Dust from mining sites should not be regulated as a health hazard given the absence of compelling scientific justification for doing so, according to a mining industry air quality expert giving testimony in the US before an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hearing. A. Todd Johnston, Director of Air Quality for the National Mining Association (NMA), testified in support of a recommendation by the EPA to exclude coarse particulate matter (PM) from mining and agricultural operations from the agency's proposal to regulate dust particles as a potential health risk.

"Over the past 30 years, the consensus opinion of the many eminent and experienced medical and public health experts who have analyzed the health data has been that coarse PM from mining operations does not demonstrate adverse health effects at ambient levels," said Johnston. Moreover, if EPA should, nevertheless, regulate dust emissions over scientific objections, it should exempt mining dust from the rule, he added.

In addition to the lack of medical and scientific justification for further regulation of mining dust, said Johnston, there are other reasons why regulating it as a health hazard is unwarranted. First, these emissions are already subject to pervasive regulation, including Best Available Control Technology, Best Management Practices, and New Source Performance Standards among other control measures. These controls will remain in place regardless of whether or not EPA develops a health standard for controlling coarse PM, said Johnston. Further, dust emissions fall close to mining sites that are generally located in remote locations distant from population centers, he said.