30 CFR § 50.12 - Preservation of evidence.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t30/s50.12"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "30 CFR § 50.12 - Preservation of evidence."
title_number: 30
title_name: "Mineral Resources"
section_number: "50.12"
section_name: "Preservation of evidence."
chapter_name: "MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR"
subchapter_number: "I"
subchapter_name: "ACCIDENTS, INJURIES, ILLNESSES, EMPLOYMENT, AND PRODUCTION IN MINES"
part_number: "50"
part_name: "NOTIFICATION, INVESTIGATION, REPORTS AND RECORDS OF ACCIDENTS, INJURIES, ILLNESSES, EMPLOYMENT, AND COAL PRODUCTION IN MINES"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "29 U.S.C. 557(a); 30 U.S.C. 811, 813(j), 951, 957, 961."
regulatory_source: "42 FR 65535, Dec. 30, 1977, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "50"
---


# 50.12 Preservation of evidence.

Unless granted permission by a MSHA District Manager, no operator may alter an accident site or an accident related area until completion of all investigations pertaining to the accident except to the extent necessary to rescue or recover an individual, prevent or eliminate an imminent danger, or prevent destruction of mining equipment.

[42 FR 65535, Dec. 30, 1977; 43 FR 1617, Jan. 11, 1978, as amended at 69 FR 26499, May 13, 2004]