Joint Operation Plan

n July 2010, the Department of Labor (DOL) received a supplemental appropriation of $18,200,000 and the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission (Commission) received a supplemental appropriation of $3,800,000 for the purpose of reducing the case backlog before the Commission and for other purposes related to mine safety. Pursuant to a Congressional request, on September 7, 2010, the Commission and DOL submitted a joint operating plan to Congress. In this plan, the Commission addressed its plans to increase staff to handle the backlog, identified case processing targets and case priorities, and discussed administrative actions it planned to take to facilitate the disposal of cases. DOL and the Commission will periodically submit additional reports to Congress describing the implementation of the plan.