[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 41 (Thursday, March 2, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11680-11682]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-5141]
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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. Rothermel Coal Company
[Docket No. M-95-07-C]
Rothermel Coal Company, R.D. #1, Box 33A, Klingerstown,
Pennsylvania 17941 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30
CFR 75.335 (construction of seals) to its No. 11 Slope (I.D. No. 36-
07558) 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
alternative method would provide at least the same measure of
protection as would the mandatory standard.
2. Rothermel Coal Company
[Docket No. M-95-08-C]
Rothermel Coal Company, R.D. #1, Box 33A, Klingerstown,
Pennsylvania 17941 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30
CFR 75.360 (preshift examination) to its No. 11 Slope (I.D. No. 36-
07558) 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 inby 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 alternative method would provide
at least the same measure of protection as would the mandatory
standard.
3. Rothermel Coal Company
[Docket No. M-95-09-C]
Rothermel Coal Company, R.D. #1, Box 33A, Klingerstown,
Pennsylvania 17941 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30
CFR 75.1100-2(a) (quantity and location of firefighting equipment) to
its No. 11 Slope (I.D. No. 36-07558) 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.
4. Rothermel Coal Company
[Docket No. M-95-10-C]
Rothermel Coal Company, R.D. #1, Box 33A, Klingerstown,
Pennsylvania 17941 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30
CFR 75.1200(d) and (i) (mine map) to its No. 11 Slope (I.D. No. 36-
07558) located in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. The petitioner
proposes to use cross-sections instead of contour lines through the
intake slope, at locations of rock tunnel connections between veins,
and at 1,000 feet intervals of advance from the intake slope and to
limit the mapping of mine workings above and below 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 alternative method
would provide at least the same measure of protection as would the
mandatory standard.
5. Rothermel Coal Company
[Docket No. M-95-11-C]
Rothermel Coal Company, R.D. #1, Box 33A, Klingerstown,
Pennsylvania 17941 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30
CFR 75.1202-1(a) (temporary notations, revisions, and supplements) to
its No. 11 Slope (I.D. No. 36-07558) 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. Stephen Shingara Jr. Coal Company
[Docket No. M-95-12-C]
Stephen Shingara Jr. Coal Company, R.D. #1, Box 369, Shamokin,
Pennsylvania 17872 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30
CFR 75.335 (construction of seals) to its No. 1 Slope (I.D. No. 36-
02280) located in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. The petitioner
requests a modification of the standard to permit alternative
[[Page 11681]] 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 alternative method would provide at least the same measure
of protection as would the mandatory standard.
7. Stephen Shingara Jr. Coal Company
[Docket No. M-95-13-C]
Stephen Shingara Jr. Coal Company, R.D. #1, Box 369, Shamokin,
Pennsylvania 17872 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30
CFR 75.360 (preshift examination) to its No. 1 Slope (I.D. No. 36-
02280) 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 inby 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 alternative method would provide
at least the same measure of protection as would the mandatory
standard.
8. Stephen Shingara Jr. Coal Company
[Docket No. M-95-14-C]
Stephen Shingara Jr. Coal Company, R.D. #1, Box 369, Shamokin,
Pennsylvania 17872 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30
CFR 75.1100-2(a) (quantity and location of firefighting equipment) to
its No. 1 Slope (I.D. No. 36-02280) 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.
9. Stephen Shingara Jr. Coal Company
[Docket No. M-95-15-C]
Stephen Shingara Jr. Coal Company, R.D. #1, Box 369, Shamokin,
Pennsylvania 17872 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30
CFR 75.1200(d) & (i) (mine map) to its No. 1 Slope (I.D. No. 36-02280)
located in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. The petitioner proposes
to use cross-sections instead of contour lines through the intake
slope, at locations of rock tunnel connections between veins, and at
1,000 feet intervals of advance from the intake slope and to limit the
mapping of mine workings above and below 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 alternative method would provide
at least the same measure of protection as would the mandatory
standard.
10. Stephen Shingara Jr. Coal Company
[Docket No. M-95-16-C]
Stephen Shingara Jr. Coal Company, R.D. #1, Box 369, Shamokin,
Pennsylvania 17872 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30
CFR 75.1202-1(a) (temporary notations, revisions, and supplements) to
its No. 1 Slope (I.D. No. 36-02280) 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.
