[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 130 (Friday, July 8, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-16575]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: July 8, 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. Chestnut Coal Company

[Docket No. M-94-72-C]

    Chestnut Coal Company, R.D. #3, Box 142, Sunbury, Pennsylvania 
17801 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.360 
(preshift examination) to its No. 10 Slope (I.D. No. 36-07059) located 
in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. The petitioner proposes to 
examine each seal for physical damage from the slope gunboat during the 
preshift examination after an air quantity reading is taken in by the 
intake portal and to test for the quantity and quality of air at the 
intake air split locations off the slope in the gangway portion of the 
working section. The petitioner proposes to physically examine the 
entire length of the slope once a month. The petitioner asserts that 
the proposed alternate method would provide at least the same measure 
of protection as would the mandatory standard.

2. Chestnut Coal Company

[Docket No. M-94-73-C]

    Chestnut Coal Company, R.D. #3, Box 142, Sunbury, Pennsylvania 
17801 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.335 
(construction of seals) to its No. 10 Slope (I.D. No. 36-07059) located 
in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. The petitioner requests a 
modification of the standard to permit alternative methods of seal 
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.

3. Chestnut Coal Company

[Docket No. M-94-74-C]

    Chestnut Coal Company, R.D. #3, Box 142, Sunbury, Pennsylvania 
17801 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 
75.364(b)(1), (4), and (5) (weekly examination) to its No. 10 Slope 
(I.D. No. 36-07059) located in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. Due 
to hazardous conditions and roof falls, certain areas of the intake 
haulage slope and primary escapeway cannot be traveled safely. The 
petitioner proposes to examine these areas from the gunboat/slope car 
with an alternative air quality evaluation at the section's intake 
level, and to travel and thoroughly examine these areas for hazardous 
conditions once a month. The petitioner asserts that the proposed 
alternate method would provide at least the same measure of protection 
as would the mandatory standard.

4. Chestnut Coal Company

[Docket No. M-94-75-C]

    Chestnut Coal Company, R.D. #3, Box 142, Sunbury, Pennsylvania 
17801 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1100-
2(a)(2) (quantity and location of firefighting equipment) to its No. 10 
Slope (I.D. No. 36-07059) located in Northumberland County, 
Pennsylvania. The petitioner proposes to use only portable fire 
extinguishers to replace existing requirements where rock dust, water 
cars, and other water storage are not practical. The petitioner asserts 
that the proposed alternative method would provide at least the same 
measure of protection as would the mandatory standard.

5. Chestnut Coal Company

[Docket No. M-94-76-C]

    Chestnut Coal Company, R.D. #3, Box 142, Sunbury, Pennsylvania 
17801 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1202-
1(a) (temporary notations, revisions, and supplements) to its No. 10 
Slope (I.D. No. 36-07059) located in Northumberland County, 
Pennsylvania. The petitioner proposes to revise and supplement mine 
maps on an annual basis instead of the required 6 month interval and to 
update maps daily by hand notations. The petitioner asserts that the 
proposed alternative method would provide at least the same measure of 
protection as would the mandatory standard.

6. Costain Coal Inc.

[Docket No. M-94-77-C]

    Costain Coal Inc., P.O. Box 289, Sturgis, Kentucky 42459-0289 has 
filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.380(f)(2) 
(escapeways; bituminous and lignite mines) to its Wheatcroft Mine (I.D. 
No. 15-13920); its Baker Mine (I.D. No. 15-14492); and its Smith 
Underground No. 1 Mine (I.D. No. 15-16020) all located in Webster 
County, Kentucky. The petitioner requests to be excluded from the 
requirement that equipment used to transport persons in the primary 
escapeway be equipped with a multi-purpose dry powder fire suppression 
system, as it may apply to electric, nonpermissible golf carts. The 
petitioner states that the golf cart operators are experienced 
supervisory or maintenance personnel; that the golf carts are equipped 
with a 10-pound, dry chemical fire extinguisher; that the golf carts 
have virtually no flammable materials incorporated in their structure; 
and that a golf cart fire would have minimal effect on the mine 
environment because of the nominal size of the golf cart and the 
relatively large size of the entries being traveled. The petitioner 
asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide at least the 
same measure of protection as would the mandatory standard.

7. K & S Coal Company

[Docket No. M-94-78-C]

    K & S Coal Company, R.D. #2, Box 145, Hegins, Pennsylvania 17938 
has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.335 
(construction of seals) to its First Chance Slope (I.D. No. 36-07629) 
located in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. The petitioner requests a 
modification of the standard to permit alternative methods of seal 
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.

