[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 120 (Thursday, June 23, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-15217]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: June 23, 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. Joshco Mining, Inc.

[Docket No. M-94-65-C]
    Joshco Mining, Inc., P.O. Box 400, Virgie, Kentucky 41572 has filed 
a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1710-1 (canopies or 
cabs; electric face equipment) to its Mine No. 4 (I.D. No. 15-13497) 
located in Floyd County, Kentucky. The petitioner requests a 
modification of the standard to eliminate the use of canopies on its 
shuttle cars and continuous miner. The petitioner states that due to 
dips and rises in the mine's coal seam the use of canopies would result 
in a diminution of safety to the operators of the equipment as well as 
other miners.

2. Blue Arc Coal Corporation, Inc.

[Docket No. M-94-66-C]
    Blue Arc Coal Corporation, 24-B Daniel Boone Drive, 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. 15-14577) 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 alternate method would provide at least the same measure of 
protection as would the mandatory standard.

3. Andalex Resources, Inc.

[Docket No. M-94-67-C]
    Andalex Resources, Inc., P.O. Box 902, Price, Utah 84501 has filed 
a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.352 (return air 
courses) to its Pinnacle Mine (I.D. No. 42-01474) and its Aberdeen Mine 
(I.D. No. 42-02028) both located in Carbon County, Utah. The petitioner 
proposes to install a beltline in the return air course during 
development of two-entry longwall gate entries. The petitioner states 
that this petition applies to a previously submitted petition for 30 
CFR 75.350, docket number M-93-280-C; and that development of the first 
two-entry longwall gate entries would begin approximately three months 
from June 2, 1994 (the date of this petition). The petitioner asserts 
that the proposed alternate method would provide at least the same 
measure of protection as would the mandatory standard.

4. Island Creek Coal Company

[Docket No. M-94-68-C]
    Island Creek Coal Company, 1800 Washington Road, Pittsburgh, 
Pennsylvania 15241 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 
CFR 75.1100-2 (b) (quantity and location of firefighting equipment) to 
its VP-8 Mine (I.D. No. 44-03795) located in Buchanan County, Virginia. 
The petitioner requests a modification of the standard to keep the 
waterline and outlets in the track entry which is adjacent to the belt 
entry (headgate entry). The petitioner proposes to have a fire hose 
strategically located of sufficient length so that any affected area of 
the belt would be covered from the most proximate fire hose outlet; to 
have 700 feet of fire hose instead of the required 500 feet at a 
location in the immediate area of the longwall belt drive; to have 
crosscuts leading to the fire hose outlets passable from the belt entry 
by removing a portion of the stoppings at or near the fire hose outlets 
or by providing stopping doors at or near the fire hose outlets. The 
petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide 
at least the same measure of protection as would the mandatory 
standard.

5. Martin County Coal Corporation

[Docket No. M-94-69-C]
    Martin County Coal Corporation, P.O. Box 5002, Inez, Kentucky 41224 
has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.361(b) 
(supplemental examination) to its No. 1-C Mine (I.D. No. 15-03752) 
located in Martin County, Kentucky. Due to the clearance being less 
than 24 inches from the supplemental roof support and the conveyor 
system, traveling one area of the beltline would be unsafe. The 
petitioner requests a modification of the standard to defer the placing 
of dates, times, and initials along a length of the underground 
beltline in the section number one West Belt. The petitioner states 
that to travel the affected area would result in undue risks to the 
miners. In addition, the petitioner asserts that the proposed 
alternative method would provide at least the same measure of 
protection as would the mandatory standard.

6. B & B Anthracite Coal Company

[Docket No. M-94-70-C]
    B & B Anthracite Coal Company, 225 Main Street, Joliett, 
Pennsylvania 17981 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 
CFR 75.335 (construction of seals) to its Rock Ridge Slope (I.D. No. 
36-07175) located in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. The petitioner 
requests a modification of the standard to permit alternative methods 
of construction using wooden materials of moderate size and weight due 
to the difficulty in accessing previously driven headings and breasts 
containing inaccessible abandoned workings; to accept a design 
criterion in the 10 psi range; and to permit the water trap to be 
installed in the gangway seal and sampling tube in the monkey seal for 
seals installed in pairs. The petitioner asserts that the proposed 
alternative method would provide at least the same measure of 
protection as would the mandatory standard.

7. West Cameron Mining

[Docket No. M-94-71-C]
    West Cameron Mining, R.D. #2, Box 630, Shamokin, Pennsylvania 17872 
has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.335 
(construction of seals) to its Lenig Tunnel (I.D. No. 36-08288) located 
in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. The petitioner requests a 
modification of the standard to permit alternative methods of 
construction using wooden materials of moderate size and weight due to 
the difficulty in accessing previously driven headings and breasts 
containing inaccessible abandoned workings; to accept a design 
criterion in the 10 psi range; and to permit the water trap to be 
installed in the gangway seal and sampling tube in the monkey seal for 
seals installed in pairs. 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 July 25, 1994. 
Copies of these petitions are available for inspection at that address.

    Dated: June 14, 1994.
Patricia W. Silvey,
Director, Office of Standards, Regulations and Variances.
[FR Doc. 94-15217 Filed 6-22-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P