[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 143 (Wednesday, July 27, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-18298]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: July 27, 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. Consolidation Coal Company

[Docket No. M-94-87-C]

    Consolidation Coal Company, 1800 Washington Road, Pittsburgh, 
Pennsylvania 15241-1421 has filed a petition to modify the application 
of 30 CFR 75.364(b)(2) (weekly examination) to its Blacksville No. 2 
Mine (I.D. No. 46-01968) located in Monongalia County, West Virginia. 
Due to deteriorating roof and rib conditions in certain areas of the 
return air course, traveling the entire area would be unsafe. The 
petitioner proposes to establish check points 1 and 2 to monitor the 
methane and quantity of air in the affected area; to have a qualified 
person conduct these tests weekly at each check point and record the 
results in a book kept on the surface and made available for inspection 
by interested persons; and to install a door in the overcast on the 
mainline track haulage in order to observe the mine roof over the 
overcast once a day to determine whether a roof fall and possible 
collapse of the overcast exists. The petitioner asserts that the 
proposed alternate method would provide at least the same measure of 
protection as would the mandatory standard.

2. Drummond Company, Inc.

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

    Drummond Company, Inc., P.O. Box 10246, Birmingham, Alabama 35202 
has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.800 (high-
voltage circuits; circuit breakers) to its Shoal Creek Mine (I.D. No. 
01-02901) located in Jefferson County, Alabama. The petitioner requests 
a modification of that portion of the standard that pertains to under-
voltage, grounded phase, overcurrent, and ground check opening the 
circuit breaker. The petitioner proposes to use high-voltage contactors 
with an electrical rating adequate for the connected load; to use 
under-voltage, overload, grounded phase, and ground check protective 
devices that would de-energize the high-voltage contactor; to use a 
control circuit design for each high-voltage circuit that would 
preclude automatic closing of the high-voltage contactor when there is 
an under-voltage, overload, grounded phase, or ground check problem; to 
use a control circuit design for each high-voltage contactor that would 
preclude remote closing of the high-voltage contactor when there is an 
overload, grounded phase, or ground check problem; and to use a short 
circuit current that would trip the high-voltage circuit breaker, and a 
control circuit design that would preclude automatic or remote closing 
of the high-voltage circuit breaker. The petitioner asserts that the 
proposed alternate method would provide at least the same measure of 
protection as would the mandatory standard.

3. Drummond Company, Inc.

[Docket No. M-94-95-C]

    Drummond Company, Inc., P.O. Box 10246, Birmingham, Alabama 35202 
has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.803 (fail 
safe ground check circuits on high-voltage resistance grounded systems) 
to its Shoal Creek Mine (I.D. No. 01-02901) located in Jefferson 
County, Alabama. The petitioner requests a modification of that portion 
of the standard that pertains to under-voltage, grounded phase, 
overcurrent, and ground check opening the circuit breaker. The 
petitioner proposes to use high-voltage contactors with an electrical 
rating adequate for the connected load; to use under-voltage, overload, 
grounded phase, and ground check protective devices that would de-
energize the high-voltage contactor; to use a control circuit design 
for each high-voltage circuit that would preclude automatic closing of 
the high-voltage contactor when there is an under-voltage, overload, 
grounded phase, or ground check problem; to use a control circuit 
design for each high-voltage contactor that would preclude remote 
closing of the high-voltage contactor when there is an overload, 
grounded phase, or ground check problem; and to use a short circuit 
current that would trip the high-voltage circuit breaker, and a control 
circuit design that would preclude automatic or remote closing of the 
high-voltage circuit breaker. The petitioner asserts that the proposed 
alternate method would provide at least the same measure of protection 
as would the mandatory standard.

4. Dynamic Recovery, Inc.

[Docket No. M-94-96-C]

    Dynamic Recovery, Inc., P.O. Box 25, Clarksville, Pennsylvania 
15322 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1103-
4(a) (automatic fire sensor and warning device systems; installation; 
minimum requirements) to its Lazarus Mine (I.D. No. 36-08336) located 
in Greene County, West Virginia. The petitioner proposes to install a 
low-level carbon monoxide detection system as an early warning fire 
detection system in all belt entries where a monitoring system would 
identify a sensor location instead of in each belt flight. The 
petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide 
at least the same measure of protection as would the mandatory 
standard.