8. K & S Coal Company

[Docket No. M-94-79-C]

    K & S Coal Company, R.D. #2, Box 145, Hegins, Pennsylvania 17938 
has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.340 
(underground electrical installations) to its First Chance Slope (I.D. 
No. 36-07629) located in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. As an 
alternative to removing the batteries and transporting them in the 
gunboat to the surface for charging, the petitioner proposes to charge 
batteries on the mine's locomotive when all miners are out of the mine 
and to have the intake air which is used to ventilate the charging 
station continue through its normal route to the last open crosscut and 
into the monkey airway (return). The petitioner asserts that the 
proposed alternate method would provide at least the same measure of 
protection as would the mandatory standard.

9. K & S Coal Company

[Docket No. M-94-80-C]

    K & S Coal Company, R.D. #2, Box 145, Hegins, Pennsylvania 17938 
has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.360 
(preshift examination) to its First Chance Slope (I.D. No. 36-07629) 
located in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. The petitioner proposes to 
examine each seal for physical damage from the slope gunboat during the 
preshift examination after an air quantity reading is taken in by the 
intake portal and to test for the quantity and quality of air at the 
intake air split locations off the slope in the gangway portion of the 
working section. The petitioner proposes to physically examine the 
entire length of the slope once a month. The petitioner asserts that 
the proposed alternate method would provide at least the same measure 
of protection as would the mandatory standard.

10. K & S Coal Company

[Docket No. M-94-81-C]

    K & S Coal Company, R.D. #2, Box 145, Hegins, Pennsylvania 17938 
has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.364(b) (1), 
(4), and (5) (weekly examination) to its First Chance Slope (I.D. No. 
36-07629) located in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. Due to hazardous 
conditions and roof falls, certain areas of the intake haulage slope 
and primary escapeway cannot be traveled safely. The petitioner 
proposes to examine these areas from the gunboat/slope car with an 
alternative air quality evaluation at the section's intake level, and 
to travel and thoroughly examine these areas for hazardous conditions 
once a month. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternate method 
would provide at least the same measure of protection as would the 
mandatory standard.

11. K & S Coal Company

[Docket No. M-94-82-C]

    K & S Coal Company, R.D. #2, Box 145, Hegins, Pennsylvania 17938 
has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1100-
2(a)(2) (quantity and location of firefighting equipment) to its First 
Chance Slope (I.D. No. 36-07629) located in Schuylkill County, 
Pennsylvania. The petitioner proposes to use only portable fire 
extinguishers to replace existing requirements where rock dust, water 
cars, and other water storage are not practical. The petitioner asserts 
that the proposed alternate method would provide at least the same 
measure of protection as would the mandatory standard.

12. K & S Coal Company

[Docket No. M-94-83-C]

    K & S Coal Company, R.D. #2, Box 145, Hegins, Pennsylvania 17938 
has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1200(i) 
(mine map) to its First Chance Slope (I.D. No. 36-07629) located in 
Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. The petitioner proposes to limit the 
mapping of mines above and below mine workings to those present within 
100 feet of the vein being mined except when veins are interconnected 
to other veins beyond the 100 feet limit through rock tunnels. The 
petitioner asserts that the proposed alternate method would provide at 
least the same measure of protection as would the mandatory standard.

13. Brookside Coal Company

[Docket No. M-94-84-C]

    Brookside Coal Company, Box 64, Spring Glen, Pennsylvania 17978 has 
filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1400 (hoisting 
equipment; general) to its Diamond Vein Slope (I.D. No. 36-08456) 
located in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. Because of the steep, 
frequently changing pitch and numerous curves and knuckles in the main 
haulage slope, the petitioner proposes to use the gunboat without 
safety catches in transporting persons. As an alternative, when using 
the gunboat to transport persons, the petitioner proposes to use an 
increased rope strength safety factor and secondary safety connections 
which are securely fastened around the gunboat and to the hoisting rope 
above the main connecting device. The petitioner asserts that the 
proposed alternate method would provide at least the same measure of 
protection as would the mandatory standard.

14. K & S Coal Company

[Docket No. M-94-85-C]

    K & S Coal Company, R.D. #2, Box 145, Hegins, Pennsylvania 17938 
has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1202-1(a) 
(temporary notations, revisions, and supplements) to its First Chance 
Slope (I.D. No. 36-07629) located in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. 
The petitioner proposes to revise and supplement mine maps on an annual 
basis instead of the required 6 month interval and to update maps daily 
by hand notations. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternate 
method would provide at least the same measure of protection as would 
the mandatory standard.

