[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 172 (Wednesday, September 7, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-21986]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: September 7, 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. C & C Coal Company

[Docket No. M-94-124-C]

    C & C Coal Company, 100 E. Main Street, Ashland, Pennsylvania 17921 
has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1100-
2(a)(2) (quantity and location of firefighting equipment) to its 
Primrose Slope (I.D. No. 36-08341) 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 alternative method would provide at least the same 
measure of protection as would the mandatory standard.

2. C & C Coal Company

[Docket No. M-94-125-C]

    C & C Coal Company, 100 E. Main Street, Ashland, Pennsylvania 17921 
has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1200(i) 
(mine map) to its Primrose Slope (I.D. No. 36-08341) located in 
Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. The petitioner proposes to limit the 
mapping of mines above and below mine workings to those present within 
100 foot 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.

3. C & C Coal Company

[Docket No. M-94-126-C]

    C & C Coal Company, 100 E. Main Street, Ashland, Pennsylvania 17921 
has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1202-1(a) 
(temporary notations, revisions, and supplements) to its Primrose Slope 
(I.D. No. 36-08341) 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 alternative 
method would provide at least the same measure of protection as would 
the mandatory standard.

4. Betty B. Coal Company

[Docket No. M-94-127-C]

    Betty B. Coal Company, P.O. Box 1139, Coeburn, Virginia 24230 has 
filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1710 (canopies 
or cabs; electric face equipment) to its Betty B. Mine No. 12 (I.D. No. 
44-06423) located in Wise County, Virginia. The petitioner requests 
relief from the use of canopies on electric face equipment. The 
petitioner states that the use of canopies would result in hazardous 
conditions to the equipment operator.

5. L. L. & S. Coal Company

[Docket No. M-94-128-C]

    L. L. & S. Coal Company, P.O. Box 148, Hegins, Pennsylvania 17938 
has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1400 
(hoisting equipment; general) to its L. L. & S. Mine (I.D. No. 36-
08166) located in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. Because of 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 alternate, 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 alternative method would provide at least the same measure of 
protection as would the mandatory standard.

6. Consolidation Coal Company

[Docket No. M-94-129-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)(1) (weekly examination) to its Robinson Run No. 95 
Mine (I.D. No. 46-01318) located in Harrison County, West Virginia. Due 
to deteriorating roof and rib conditions from the No. 5 Seal in the 
Main East set of seals to the point of intersection with Main North of 
the intake air course, traveling the affected area in its entirety 
would be unsafe. The petitioner proposes to establish evaluation check 
points; to have a certified person test for methane and the quantity of 
air at each check point on a weekly basis; to have the certified person 
initial, date, and record the results in a record book kept on the 
surface; and to make the record book available for inspection by 
interested persons. The petitioner asserts that the proposed 
alternative method would provide at least the same measure of 
protection as would the mandatory standard.

7. Martinka Coal Company

[Docket No. M-94-130-C]

    Martinka Coal Company, 800 Laidley Tower, P.O. Box 1233, 
Charleston, West Virginia 25324 has filed a petition to modify the 
application of 30 CFR 75.364(b)(2) (weekly examination) to its Tygart 
River Mine (I.D. No. 46-03805) located in Marion County, West Virginia. 
Due to deteriorating conditions in certain areas of the return air 
course, traveling the affected area in its entirety would be unsafe. 
The petitioner proposes to establish five evaluation check points; to 
have a certified person monitor for hazardous conditions, the volume 
and direction of airflow, and the methane and oxygen concentrations in 
the affected area at each check point on a weekly basis; to record the 
results in a manner similar to that required by the mandatory standard; 
and to locate a date board at each evaluation point which the examiner 
would initial and record the date and time of the examination. The 
petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide 
at least the same measure of protection as would the mandatory 
standard.

8. Monterey Coal Company

[Docket No. M-94-131-C]

    Monterey Coal Company, Rural Route 4, Box 235, Carlinville, 
Illinois 62626 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 
75.503 (permissible electric face equipment; maintenance) to its No. 1 
Mine (I.D. No. 11-00726) located in Macoupin County, Illinois. The 
petitioner proposes to use two Fletcher Model CDR-15 slim line 
roofbolters near the end of the longwall panel to provide additional 
support of the face in preparation for equipment transfer to the next 
panel. These bolters would be equipped with No. 2 AWG G-GC portable 
cables with 1200 feet of the cable reaching across the face from the 
power center outby. The petitioner asserts that the proposed 
alternative method would provide at least the same measure of 
protection as would the mandatory standard.

9. Consolidation Coal Company

[Docket No. M-94-132-C]

    Consolidation 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 Shoemaker Mine (I.D. No. 46-01436) 
located in Marshall County, West Virginia. The petitioner proposes to 
use high-voltage (4,160 volts) cables inby the last open crosscut to 
supply power to longwall equipment. 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 
alternative method would provide at least the same measure of 
protection as would the mandatory standard.

10. Eastern Associated Coal Corporation

[Docket No. M-94-133-C and M-94-134-C]

    Eastern Associated Coal Corporation, 800 Laidley Tower, P.O. Box 
1233, Charleston, West Virginia 25324 has filed a petition to modify 
the application of 30 CFR 75.503 (permissible electric face equipment; 
maintenance) to its Lightfoot No. 1 Mine (I.D. No. 46-04332) and its 
Lightfoot No. 2 Mine (I.D. No. 46-04955) both located in Boone County, 
West Virginia. The petitioner proposes to use a threaded ring and a 
spring loaded device on battery plug connectors for mobile battery-
powered machines to prevent the plug connector from accidently 
disengaging while under load instead of using a padlock. The petitioner 
asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide at least the 
same measure of protection as would the mandatory standard.

11. K & S Coal Company

[Docket No. M-94-135-C]

    K & S Coal Company, RD #2, Box 145, Hegins, Pennsylvania 17938 has 
filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.332(b)(1) and 
(b)(2) (working sections and working places) to its First Chance Slope 
(I.D. No. 36-07629) located in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. The 
petitioner proposes to use air passing through inaccessible abandoned 
workings and additional areas by mixing with the air in the intake 
haulage slope to ventilate the only active working section, to ensure 
air quality by sampling intake air during preshift and on-shift 
examinations, and to suspend mine production when air quality fails to 
meet specified criteria. The petitioner asserts that the proposed 
alternative 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 October 7, 1994. 
Copies of these petitions are available for inspection at that address.
Patricia W. Silvey,
Director, Office of Standards, Regulations and Variances.
[FR Doc. 94-21986 Filed 9-6-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P