[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 107 (Monday, June 5, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29714-29715]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-13594]



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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. H & S Coal Company

[Docket No. M-95-67-C]

    H & S Coal Company, 534 Melrose Street, Marion Heights, 
Pennsylvania 17832 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 
CFR 75.1400 (hoisting equipment; general) to its No. 1 Slope (I.D. No. 
36-08447) located in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. The 
petitioner proposes to use a slope conveyance (gunboat) in transporting 
persons without installing safety catches or other no less effective 
devices but instead use a increased rope strength/safety factor and 
secondary safety rope connection in place of such devices. The 
petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide 
at least the same measure of protection as would the mandatory 
standard.

2. C. H. & S. Coal Company

[Docket No. M-95-68-C]

    C. H. & S. Coal Company, Inc., P.O. Box 159, Birchleaf, Virginia 
24220 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1711-
2 (sealing of slope or drift openings) to its Mine No. 3 (I.D. No. 44-
01246) located in Scott County, Virginia. The petitioner proposes to 
install bat gates on openings at Mine No. 3 and Portals C in addition 
to the two bat gates already installed by the Virginia Department of 
Mines, Minerals and Energy at openings Portal A and Portal B in 1987. 
The petitioner states that the U.S. Forest Service has information that 
would verify that bat-friendly angle-iron gates have proven highly 
successful in ensuring both human and bat safety throughout the 
country; and that they would be willing to provide gate plans for 
review and to take responsibility for the maintenance and upkeep of the 
gates including responsibility for the public's safety. The petitioner 
asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide at least the 
same measure of protection as would the mandatory standard.

3. Bear Coal Company

[Docket No. M-95-69-C]

    Bear Coal Company, P.O. Box 518, Somerset, Colorado 81434 has filed 
a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.364(b)(4) (weekly 
examination) to its Bear No. 3 Mine (I.D. No. 05-03787) located in 
Gunnison County, Colorado. Due to a roof fall in the ``C'' seam at 
crosscuts #25 and #26, entries #0 and #1 impeding travel to two (2) 
permanent seals the area cannot be traveled safely. The petitioner 
proposes to establish monitoring stations to measure the quantity and 
quality of air entering and leaving the affected area; to have a 
certified person examine the stations on a daily basis and record the 
results in a book kept on the surface and made 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.

4. Clinchfield Coal Company

[Docket No. M-95-70-C]

    Clinchfield Coal Company, 1600 Laidley Tower, P.O. Box 553, 
Charleston, West Virginia 25322 has filed a petition to modify the 
application of 30 CFR 75.350 (air courses and belt haulage entries) to 
its McClure No. 2 Mine (I.D. No. 44-04946) located in Dickenson County, 
Virginia. Due to extreme restrictions on the intake airways, the 
petitioner proposes to install a low-level carbon monoxide monitoring 
system as an early warning fire detection system in all belt entries 
used as intake air courses to ventilate the active working faces and to 
dilute and render harmless respirable dust and harmful gases. The 
petitioner states that application of the standard would result in 
diminution of safety to the miners. The petitioner asserts that the 
proposed alternative method would provide at least the same measure of 
protection as would the mandatory standard.

5. Clinchfield Coal Company

[Docket No. M-95-71-C]

    Clinchfield Coal Company, 1600 Laidley Tower, P.O. Box 553, 
Charleston, West Virginia 25322 has filed a petition to modify the 
application of 30 CFR 75.340(a) (underground electrical installations) 
to its McClure No. 2 Mine (I.D. No. 44-04946) located in Dickenson 
County, Virginia. Due to extreme air restrictions on the intake 
airways, the petitioner proposes to install a low-level carbon monoxide 
monitoring system in all belt entries used as intake air courses as an 
early warning fire detection system to ventilate the active working 
faces and to dilute and render harmless respirable dust and harmful 
gases. The petitioner states that application of the standard would 
result in a diminution of safety to the miners. The petitioner asserts 
that the proposed alternative method would provide at least the same 
measure of protection as would the mandatory standard.

6. Costain Coal, Inc.

[Docket No. M-95-72-C]

    Costain Coal, Inc., P.O. Box 289, Sturgis, Kentucky 42459 has filed 
a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1710-1 (canopies or 
cabs; self- [[Page 29715]] propelled electric face equipment; 
installation requirements) to its No. 9 Wheatcroft Mine (I.D. No. 15-
13920) located in Webster County, Kentucky. The petitioner requests a 
modification of the mandatory standard to eliminate the use of a canopy 
or cab on its Pettito Mule longwall shield puller. The petitioner 
proposes to have its roof bolt spacing between the longwall shield 
canopy tip and the coal block reduced from 5 foot to 4 foot centers; to 
install additional roof bolts or cribs if adverse or questionable roof 
conditions occur; to install additional roof bolts or cribs if the 
longwall canopy tips are located more than 5 feet from the coal block; 
and to have a certified person continue to evaluate the roof conditions 
during longwall shield removal. The petitioner asserts that the 
proposed alternative method would provide at least the same measure of 
protection as would the mandatory standard.
7. Consolidation Coal Company

