of Pub. L. 96–88 which is classified to section 3508(b) of Title 20, Education.

Effective Date of 1977 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 95–164 effective 120 days after Nov. 9, 1977, except as otherwise provided, see section 307 of Pub. L. 95–164, set out as a note under section 801 of this title.

Effective Date

Subchapter effective Dec. 30, 1969, see section 509 of Pub. L. 91–173, Dec. 30, 1969, 83 Stat. 742 , set out as a note under section 801 of this title.