[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 42 (Thursday, March 3, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-4909]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: March 3, 1994]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration

 

Petitions for Modification

    The following parties have filed petitions to modify the 
application of mandatory safety standards under section 101(c) of the 
Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977.

1. Canterbury Coal Co.

[Docket No. M-94-18-C]

    Canterbury Coal Company, R.D. 1, Box 119, Avonmore, Pennsylvania 
15618 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 
75.380(d)(5) (escapeways; bituminous and lignite mines) to its DiAnne 
Mine (I.D. No. 36-05708) located in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. The 
petitioner proposes to bypass a return airshaft and direct its 
alternate or secondary escapeway past the return airshaft to the mine 
slope; and to instruct all personnel instructed on escapeway and escape 
procedures upon entering the mine. The petitioner asserts that the 
proposed alternate method would provide at least the same measure of 
protection as would the mandatory standard.

2. Utah Fuel Co.

[Docket No. M-94-19-C]

    Utah Fuel Company, P.O. Box 719, Helper, Utah 84526-0719 has filed 
a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.380(d)(4) 
(escapeways; bituminous and lignite mines) to its Skyline Mine No. 1 
(I.D. No. 42-01435); and its Skyline Mine No. 3 (I.D. No. 42-01566) 
both located in Carbon County, Utah. The petitioner proposes to 
continue utilizing the five-foot wide stairways at overcasts in the 
secondary escapeway which was installed prior to November 16, 1992. The 
petitioner asserts that the proposed alternate method would provide at 
least the same measure of protection as would the mandatory standard.

3. Consolidation Coal Co.

[Docket No. M-94-20-C]

    Consolidation Coal Company, Consol Plaza, 1800 Washington Road, 
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania has filed a petition to modify the application 
of 30 CFR 75.364(a)(2)(iii) (weekly examination) to its Buchanan No. 1 
Mine (I.D. No. 44-04856) located in Buchanan County, Virginia. Due to 
deteriorating roof conditions in the Northeast bleeder system, 
traveling this area in its entirety would be unsafe. The petitioner 
proposes to establish bleeder evaluation points #1, #2, #3, #4, and #5 
to monitor the air as it enters and exits the affected area; to 
relocate bleeder evaluation points #1 and #2 with each new longwall 
panel; to have a certified person examine for the quantity, quality and 
direction of the air on a weekly basis at each bleeder evaluation point 
and record the results of examinations in a book kept on the surface 
for inspection by all interested persons; and to maintain and monitor 
the evaluation points until the affected area is sealed. The petitioner 
asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide at least the 
same measure of protection as would the mandatory standard.

4. Murphy's Branch, Inc.

[Docket No. M-94-21-C]

    Murphy's Branch, Inc., P.O. Box 185, Thorpe, West Virginia 24888 
has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.364(b) (1) 
and (5) (weekly examination) to its No. 2 Mine (I.D. No. 46-07452) 
located in McDowell County, West Virginia. Due to deteriorating roof 
conditions in the No. 2 intake entry from the mine portal inby 1 break, 
the area cannot be traveled safely. The petitioner proposes to travel 
the airway up to the first crosscut which is 100 feet from the mine 
portal; to install man doors at the No. 1 crosscut between the No. 2 
entry and both the No. 1 return entry and the No. 3 belt entry 
(secondary escapeway); to install a box check between the No. 1 and No. 
2 crosscut in the No. 3 belt entry and then vent the belt air to the 
return in the No. 2 crosscut; to prohibit travel in the affected area; 
to examine the air quality inby the No. 1 crosscut in the No. 2 entry 
on a weekly basis and record the results in an appropriate book; and to 
provide training and self-contained self-rescuers to all employees. The 
petitioner asserts that the proposed alternate method would provide at 
least the same measure of protection as would the mandatory standard.

5. Murphy's Branch, Inc.

[Docket No. M-94-22-C]

    Murphy's Branch, Inc., P.O. Box 185, Thorpe, West Virginia 24888 
has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.380(b)(1) 
and (f)(1) (escapeways; bituminous and lignite mines) to its No. 2 Mine 
(I.D. No. 46-07452) located in McDowell County, West Virginia. Due to 
deteriorating roof conditions in the No. 2 intake entry from the mine 
portal inby 1 break, the area cannot be traveled safely. The petitioner 
proposes to travel the airway except for the 100 feet from the mine 
portal to the first crosscut; to install man doors at the No. 1 
crosscut between the No. 2 entry and both the No. 1 return entry and 
the No. 3 belt entry (secondary escapeway); to install a box check 
between the No. 1 and No. 2 crosscut in the No. 3 belt entry and then 
vent the belt air to the return in the No. 2 crosscut; to prohibit 
travel in the affected area; to examine the air quality inby the No. 1 
crosscut in the No. 2 entry on a weekly basis and record the results in 
an appropriate book; and to provide training and self-contained self-
rescuers to all employees. The petitioner asserts that the proposed 
alternate method would provide at least the same measure of protection 
as would the mandatory standard.

6. Mountain Coal Co.

[Docket No. M-94-23-C]

    Mountain Coal Company, 555 Seventeenth Street, Denver, Colorado 
80202 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 
75.380(d)(4) (escapeways; bituminous and lignite mines) to its West Elk 
Mine (I.D. No. 05-03672) located in Gunnison County, Colorado. The 
petitioner requests a modification to allow the width of the alternate 
escapeway in the belt entry for each longwall panel to be maintained at 
a width of a minimum of 48 inches for a maximum distance of 1,050 feet 
immediately outby the stageloader; to designate the intake entry as the 
primary escapeway and the belt entry as the alternate escapeway with 
both escapeways on intake air and maintained to a minimum of 6 feet in 
width for their entire distance, except for a distance of maximum of 
1,050 feet in the alternate escapeway beginning at the stageloader. The 
petitioner asserts that the proposed alternate method would provide at 
least the same measure of protection as would the mandatory standard.

7. AKZO Salt, Inc.

[Docket No. M-94-06-M]

    AKZO Salt, Inc., 3846 Retsof Road, P.O. Box 91, Retsof, New York 
14539 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 57.19073 
(hoisting during shift changes) to its Retsof Mine (I.D. No. 30-00662) 
located in Livingston County, New York. The petitioner proposes to 
continue to conduct hoisting operations during shift changes in strict 
compliance with the conditions of a previous variance that required the 
man cage to be completely enclosed, i.e., the gaps above and below the 
upper materials handling doors on both sides of the cage would be 
closed with metal plate at least \3/16\-inch thick; to make future 
repairs to or replacements of the man cage and other components of the 
hoisting system in such a manner and to such specifications so as to 
ensure performance characteristics equivalent to or greater than those 
of the man cage in use at the time the variance was originally granted. 
The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternate method would provide 
at least the same measure of protection as would the mandatory 
standard.

Request for Comments

    Persons interested in these petitions may furnish written comments. 
These comments must be filed with the Office of Standards, Regulations 
and Variances, Mine Safety and Health Administration, room 627, 4015 
Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia 22203. All comments must be 
postmarked or received in that office on or before April 4, 1994. 
Copies of these petitions are available for inspection at that address.

    Dated: February 23, 1994.
Patricia W. Silvey,
Director, Office of Standards, Regulations and Variances.
[FR Doc. 94-4909 Filed 3-2-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P