11. Frank Branch Mining, Inc.
[Docket No. M-95-17-C]
Frank Branch Mining, Inc., Route 1, Box 200, Dunlow, West Virginia
25511 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.503
(permissible electric face equipment; maintenance) to its Frank Branch
No. 1 Mine (I.D. No. 46-07838) located in Wayne County, West Virginia.
The petitioner proposes to replace a padlock on battery plug connectors
on mobile battery-powered machines with a threaded ring and a spring
loaded device to prevent the plug connector from accidently disengaging
while under load; to have a warning tag on all battery plug connectors
on the battery-powered machines that states ``do not disengage plugs
under load;'' and to instruct all persons required to operate or
maintain the battery-powered machines in the safe practices and
provisions provided for in the alternative method of compliance. 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.
12. Frank Branch Mining, Inc.
[Docket No. M-95-18-C]
Frank Branch Mining, Inc., Route 1, Box 200, Dunlow, West Virginia
25511 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.503
(permissible electric face equipment; maintenance) to its Frank Branch
No. 2 Mine (I.D. No. 46-08412) located in Wayne County, West Virginia.
The petitioner proposes to replace a padlock on battery plug connectors
with a threaded ring and a spring loaded device on mobile battery-
powered machines to prevent the plug connector from accidently
disengaging while under load; to have a warning tag on all battery plug
connectors on the battery-powered machines that states ``do not
disengage plugs under load;'' and to instruct all persons required to
operate or maintain the battery-powered machines in the safe practices
and provisions provided for in the alternative method of compliance.
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.
13. Copperas Coal Corporation
[Docket No. M-95-19-C]
Copperas Coal Corporation, P.O. Box 4544, Chapmanville, West
Virginia 25508 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR
75.503 (permissible electric face equipment; maintenance) to its Red
Oak Mine (I.D. No. 46-08135) located in Boone County, West Virginia.
The petitioner proposes to replace a padlock on battery plug connectors
with a threaded ring and a spring loaded device on mobile battery-
powered machines to prevent the plug connector from accidently
disengaging while under load; to have a warning tag on all battery plug
connectors on the battery-powered machines that states ``do not
disengage plugs under load''; and to instruct all persons required to
operate or maintain the battery-powered machines in the safe practices
and provisions provided for in the alternative method of compliance.
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 [[Page 11682]] protection as would the
mandatory standard.
14. Eighty-Four Mining Company
[Docket No. M-95-20-C]
Eighty-Four Mining Company, P.O. Box 729, Indiana, Pennsylvania
15701 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1002
(location of trolley wires, trolley feeder wires, high-voltage cables
and transformers) to its Mine 84 (I.D. No. 36-00958) located in
Washington County, Pennsylvania. The petitioner proposes to use high-
voltage (4,160 volts) cables inby the last open crosscut to supply
power to longwall face equipment. The petitioner asserts that the
proposed alternative method would provide at least the same measure of
protection as would the mandatory standard.
15. Minnesota Ore Operations, USX Corporation
[Docket No. M-95-03-M]
Minnesota Ore Operations, USX Corporation, 600 Grant Street, room
1580, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219 has filed a petition to modify the
application of 30 CFR 56.15014 (eye protection when operating grinding
wheels) to its Minntac Mine (I.D. No. 21-00282); its Minntac Plant
(I.D. No. 21-00820); and its Maintenance Department (I.D. No. 21-00819)
all located in St. Louis County, Minnesota. The petitioner proposes to
continue using pedestal grinders with safety shields; to continue
providing safety glasses, including prescription glasses to all
employees for them to wear while working, except in office areas; and
to discontinue using face shields when employees are wearing safety
glasses while operating pedestal grinders equipped with safety shields.
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 April 3, 1995.
Copies of these petitions are available for inspection at that address.
Dated: February 24, 1995.
Patricia W. Silvey,
Director, Office of Standards, Regulations and Variances.
[FR Doc. 95-5141 Filed 3-1-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-M