[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 30, Volume 1]
[Revised as of July 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 30CFR44.16]

[Page 189-190]
 
                       TITLE 30--MINERAL RESOURCES
 
  CHAPTER I--MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
 
PART 44--RULES OF PRACTICE FOR PETITIONS FOR MODIFICATION OF MANDATORY SAFETY STANDARDS--Table of Contents
 
       Subpart B--Initial Procedure for Petitions for Modification
 
Sec. 44.16  Application for temporary relief; relief to give effect to the proposed decision and order.

    (a) Time for filing. An application for temporary relief from 
enforcement of a mandatory standard may be filed at any time before a 
proposed decision and order is issued on a petition for modification and 
shall be served upon all parties to the proceeding.
    (b) With whom filed. The application shall be filed with and decided 
by the appropriate Administrator.
    (c) Investigation and decision. Upon receipt of an application for 
temporary relief, the Administrator shall cause an investigation to be 
made as to the merits of the application. As soon thereafter as 
practicable, but in no event greater than 60 days from filing of the 
application, the Administrator shall issue a decision. If the 
Administrator does not issue a decision within 60 days of filing of the 
application, the application shall be deemed to be denied.
    (d) Contents of application. An application for temporary relief 
shall comply with applicable general requirements of this part, state 
the specific relief requested, and include specific evidence showing how 
the applicant meets the criteria set forth in paragraph (e) of this 
section.
    (e) Criteria. Before temporary relief is granted, the applicant must 
clearly show that--
    (1) The application was filed in good faith;
    (2) The requested relief will not adversely affect the health or 
safety of miners in the affected mine;
    (3) An identifiable hazard to miners exists in the mine which is 
caused by application of the standard at the mine;
    (4) Other means will be used to reasonably address the hazard 
against which the original standard was designed to protect; and
    (5) Compliance with the standard while the petition for modification 
is pending will expose miners to the identifiable hazard upon which the 
application is based.
    (f) Response. All parties to the proceeding in which an application 
for temporary relief has been filed shall have 15 days from receipt of 
the application to file a written response with the Administrator.
    (g) Evidence. An application for temporary relief or a response to 
such an application may be supported by affidavits or other evidentiary 
matter.
    (h) Findings. Temporary relief may be granted by the Administrator 
upon a finding that application of the standard at the mine will result 
in a diminution of safety to the miners at such mine.
    (i) Appeal to the Office of the Administrative Law Judges. If the 
application for temporary relief is granted by the Administrator, any 
other party may request a hearing within 15 days of the Administrator's 
decision. The request shall be addressed to the Administrator and shall 
be referred by the Administrator, along with the petition for 
modification, to the Chief Administrative Law Judge in accordance with 
Sec. 44.15. The hearing and decision of the presiding administrative law 
judge shall be in accordance with subparts C through E of this part. 
After referral of the petition for modification and application for 
temporary relief, no further decision shall be rendered by the 
Administrator.
    (j) Duration of relief. An order granting temporary relief shall be 
effective until superseded by the Administrator's proposed decision and 
order, unless a hearing is requested in accordance with paragraph (i) of 
this section. If such hearing is requested, the temporary relief shall 
remain in effect until modified, affirmed or set aside by the presiding 
administrative law judge.

[[Page 190]]

In no case, however, shall the Administrator's order remain in effect 
for more than one year, unless renewed or affirmed by the presiding 
administrative law judge.
    (k) Application for relief to give effect to the proposed decision 
and order. At any time following the proposed decision and order of the 
Administrator on the accompanying petition for modification, any party 
may request relief to give effect to the proposed decision and order 
until it becomes final.
    (l) An application for relief under paragraph (k) shall be filed 
with the Administrator and shall include a good faith representation 
that no party is expected to contest the granting of the petition for 
modification.
    (m) A decision to grant relief requested under paragraph (k) will 
take effect on the seventh day following the decision. If a request for 
hearing on the proposed decision and order is filed in accordance with 
Sec. 44.14 prior to the seventh day following the granting of such 
relief, the relief will not become effective. If such request for 
hearing on the proposed decision and order is filed after relief becomes 
effective, the relief will expire immediately.

[55 FR 53441, Dec. 28, 1990]