[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 62 (Thursday, March 31, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-7583]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: March 31, 1994]


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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. Southern Ohio Coal Company

[Docket No. M-94-24-C]

    American Electric Power Service Corporation, One Memorial Drive, 
Box 700, Lancaster, Ohio 43130-0700 has filed a petition for Southern 
Ohio Coal Company to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.335 
(construction of seals) to its Meigs Mine No. 31 (I.D. No. 33-01172) 
located in Meigs County, Ohio. The petitioner proposes to construct a 
dam with pipes eight inches in diameter, extending through the dam 
approximately fifty feet from the seal on the active workings side of 
the seal. The water level at the seal would be above the bottom of the 
seal with the water passing through the three pipes at a rate 
comparable to that at which it is produced in the abandoned Raccoon 
Mine No. 3. The water flows into a sump and is pumped from the Meigs 
Mine No. 31. The petitioner proposes to examine the seal at least every 
three days instead of every seven days and to install an atmospheric 
monitoring system in the area immediately outby the seal to monitor for 
methane and carbon monoxide. The petitioner asserts that the proposed 
alternate method would provide at least the same measure of protection 
as would the mandatory standard.

2. Bear Coal Company, Inc.

[Docket No. M-94-25-C]

    Bear Coal Company, Inc., P.O. Box 518, Somerset, Colorado 81434 has 
filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.380(d)(4) 
(escapeways; bituminous and lignite mines) to its Bear No. 3 Mine (I.D. 
No. 05-03787) located in Gunnison County, Colorado. The petitioner 
requests that the standard be modified to allow a 4 foot wide x 5 foot 
high escapeway, without the use of supplemental support, through the 
beltline slope. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternate 
method would provide at least the same measure of protection as would 
the mandatory standard.

3. Kelley Creek Resources, Inc.

[Docket No. M-94-26-C]

    Kelley Creek Resources, Inc., Route 4, Box 662, Whitwell, Tennessee 
37397 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 
75.364(a)(1) (weekly examination) to its Mine No. 78 (I.D. No. 40-
02934) located in Sequatchie County, Tennessee. Due to deteriorating 
roof conditions, to examine the area would require extensive cleanup. 
The petitioner proposes to designate evaluation points at specific 
locations, strategically positioned to monitor on a weekly basis the 
quantity and quality of air entering, passing through, and exiting the 
affected area. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative 
method would provide at least the same measure of protection as would 
the mandatory standard.

4. Kelley Creek Resources, Inc.

[Docket No. M-94-27-C]

    Kelley Creek Resources, Inc., Route 4, Box 662, Whitwell, Tennessee 
37397 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 
75.333(g) (ventilation controls) to its Mine No. 78 (I.D. No. 40-02934) 
located in Sequatchie County, Tennessee. Due to deteriorating roof 
conditions, installing line brattice to make a crosscut in the entries 
or rooms inby the rib would require extensive cleanup of the area, 
which would expose the examiner and other personnel to unsafe 
conditions and would jeopardize the safety and health of the miners. 
The petitioner proposes to designate evaluation points at specific 
locations, strategically positioned to monitor the quantity and quality 
of air entering, passing through and exiting the affected area. The 
petitioner asserts that the proposed alternate method would provide at 
least the same measure of protection as would the mandatory standard.

5. Kelley Creek Resources, Inc.

[Docket No. M-94-28-C]

    Kelley Creek Resources, Inc., Route 4, Box 662, Whitwell, Tennessee 
37397 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 
75.360(b)(6) (preshift examination) to its Mine No. 78 (I.D. No. 40-
02934) located in Sequatchie County, Tennessee. Due to deteriorating 
roof conditions, traveling the intake air course to conduct preshift 
examinations would be unsafe. The petitioner proposes to designate 
evaluation points at specific locations, strategically positioned to 
monitor the quantity and quality of air entering, passing through, and 
exiting the affected area. The petitioner asserts that the alternate 
method would provide at least the same measure of protection as would 
the mandatory standard.

