[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 68 (Monday, April 10, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18147-18149]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-8690]
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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&B Mining Company
[Docket No. M-95-39-C]
C&B Mining, R.D. #2, Box 861, Coal Township, Pennsylvania 17866 has
filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.335
(construction of seals) to its No. 2 Vein Slope (I.D. No. 36-07813)
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. C&B Mining Company
[Docket No. M-95-40-C]
C&B Mining, R.D. #2, Box 861, Coal Township, Pennsylvania 17866 has
filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.360 (preshift
examination) to its No. 2 Vein Slope (I.D. No. 36-07813) 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 alternative method would provide at least the same measure
of protection as would the mandatory standard.
3. C&B Mining Company
[Docket No. M-95-41-C]
C&B Mining, R.D. #2, Box 861, Coal Township, Pennsylvania 17866 has
filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1100-2(a)
(quantity and location of firefighting equipment) to its No. 2 Vein
Slope (I.D. No. 36-07813) 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. C&B Mining Company
[Docket No. M-95-42-C]
C&B Mining, R.D. #2, Box 861, Coal Township, Pennsylvania 17866 has
filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1200 (d) & (i)
(mine map) to its No. 2 Vein Slope (I.D. No. 36-07813) 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. C&B Mining Company
[Docket No. M-95-43-C]
C&B Mining, R.D. #2, Box 861, Coal Township, Pennsylvania 17866 has
filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1202-1(a)
(temporary notations, revisions, and supplements) to its No. 2 Vein
Slope (I.D. No. 36-07813) 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. Kerr-McGee Coal Corporation
[Docket Nos. M-95-44-C and M-95-45-C]
Kerr-McGee Coal Corporation, P.O. Box 727, Harrisburg, Illinois
62946 has filed petitions to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.503
(permissible electric face equipment; maintenance) to its Galatia No.
56-1 Mine (I.D. No. 11-02752) located in Saline County, Illinois. The
petitioner proposes to use trailing cables to supply power to the
Fletcher single boom roof bolter, Model No. CDR-13-EC-F, Approval No.
2G-2674A-4, and all updated approval extensions of this equipment as
applicable. The petitioner requests that Item 1 of its petitions for
modification and MSHA's Proposed Decisions and Orders for granted
petitions, docket number M-91-12-C and M-94-53-C be amended. The
petitioner asserts that [[Page 18148]] this request would facilitate
equipment replacement or additions while maintaining the protection
intended in the Decision and Order.
7. Roberts Brothers Coal Company, Inc.
[Docket No. M-95-46-C]
Roberts Brothers Coal Company, P.O. Box 397, Mortons Gap, Kentucky
42440 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR
75.901(a) (protection of low- and medium-voltage three-phase circuits
used underground) to its Cardinal No. 2 Mine (I.D. No. 15-17216)
located in Hopkins County, Kentucky. The petitioner proposes to operate
its Diesel Powered Generator (DPG) without an earth referenced ground.
As an alternative, the petitioner proposes to use resistors, ground
fault relays and trips, and SHD-GC shielded cable. In addition, the
skid base of the DPG will provide some earth ground protection. The
petitioner states that this diesel powered generator provides power to
different areas of the mine and to attach a grounding conductor to the
earth referenced ground system would reduce mobility and effectiveness
of the unit. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative
method would provide at least the same measure of protection as would
the mandatory standard.
8. Jordan Coal Company
[Docket No. M-95-47-C]
Jordan Coal Company, 133 E. Academy Street, 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. 36-07681) 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.
9. Eastern Associated Coal Corporation
[Docket No. M-95-48-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 75.380(f)(1) (escapeways; bituminous and
lignite mines) to its Lightfoot No. 1 Mine (I.D. No. 46-04332) located
in Boone County, West Virginia. The petitioner proposes to ventilate
on-board charging of batteries with a current of air coursed directly
into the return air course; to use intake air to ventilate the scoop
batteries that is of sufficient velocity to prevent smoke rollback or
airflow reversal during a fire on the scoop and the accumulation of
explosives gases; to install carbon monoxide sensors that are part of
the AMS System over the battery charging unit; to install a mandoor in
the permanent stopping behind the battery charger unit that would
automatically open the mandoor in the event of a fire. The petitioner
asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide at least the
same measure of protection as would the mandatory standard.