[Docket No. M-95-73-C]

    Consolidation Coal Company, Consol Plaza, 1800 Washington Road, 
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15241 has filed a petition to modify the 
application of 30 CFR 75.364(b) (weekly examination) to its Osage No. 3 
Mine (I.D. No. 46-01455) located in Monongalia County, West Virginia. 
Due to deteriorating roof and rib conditions in the Main West return 
aircourse, between block markers 7 and 18, traveling the area would be 
unsafe. The petitioner proposes to establish evaluation check points to 
monitor the affected area; to have a certified person test for methane 
and the quantity of air at each check point on a weekly basis, and 
record the results in a record book kept on the surface and made 
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.

8. Industrial Coal Corporation

[Docket No. M-95-74-C]

    Industrial Coal Corporation, P.O. Box 1139, Grundy, Virginia 24614 
has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 77.214(a) 
(refuse piles; general) to its Mine No. 3 (I.D. No. 44-06673) located 
in Buchanan County, Virginia. The petitioner proposes to seal the mine 
by removing all sloughed overburden for 10 to 12 feet in front of and 
to either side of the drift openings in order to allow placement of 
suitable material for sealing. The petitioner proposes to install a 
rock core underdrain constructed of durable sandstone rock, enclosed in 
filter fabric to prevent piping, and/or 2 to 3 inch CMP drain for wet 
seal in the lowest entry; to backfill the portal areas with an 
impervious, noncombustible material that contains enough fines to 
ensure an airtight seal and compacted to 90 percent Proctor dry 
density; to backfill to 4 feet above drift openings or to 4 feet above 
any visible cracks above the drifts; and to backfill all exposed coal 
seams in the vicinity of the openings to a minimum depth of 4 feet 
above the top of the seam. Petitioner states that all backfill material 
would be placed in 2-foot lifts. The petitioner asserts that the 
proposed alternative method would provide at least the same measure of 
protection as would the mandatory standard.

9. Trapper Mining, Inc.

[Docket No. M-95-75-C]

    Trapper Mining, Inc., P.O. Box 187, Craig, Colorado 81626 has filed 
a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 77.1304(a) (blasting 
agents; special provisions) to its Trapper Mine (I.D. No. 05-02838) 
located in Moffat County, Colorado. The petitioner requests that its 
previous petition be amended to allow the addition of petroleum-based 
solvent (NAPHTHA) to the recycled oil/diesel fuel mixture in the 
creation of an ammonium nitrate-fuel oil (ANFO) for use as a blasting 
agent at the minesite. The petitioner asserts that the proposed 
alternative method would provide at least the same measure of 
protection as would the mandatory standard.

10. Twentymile Coal Company

[Docket No. M-95-76-C]

    Twentymile Coal Company, 29515 Routt County Road #27, Oak Creek, 
Colorado 80467 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 
75.507 (power connection points) to its Foidel Creek Mine (I.D. No. 05-
03836) located in Routt County, Colorado. The petitioner proposes to 
use high-voltage submersible pumps in boreholes drilled into a sump 
area or areas of the mine. The petitioner asserts that the proposed 
alternative method would provide at least the same measure of 
protection as would the mandatory standard.

11. Twentymile Coal Company

[Docket No. M-95-77-C]

    Twentymile Coal Company, 29515 Routt County Road #27, Oak Creek, 
Colorado 80467 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 Foidel Creek Mine (I.D. No. 05-03836) located 
in Routt County, Colorado. The petitioner proposes to use high-voltage 
submersible pumps in boreholes drilled into a sump area or areas of the 
mine. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method would 
provide at least the same measure of protection as would the mandatory 
standard.

12. Cyprus Bagdad Copper Corporation

[Docket No. M-95-08-M]

    Cyprus Bagdad Copper Corporation, 9100 East Minerals Circle, 
Englewood, Colorado 80112 has filed a petition to modify the 
application of 30 CFR 56.6309 (fuel oil requirements for ANFO) to its 
Bagdad Mine (I.D. No. 02-00137) located in Yavapai County, Arizona. The 
petitioner proposes to blend recycled oil with fuel oil in preparing 
ammonium nitrate-fuel oil (ANFO) for use as a blasting agent. 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 July 3, 1995. Copies 
of these petitions are available for inspection at that address.

    Dated: May 25, 1995.
Patricia W. Silvey,
Director, Office of Standards, Regulations and Variances.
[FR Doc. 95-13594 Filed 6-2-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P