[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 99 (Tuesday, May 24, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-12562]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: May 24, 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 Utah Fuel

[Docket No. M-94-57-C]

    Southern Utah Fuel Company, 397 South, 800 West, Salina, Utah 84654 
has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.364 (b)(4) 
and (c)(3) (weekly examination) to its SUFCO Mine (I.D. No. 42-00089) 
located in Sevier County, Utah. The petitioner proposes to establish an 
evaluation point to monitor the air quality where the bleeder connector 
connects with the North Mains return entries on a weekly basis; and to 
prohibit travel in the affected area. The petitioner states that due to 
the inability of maintaining the oxygen content at 19.5 percent in the 
4th East Bleeder Connector because the air is ventilating the longwall 
gob area, the seals located along the bleeder connector cannot be 
examined safely and that to increase the air through the gob area would 
increase the possibility of spontaneous combustion in the gob. The 
petitioner asserts that the proposed alternate method would provide at 
least the same measure of protection as would the mandatory standard.

2. Costain Coal, Inc.

[Docket No. M-94-58-C]

    Costain Coal Company, P.O. Box 289, Sturgis, Kentucky 42459 has 
filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1002 (location 
of trolley wires; trolley feeder wires, high-voltage cables and 
transformers) to its Baker Mine (I.D. No. 15-14492) located in Webster 
County, Kentucky. Due to the width and required production, motor 
horsepower will be necessary that requires the use of high-voltage for 
longwall equipment in the Kentucky No. 13 seam at the mine. The 
petitioner proposes to use high-voltage (2400 volts) operated equipment 
in by the last open crosscut at the working longwall sections. The 
petitioner asserts that the proposed alternate method would provide at 
least the same measure of protection as would the mandatory standard.

3. Black Dog Coal Corporation

[Docket No. M-94-59-C]

    Black Dog Coal Corporation, Route 1, Box 105-A, Haysi, Virginia 
24256 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 
75.364(b)(1) (weekly examination) to its No. 1 (I.D. No. 44-05770) 
located in Buchanan County, Virginia. The petitioner proposes to check 
the quality and quantity of the ventilating current where it enters the 
intake entry located to the left of the #3 conveyor at Spad Station 
#1022 and where it leaves sub-normal roof conditions at Spad Station 
#1211; and to travel into the intake airway at each door in the 
brattice line (located at 300 feet intervals) to look up and down the 
airway as far as possible to visually inspect the airway in order to 
evaluate the ventilation current without exposing the examiner to 
unnecessary danger. The petitioner asserts that the proposed 
alternative method would provide at least the same measure of 
protection as would the mandatory standard.

4. Frontier-Kemper Constructors, Inc.

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

    Frontier-Kemper Constructors, Inc., P.O. Box 726, San Manuel, 
Arizona 85631 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 
57.9360(a) (shelter holes) for its development contract work at Magma 
Copper Company's San Manuel Mine (I.D. No. 02-00151, AO-1) located in 
Pinal County, Arizona. The petitioner proposes to cut 34,500 lineal 
feet of circular shaped drift, 15 feet in diameter, using a Tunnel 
Boring Machine, 3440 vertical feet underground. The petitioner states 
that the haulage roadway is rail mounted and consists of a 36 inch 
gauge track, using 70 pound rail and 65 inch wide Brookville Diesel 
Locomotives pulling Mullenhauser side dump cars; that the shelter holes 
would be installed at 200 feet centers in accordance with Az. 27-345 as 
a new mandatory policy for the petitioner; and that the shelter holes 
would not be used for storage. The petitioner proposes to provide 
training consisting of thorough-on-site instruction by petitioner's 
personnel on the use of shelter holes when trains are in the drift; to 
conduct discussions regarding the reason this policy is being 
implemented; to distribute written notice of the new policy and the 
fact that disciplinary action may be taken when the new policy is not 
followed; to incorporate the new policy into petitioner's written 
policies and procedures manual; to provide annual refresher training 
and task training to new employees on the use of the platform shelters 
(shelter holes); and to post signs throughout the drift instructing the 
miners to use the platform shelters (shelter holes) when trains are 
moving in the drift. The petitioner states that application of the 
standard would result in a diminution of safety to its personnel. In 
addition, 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 June 23, 1994. 
Copies of these petitions are available for inspection at that address.

    Dated: May 16, 1994.
Patricia W. Silvey,
Director, Office of Standards, Regulations and Variances.
[FR Doc. 94-12562 Filed 5-23-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P