[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 107 (Monday, June 6, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-13685]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: June 6, 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. CONSOL of Kentucky, Inc.

[Docket No. M-94-60-C]

    CONSOL of Kentucky, Inc., 1800 Washington Road, Pittsburgh, 
Pennsylvania 15241-1421 has filed a petition to modify the application 
of 30 CFR 75.1101-8 (water sprinkler system; arrangement of sprinklers) 
to its Jones Fork Mine (I.D. No. 15-17496) located in Knott County, 
Kentucky. The petitioner proposes to use a single overhead pipe system 
with \1/2\ inch orifice automatic sprinklers located on 10 feet centers 
to cover 50 feet of fire-resistant belt or 150 feet of non-fire-
resistant belt with actuation temperatures between 200 and 230 degrees 
fahrenheit with water pressure equal to or greater than 10 psi. The 
petitioner states that the sprinklers would be located 10 feet apart so 
that the discharge of water will extend over the belt drive, belt take-
up, electrical control, and gear reducing unit. The petitioner asserts 
that the proposed alternate method would provide at least the same 
measure of protection as would the mandatory standard.

2. Cyprus Emerald Resources Corporation

[Docket No. M-94-61-C]

    Cyprus Emerald Resources Corporation, 9100 East Mineral Circle, 
Englewood, Colorado 80112 has filed a petition to modify the 
application of 30 CFR 75.507 (power connection points) to its Emerald 
Mine No. 1 (I.D. No. 36-05466) located in Greene County, Pennsylvania. 
The petitioner proposes to use a non-permissible submersible pump in 
the longwall bleeder sump near the No. 2 bleeder shaft for dewatering 
the sump and to provide unrestricted airflow into the return shaft. The 
petitioner states that task training will be provided for all selected 
mine electricians who will perform electrical work on these pumps; and 
that the surface pump control and power circuits will be examined 
monthly. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternate method 
would provide at least the same measure of protection as would the 
mandatory standard.

3. Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.

[Docket No. M-94-62-C]

    Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., 600 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, 
Pennsylvania 15219 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 
CFR 77.213 (draw-off tunnel escapeways) to its Cambria Cogeneration 
Facility (I.D. No. 36-08276) located in Cambria County, Pennsylvania. 
The petitioner proposes to have an escapeway not less than 30 inches in 
diameter from the tunnel within 24 feet of the tail roller at the 
closed end of the tunnel; to install a cable type heat detection system 
set at 140 degrees fahrenheit in the enclosed portion of the tunnel; to 
install heat activated sprinklers in the tunnel; to install a CO 
monitoring sensor in the tunnel near the tail roller to activate a 
visual alarm in the tail roller area and in the Main and Fuel Handling 
Control rooms when a level of 30 ppm is reached; and to install a pull 
cord throughout the tunnel to stop the belt. The petitioner asserts 
that the proposed alternate method would provide at least the same 
measure of protection as would the mandatory standard.

4. Misty Mountain Mining, Inc.

[Docket No. M-94-63-C]

    Misty Mountain Mining, Inc., P.O. Box 517, Barbourville, Kentucky 
40906 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.342 
(methane monitors) to its Mine No. 2 (I.D. No. 15-17314) located in 
Knox County, Kentucky. The petitioner proposes to monitor continuously 
with a hand-held deck-mounted methane and oxygen detector instead of 
using a methane monitoring system on permissible three-wheel tractors 
with drag bottom buckets. The petitioner asserts that the proposed 
alternative method would provide at least the same measure of 
protection as would the mandatory standard.

5. Bell County Coal Corporation

[Docket No. M-94-64-C]

    Bell County Coal Corporation, P.O. Box 758, Middlesboro, Kentucky 
40965 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 
75.360(b)(6) (preshift examination) to its Stone Mine No. 2 (I.D. No. 
15-09568) located in Bell County, Kentucky. The petitioner proposes to 
establish evaluation points to monitor the air in areas that were mined 
prior to the date new ventilation regulations went into effect. The 
petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method would not 
jeopardize the safety of the miners at Stone Mine.

6. Tilden Magnetite Partnership

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

    Tilden Magnetite Partnership, P.O. Box 2000, Ishpeming, Michigan 
49849 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 56/
57.18010 (first aid training) to its Tilden Mine (I.D. No. 20-00422) 
located in Marquette County, Michigan. The petitioner requests that the 
standard be modified to include Michigan State Certified Emergency 
Medical Technicians and First Responders as equivalent to ``selected 
supervisors'' for the purpose of determining adequate coverage of 
trained first aid personnel. The petitioner states that modification of 
the standard would allow for the inclusion of those employees that have 
had advanced training and are currently licensed as Emergency Medical 
Technicians or First Responders to be considered as part of the total 
number of trained first aid personnel and is not meant to preclude the 
necessity of training additional members of the work force in standard 
first aid methods to assure adequate coverage on all shifts. The 
petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide 
at least the same measure of protection as would the mandatory 
standard.

7. General Chemical Corporation

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

    General Chemical Corporation, Green River Soda Ash Operations, P.O. 
Box 551, Green River, Wyoming 82935-0551 has filed a petition to modify 
the application of 30 CFR 57.22305 (approved equipment III Mines) to 
its General Chemical Mine (I.D. No. 48-00155) located in Sweetwater 
County, Wyoming. The petitioner proposes to use Motorola Radio's P200, 
Model #H43RFU7160BN, 2.5-5 watts for communication purposes while 
riding the #5 shaft emergency escape hoist for inspection purposes or 
when necessary to utilize this hoist in an emergency. The petitioner 
states that the use of radios would allow personnel in the five-man 
bullet type hoist to have direct communication with the hoistman or a 
shaft hand that will bell signals to the hoistman; and that when using 
the radios in the shaft, methane would be continuously monitored and 
when 0.5 percent or more of methane is found, use of the radios would 
be suspended until the methane level was below 0.5 percent. The 
petitioner asserts that the proposed alternate method would provide at 
least the same measure of protection as would the mandatory standard.

8. Mitsubishi Cement Corporation

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

    Mitsubishi Cement Corporation, 5808 State Hwy. 18, Lucerne Valley, 
California 92356 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 
CFR 57.13020 (use of compressed air) to its Cushenbury Plant (I.D. No. 
04-00157) located in San Bernardino County, California. The petitioner 
proposes to establish blow-off stations at various places in the plant 
where employees can clean their clothes with compressed air. This 
compressed air would have an OSHA-approved nozzle with pressure no 
greater than 2-6 psi at normal average line pressure. The petitioner 
proposes to install tamper-proof airline regulators at each station to 
ensure that primary operating air pressure is consistent; and to post 
rules for employees to follow when using compressed air to clean their 
clothes. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternate method 
would provide at least the same measure of protection as would the 
mandatory standard.

9. Cominco Alaska Incorporated

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

    Cominco Alaska Incorporated, P.O. Box 1230, Kotzebue, Alaska 99752 
has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 56.6306(b) 
(loading and blasting) to its Red Dog Mine (I.D. No. 50-01545) located 
in Northwest Arctic, Alaska. The petitioner proposes to charge blast 
holes immediately after the drill has completed drilling a blasthole 
and has moved to the next hole location. The petitioner asserts that 
the proposed alternate method would enhance the safety of the miners at 
Red Dog Mine.

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 July 6, 1994. Copies 
of these petitions are available for inspection at that address.

    Dated: June 1, 1994.
Patricia W. Silvey,
Director, Office of Standards, Regulations and Variances.
[FR Doc. 94-13685 Filed 6-3-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P