6. New Warwick Mining Company

[Docket No. M-94-29-C]

    New Warwick Mining Company, R.D. 1, Box 167A, Mount Morris, 
Pennsylvania 15349 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 
CFR 75.364(b)(1) (weekly examination) to its Warwick Mine (I.D. No. 36-
02374) located in Greene County, Pennsylvania. Due to deteriorating 
roof conditions in the intake air course, traveling the affected area 
to make weekly examinations would be unsafe. The petitioner proposes to 
establish evaluation points #4 and #5 to monitor the quantity and 
quality of air entering and leaving the affected area. The petitioner 
asserts that the alternate method would provide at least the same 
measure of protection as would the mandatory standard.

7. Mon River Mining Corporation

[Docket No. M-94-30-C]

    Mon River Mining Corporation, P.O. Box 2429, Westover, West 
Virginia 26505 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 
75.364(b)(2) (weekly examination) to its No. 1 Deep Mine (I.D. No. 46-
06647) located in Monongalia County, West Virginia. Due to 
deteriorating roof conditions in the right return in the crosscut outby 
the belt overcast and the adjacent heading at survey Station No. 45, 
the area cannot be traveled safely. The petitioner proposes to 
establish check point No. 3 outby and check point No. 4 inby the 
crosscut; to post danger signs and block off the affected area to 
travel; to check each side of the crosscut for proper air movement and 
for methane and oxygen deficiency; to record date, time and initials on 
a date board on each side of the crosscut; and to make weekly 
examinations and record the results in a book kept on the surface. The 
petitioner asserts that the alternate method would provide at least the 
same measure of protection as would the mandatory standard.

8. New Warwick Mining Company

[Docket No. M-94-31-C]

    New Warwick Mining Company, R.D. 1, Box 167A, Mount Morris, 
Pennsylvania 15349 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 
CFR 75.335 (a)(2), (c) (1) and (2) (construction of seals) to its 
Warwick Mine (I.D. No. 36-02374) located in Greene County, 
Pennsylvania. The petitioner proposes to construct a concrete block 
water trap wet seal at number 23 seal in the 2 North section of the 
mine. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternate method would 
provide at least the same measure of protection as would the mandatory 
standard.

9. Bear Coal Company, Inc.

[Docket No. M-94-32-C]

    Bear Coal Company, Inc., P.O. Box 518, Somerset, Colorado 81434 has 
filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.380(d)(4) 
(escapeways; bituminous and lignite mine) to its Bear No. 3 Mine (I.D. 
No. 05-03787) located in Gunnison County, Colorado. The petitioner 
requests that the standard be modified to allow the existing 4 foot 
stairway between the ``B'' and ``C'' seam to be used as an alternate 
escapeway. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternate method 
would provide at least the same measure of protection as would the 
mandatory standard.

10. El Dorado Chemical Company

[Docket No. M-94-01-M]

    On January 28, 1994, a petition for modification for the El Dorado 
Chemical Company was published in the Federal Register (59 FR 4114). 
The petition was incorrectly docketed as applying to mandatory standard 
30 CFR 56.6309 which applies to surface metal/nonmetal mines; the 
petitioner was requesting modification of a surface coal mine standard. 
However, El Dorado Chemical Company is a contractor having no standing 
to submit a petition for modification for the mine operator; thus, 
further processing of the petition has ceased.

11. Santa Fe Pacific Gold

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

    Santa Fe Pacific Gold, P.O. Box 69, Golconda, Nevada 89414 has 
filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 56.6309(b) (fuel 
oil requirements for ANFO) to its Twin Creeks Mine (I.D. No. 26-01942) 
located in Humboldt County, Nevada. The petitioner proposes to recycle 
used, petroleum-based, and lubrication oil from equipment and blend it 
with fuel oil to create a blasting agent (ANFO).

12. FMC Wyoming Corporation

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

    FMC Wyoming Corporation, P.O. Box 873, Green River, Wyoming 82935 
has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 57.22234 
(actions at 1.0 percent methane 1-A, 1-B, III, V-A and V-B mines) to 
its Trona Mine (I.D. No. 48-00152) located in Sweetwater County, 
Wyoming. The petitioner proposes to provide additional training to 
miners; to conduct additional methane checks; and to maintain levels in 
bleeders at or below applicable standards. The petitioner states that 
application of the standard would subject mine personnel to ground 
control hazards. 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 May 2, 1994. Copies 
of these petitions are available for inspection at that address.

    Dated: March 23, 1994.
Patricia W. Silvey,
Director, Office of Standards, Regulations and Variances.
[FR Doc. 94-7583 Filed 3-30-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P