10. Cross Mountain Coal, Inc.
[Docket No. M-95-49-C]
Cross Mountain Coal, Inc., 100 Coal Drive, London, Kentucky 40741
has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.350
(aircourse and belt haulage entries) to its Mine No. 10 (I.D. No. 40-
03082) located in Anderson County, Tennessee. The petitioner proposes
to use the air in the belt entry to ventilate active working places; to
examine the belt conveyor entry at least once during each coal
producting shift at intervals that would be most effective while miners
are working; to follow all other MSHA fire protection requirements,
especially those pertaining to water lines, fire hoses, fire
suppression systems, warning devices, and flame-resistant belting; and
to install a low-level carbon monoxide detection system in all belt
entries used as intake air courses as an early warning fire detection
system. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method
would provide at least the same measure of protection as would the
mandatory standard.
11. Cross Mountain Coal, Inc.
[Docket No. M-95-50-C]
Cross Mountain Coal, Inc., 100 Coal Drive, London, Kentucky 40741
has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1103-4
(automatic fire sensor and warning device systems; installation;
minimum requirements) to its Mine No. 10 (I.D. No. 40-03082) located in
Anderson County, Tennessee. 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 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.
12. Leeco, Inc.
[Docket No. M-95-51-C]
Leeco, Inc., 100 Coal Drive, London Kentucky 40741 has filed a
petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.364(b)(4) (weekly
examination) to its Mine No. 62 (I.D. No. 15-16412) located in Perry
County, Kentucky. Due to flooding and other hazardous conditions in
Seals Nos. 1 and 2, traveling the affected areas would be unsafe. As an
alternative, the petitioner proposes to establish evaluations points
and to perform weekly examinations. The petitioner states that
application of the standard would result in a diminution of safety to
the miners.
13. Peabody Coal Company
[Docket No. M-95-52-C]
Peabody Coal Company, 1951 Barrett Court, P.O. Box 1990, Henderson,
Kentucky 42420 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR
75.364(b) (weekly examination) to its Camp No. 1 Mine (I.D. No. 15-
02709) located in Union County, Kentucky. The petitioner requests that
MSHA's Proposed Decision and Order, docket number M-93-06-C be amended
to eliminate coverage of the 1 South seals, 2 South seals, 3 South
seals, 4 South seals, and 1 West seals off the 1 Submain North in the
Decision because these areas have been sealed since the previous
petition was granted.
14. Holnam, Inc.
[Docket No. M-95-04-M]
Holnam, Inc., 3500 Highway 120, P.O. Box 349, Florence, Colorado
81226 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 56.6901
(black powder) to its Portland Quarry (I.D. No. 05-00037) located in
Fremont County, Colorado. The petitioner proposes to destroy model
rocket engines containing black powder and desensitized black powder
sweepings in blast holes. The petitioner asserts that the proposed
alternative method would provide at least the same measure of
protection as would the mandatory standard.
15. Asbury Graphite Mills, Inc.
[Docket No. M-95-05-M]
Asbury Graphite Mills, Inc., R.D. #7, Box 1, Kittanning,
Pennsylvania 16201 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30
CFR 56.14101 (brakes) to its Kittanning Plant (I.D. No. 36-
[[Page 18149]] 07653) located in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. The
petitioner proposes to install hydraulic micro lever locks on three of
its Yale Forklift Trucks instead of standard parking brakes due to
specific situations and concerns outlined in their petition that reduce
the effectiveness of standard pad and drum parking brakes. The
petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide
at least the same measure of protection as would the mandatory
standard.
16. Tg Soda Ash, Inc.
[Docket No. M-95-06-M]
Tg Soda Ash, Inc., P.O. Box 100, Granger, Wyoming 82934 has filed a
petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 57.22215 (separation of
intake and return air (I-A, II-A, III, and V-4 mines)) to its Wyoming
Soda Ash Operations (I.D. No. 48-00639) located in Sweetwater County,
Wyoming. The petitioner proposes to use controlled district
recirculation of mine air to improve mine ventilation and the quality
of the miner's work environment by providing an excessive airflow to
dilute and carry away dust, methane, and diesel fumes from the mining
and abandoned areas of the mine. The petitioner states that this
recirculation fan system would be inspected during each operating shift
on a weekly basis and that weekly examination results would be included
in the weekly ventilation report which would be kept on the surface;
that the fan would be monitored and the monitors checked for proper
operation on a weekly basis by a qualified person; that mine personnel
would be familiarized and trained on the recirculation system,
monitoring requirements, and emergency escape procedures; and that its
emergency plan would be updated to include the controlled recirculation
system. 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 May 10, 1995. Copies
of these petitions are available for inspection at that address.
Dated: April 3, 1995.
Patricia W. Silvey,
Director, Office of Standards, Regulations and Variances.
[FR Doc. 95-8690 Filed 4-7-95; 8:45 am]
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