15. Shadle Coal Company

[Docket No. M-94-86-C]

    Shadle Coal Company, R.D. #4, Box 358-D, Pine Grove, Pennsylvania 
17963 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.335 
(construction of seals) to its Shadle Slope (I.D. No. 36-06031) located 
in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. The petitioner requests a 
modification of the standard to permit alternative methods of seal 
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.

16. Shadle Coal Company

[Docket No. M-94-88-C]

    Shadle Coal Company, R.D. #4, Box 358-D, Pine Grove, Pennsylvania 
17963 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1202-
1(a) (temporary notations, revisions, and supplements) to its Shadle 
Slope (I.D. No. 36-06031) located in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. 
The petitioner proposes to revise and supplement mine maps on an annual 
basis instead of the required 6 month interval and to update maps daily 
by hand notations. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternate 
method would provide at least the same measure of protection as would 
the mandatory standard.

17. Shadle Coal Company

[Docket No. M-94-89-C]

    Shadle Coal Company, R.D. #4, Box 358-D, Pine Grove, Pennsylvania 
17963 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 
75.1200(i) (mine map) to its Shadle Slope (I.D. No. 36-06031) located 
in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. The petitioner proposes to limit 
the mapping of mines above and below mine workings to those present 
within 100 feet of the vein being mined except when veins are 
interconnected to other veins beyond the 100 feet limit through rock 
tunnels. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternate method 
would provide at least the same measure of protection as would the 
mandatory standard.

18. Shadle Coal Company

[Docket No. M-94-90-C]

    Shadle Coal Company, R.D. #4, Box 358-D, Pine Grove, Pennsylvania 
17963 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1100-
2(a)(2) (quantity and location of firefighting equipment) to its Shadle 
Slope (I.D. No. 36-06031) located in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. 
The petitioner proposes to use only portable fire extinguishers to 
replace existing requirements where rock dust, water cars, and other 
water storage are not practical. The petitioner asserts that the 
proposed alternate method would provide at least the same measure of 
protection as would the mandatory standard.

19. Shadle Coal Company

[Docket No. M-94-91-C]

    Shadle Coal Company, R.D. #4, Box 358-D, Pine Grove, Pennsylvania 
17963 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 
75.364)(b)(1), (4), and (5) (weekly examination) to its Shadle Slope 
(I.D. No. 36-06031) located in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. Due to 
hazardous conditions and roof falls, certain areas of the intake 
haulage slope and primary escapeway cannot be traveled safely. The 
petitioner proposes to examine these areas from the gunboat/slope car 
with an alternative air quality evaluation at the section's intake 
level, and to travel and thoroughly examine these areas for hazardous 
conditions once a month. The petitioner asserts that the proposed 
alternate method would provide at least the same measure of protection 
as would the mandatory standard.

20. Shadle Coal Company

[Docket No. M-94-92-C]

    Shadle Coal Company, R.D. #4, Box 358-D, Pine Grove, Pennsylvania 
17963 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.360 
(preshift examination) to its Shadle Slope (I.D. No. 36-06031) located 
in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. The petitioner proposes to examine 
each seal for physical damage from the slope gunboat during the 
preshift examination after an air quantity reading is taken in by the 
intake portal and to test for the quantity and quality of air at the 
intake air split locations off the slope in the gangway portion of the 
working section. The petitioner proposes to physically examine the 
entire length of the slope once a month. The petitioner asserts that 
the proposed alternate method would provide at least the same measure 
of protection as would the mandatory standard.

21. Island Creek Coal Company

[Docket No. M-94-93-C]

    Island Creek Coal Company, 1800 Washington Road, Pittsburgh, 
Pennsylvania 15241-1421 has filed a petition to modify the application 
of 30 CFR 75.1002 (trolley wires and trolley feeder wires, high-voltage 
cables and transformers) to its VP-8 Mine (I.D. No. 44-03795) located 
in Buchanan County, Virginia. The petitioner proposes to use high-
voltage cables to supply power to a longwall mining system in by the 
last open crosscut. The petitioner states that application of the 
standard would result in a diminution of safety to the miners. 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 August 8, 1994. 
Copies of these petitions are available for inspection at that address.

    Dated: July 1, 1994.
Patricia W. Silvey,
Director, Office of Standards, Regulations and Variances.
[FR Doc. 94-16575 Filed 7-7-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P