[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 35 (Wednesday, February 22, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9866-9868]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-4228]



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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. Serendipity Mining, Inc.

[Docket No. M-95-01-C]

    Serendipity Mining, Inc., P.O. Box 1588, Barbourville, Kentucky 
40906 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.342 
(methane monitors) to its No. 4 Mine (I.D. No. 15-17568) located in 
Whitley County, Kentucky. The petitioner proposes to monitor 
continuously with a hand-held methane and oxygen detector instead of 
using a methane monitoring system on permissible three-wheel tractors 
with [[Page 9867]] 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.

2. Windsor Coal Company.

[Docket No. M-95-02-C]

    Windsor Coal Company, P.O. Box 39, West Liberty, West Virginia 
26074 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 
75.364(b)(1) and (2) (weekly examination) to its Windsor Mine (I.D. No. 
46-01286) located in Brooke County, West Virginia. Due to deteriorating 
roof and rib conditions in the left side return air course of the East 
Mains from the 0+00 to 66+00 for a distance of approximately 6,600 
feet, traveling or restoration of the affected area would be unsafe. 
The petitioner proposes to examine the area on a weekly basis by 
establishing check points G--No. 1 entry at approximately 0+50, and H--
No. 1 entry at approximately 66+00; to examine the 1 North bleeder 
seal, 1 North seals, East Main seals, and 2 North seals (22 seals 
total); to have a certified person test for methane and the quantity of 
air at all check points on a weekly basis and record the results in a 
book kept on the surface and made available for inspection by 
interested persons; to install stoppings at the equalizing overcasts at 
approximately 23+00 and 65+00 to prevent the mixing of right side and 
left side returns; and to install a stopping at approximately 0+50 in 
the No. 2 entry to direct all air to check point ``G''. The petitioner 
asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide at least the 
same measure of protection as would the mandatory standard.

3. Rosebud Mining Company.

[Docket No. M-95-03-C]

    Rosebud Mining Company, Box 324 B, R.D. 2, Parker, Pennsylvania 
16049 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.333 
(ventilation controls) to its Rosebud No. 3 Mine (I.D. No. 36-07843) 
located in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. The petitioner proposes to 
use temporary ventilation controls on the intake side in the room 
necking procedure for rooms to be developed less than 600 feet. The 
petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide 
at least the same measure of protection as would the mandatory 
standard.

4. R. & R. Anthracite Coal Company.

[Docket No. M-95-04-C]

    R. & R. Anthracite Coal Company, R. R. 2, Box 21 B, Hegins, 
Pennsylvania 17938 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 
CFR 75.1400 (hoisting equipment; general) to its Buck Mt. Slope (I.D. 
No. 36-08498) 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 alternative, when 
using the gunboat to transport persons, the petitioner proposes to use 
hoisting rope with a safety factor at least 3 times greater than 
required and secondary safety connections which are securely fastened 
around the gunboat and to the hoisting rope above the main connection 
device. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method 
would provide at least the same measure of protection as would the 
mandatory standard.

5. Consolidation Coal Company.

[Docket No. M-94-05-C]

    Consolidation Coal Company, Consol Plaza, 1800 Washington Road, 
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15241 has filed a petition to modify the 
application of 30 CFR 75.1002 (location of trolley wires and trolley 
feeder wires, high-voltage cables and transformers) to its Buchanan 
Mine (I.D. No. 44-04856) located in Buchanan County, Virginia. The 
petitioner proposes to use high-voltage cables (4,160 volts) in by the 
last open crosscut. The petitioner states that application of the 
mandatory 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.

6. C. S. & S. Coal Corporation.

[Docket No. M-95-06-C]

    C. S. & S. Coal Corporation, P.O. Box 1234, Grundy, Virginia 24614 
has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1710 
(canopies or cabs; electric face equipment) to its No. 7 Mine (I.D. No. 
44-06762) located in Russell County, Virginia. The petitioner proposes 
to operate electric mobile equipment without canopies in seam heights 
up to 48 inches. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative 
method would not result in a diminution of safety to the miners.

7. Texasgulf, Inc.

[Docket No. M-95-01-M]

    Texasgulf, Inc., P.O. Box 171, Weeping Water, Nebraska 68463 has 
filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 57.11041 (landings 
for inclined ladderways) to its Limestone Mine (I.D. No. 25-00554) 
located in Cass County, Nebraska. The petitioner proposes to have two 
portals at the mine to serve as the primary and secondary escapeways. 
The petitioner proposes to have a vertical vent shaft 36 inches in 
diameter and 125 feet tall as an auxiliary escapeway for a extra safety 
measure in case the primary and secondary portals become blocked; and 
as an additional escapeway, the petitioner proposes to install a ladder 
with rungs 8 inches from the wall to the center of the rung and with a 
15 inch x 10 inch step off point every 20 feet. The petitioner asserts 
that the proposed alternative method would provide at least the same 
measure of protection as would the mandatory standard.

8. Aluminum Company of America

[Docket No. M-95-02-M]

    Aluminum Company of America, State Highway 35, Point Comfort, Texas 
77978 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 56.9300 
(berms or guardrails) to its Bayer Alumina Plant (I.D. No. 41-00320) 
located in Calhoun County, Texas. The petitioner requests a 
modification of the mandatory standard to allow continued use of its 
already established methods of compliance of having signs posted at the 
entrances to the impoundment area stating that the roadways are not 
bermed; delineators at 25 feet intervals along the perimeter of the 
elevated roadways; the maximum speed limit posted at 15 mph on the 
elevated roadways; road surfaces well maintained with necessary repairs 
following periods of inclement weather. The petitioner has a locked, 
remotely operated electric gate at the main entrance to the impoundment 
area with 24 hour security, 7 days a week via closed circuit camera and 
TV monitor. Access to the gate is by permission only via telephones 
which are located outside the gate, or by two-way radios for 
maintenance personnel. The petitioner states that application of the 
mandatory 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.

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 [[Page 9868]] received in that office on or before March 
24, 1995. Copies of these petitions are available for inspection at 
that address.

    Dated: February 10, 1995.
Patricia W. Silvey,
Director, Office of Standards, Regulations and Variances.
[FR Doc. 95-4228 Filed 2-21-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P