5. Helvetia Coal Company

[Docket No. M-94-97-C]

    Helvetia Coal Company, Box 729, Indiana, Pennsylvania 15701 has 
filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1100-2(e)(2) 
(quantity and location of fire fighting equipment) to its Lucerne No. 6 
Extension (I.D. No. 36-07691) located in Indiana County, Pennsylvania. 
The petitioner proposes to use two portable fire extinguishers, or one 
portable fire extinguisher with twice the required capacity, at each 
temporary electrical installation instead of using one fire 
extinguisher and rock dust at such installations. The petitioner 
asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide at least the 
same measure of protection as would the mandatory standard.

6. Keystone Coal Mining Corporation

[Docket No. M-94-98-C]

    Keystone Coal Mining Corporation, P.O. Box 729, Indiana, 
Pennsylvania 15701 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 
CFR 75.511 (low- medium- or high-voltage distribution circuits and 
equipment; repair) to its Emilie No. 1 Mine (I.D. No. 36-00821) and its 
Jane Mine (I.D. No. 36-00823) both located in Armstrong County, 
Pennsylvania. The petitioner proposes to utilize non-qualified persons 
for changing fuses in DC pump fused disconnect boxes and fused trolley 
wire taps. The petitioner states that the non-qualified persons would 
be briefed and trained to ensure safe and proper conduct in performing 
fuse changes. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative 
method would provide at least the same measure of protection as would 
the mandatory standard.

7. Keystone Coal Mining Corporation

[Docket No. M-94-99-C]

    Keystone Coal Mining Corporation, P.O. Box 729, Indiana, 
Pennsylvania 15701 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 
CFR 75.1100-2(e)(2) (quantity and location of fire fighting equipment) 
to its Emilie No. 1 Mine (I.D. No. 36-00821), its Emilie No. 4 Mine 
(I.D. No. 36-06018), its Jane Mine (I.D. No. 36-00823), and its 
Margaret No. 11 Mine (I.D. No. 36-08139), all located in Armstrong 
County, Pennsylvania; and its Urling No. 1 Mine (I.D. No. 36-04852) and 
its Plumcreek Mine (I.D. No. 36-08401), both located in Indiana County, 
Pennsylvania. The petitioner proposes to use two portable fire 
extinguishers, or one portable fire extinguisher with twice the 
required capacity, at each temporary electrical installation instead of 
using one fire extinguisher and rock dust at such installations. The 
petitioner asserts that the proposed alternate method would provide at 
least the same measure of protection as would the mandatory standard.

8. Tilden Magnetite Partnership

[Docket No. M-94-33-M]

    Tilden Magnetite Partnership, P.O. Box 2000, Ishpeming, Michigan 
49849 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 56.14100 
(safety defects; examination, correction and records) to its Tilden 
Magnetite Mine (I.D. No. 20-00422) located in Marquette County, 
Michigan. The petitioner proposes to provide shovel operators with 
supplies to clean windshields manually instead of using windshield 
wipers on production shovels. The petitioner states that the use of 
automatic windshield wipers would result in a diminution of safety to 
the miners.

9. Echo Bay Minerals Company

[Docket No. M-94-34-M]

    Echo Bay Minerals Company, P.O. Box 1658, Battle Mountain, Nevada 
89820 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 
56.6309(b) (fuel oil requirements for ANFO) to its McCoy/Cove Mine 
(I.D. No. 26-01925) located in Lander County, Nevada. The petitioner 
proposes to blend recycled, used petroleum-based oil from equipment 
operating at its mine with diesel fuel to create a blasting agent. The 
petitioner asserts that this oil would not contain any hazardous 
material listed in 40 CFR 261 and that the proposed alternate method 
would provide at least the same measure of protection as would the 
mandatory standard.

10. Independent Aggregates

[Docket No. M-94-35-M]

    Independent Aggregates, P.O. Box 519, Inglis, Florida 34449 has 
filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 56.7055 
(intersecting holes) to its I.A.C. Mine (I.D. No. 08-01035) located in 
Citrus County, Florida. The petitioner propose to load each hole as 
soon as it has been drilled, then move to the next hole, continue until 
the end of the shift, and then continue loading on subsequent shifts 
until the pattern is completed. Then, the round would be wired and shot 
as soon as possible. The petitioner states that returning to the 
collapsed holes to redrill would cause hazardous conditions. In 
addition, the petitioner states that the proposed alternate method 
would prevent a diminution of safety.

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 26, 1994. 
Copies of these petitions are available for inspection at that address.

    Dated: July 20, 1994.
Patricia W. Silvey,
Director, Office of Standards, Regulations and Variances.
[FR Doc. 94-18298 Filed 7-26-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P