[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 129 (Thursday, July 6, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35235-35237]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-16627]



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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. Keystone Coal Mining Corporation

[Docket No. M-95-86-C]

    Keystone Coal Mining Corporation, 655 Church Street, Indiana, 
Pennsylvania 15701 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 
CFR 75.380(d)(3) (escapeways; bituminous and lignite mines) to its 
Emilie No. 1 Mine (I.D. No. 36-00821) located in Armstrong County, 
Pennsylvania. The petitioner proposes to continue utilizing the 
passable escapeway as it presently exists for approximately 8 to 9 feet 
as an alternative to enhancing the height of the overcast area due to 
geologic conditions of that area of the mine. The petitioner states 
that the main intake escapeway (E1) for the Emilie No. 1 Mine is 
directed out of the Emilie No. 2 Track Slope; that petitioner is unable 
to maintain the clearance to the height of the coal seam at one corner 
of the intake overcast located three crosscuts inby the slope bottom 
due to geologic conditions; that the clearance at the immediate corner 
of the overcast is 24 to 29 inches in height and that moving away from 
the immediate corner towards the center of the overcast and down the 
ramp, the height increases to 42 inches, which is the height of the 
coal seam; and that the total linear distance is 9 feet where the 
travelway is less than the seam height. The petitioner also states that 
application of the standard would result in a diminution of safety to 
the miners because a much greater distance would have to be traveled 
along a different escape route. In addition, the petitioner asserts 
that the proposed alternative method would provide at least the same 
measure of protection as would the mandatory standard.

2. Keystone Coal Mining Corporation

[Docket No. M-95-87-C]

    Keystone Coal Mining Corporation, 655 Church Street, Indiana, 
Pennsylvania 15701 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 
CFR 

[[Page 35236]]
75.380(d)(4) (escapeways; bituminous and lignite mines) to its Emilie 
No. 1 Mine (I.D. No. 36-00821) located in Armstrong County, 
Pennsylvania. The petitioner proposes to continue utilizing its 
secondary/alternate escapeway as it presently exists. The petitioner 
states that the secondary/alternate escapeway for the Emilie No. 1 Mine 
is directed through to the East Mains Section cut through to the Emilie 
No. 2 Mine's main line track entry, along the belt and track, and up 
the belt slope to the surface; that two features in and about the slope 
area of the escapeway are less than the requirements of the standard; 
that the distance from the sidewall of the slope to the edge of the 
belt is 54 inches wide and the two airlock doors in the slope are 46 
inches wide. The petitioner states that application of the standard 
would result in a diminution of safety to the miners because a much 
greater distance would have to be traveled along a different escape 
route. In addition, the petitioner asserts that the proposed 
alternative method would provide at least the same measure of 
protection as would the mandatory standard.

3. Canterbury Coal Company

[Docket No. M-95-88-C]

    Canterbury Coal Company, R.D. 1, Box 119, Avonmore, Pennsylvania 
15618 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 
75.380(d)(3) (escapeways; bituminous and lignite mines) to its David 
Mine (I.D. No. 36-00813) located in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. The 
petitioner requests a modification of the standard to allow passage of 
the alternate or secondary escapeway through an area where crossing 
over two overcasts limits the passage height to less than 5 feet. The 
petitioner states that the two overcasts were installed in the mine 
prior to 1971; that the secondary or alternate escapeway is routed over 
the overcasts which isolate it from the belt and track entries; that 
the height of the secondary escapeway over the overcasts is 42 inches 
for 12 feet, and 43 inches for 13 feet at the track and belt overcasts; 
and that all personnel entering the mine are instructed on escapeway 
and escape procedures. The petitioner asserts that the proposed 
alternative method would provide the safest and shortest practical 
means of escape from the active mining section.

4. R. S. Coal Company

[Docket No. M-95-89-C]

    R. S. Coal Company, P.O. Box 526, Trevorton, Pennsylvania 17881 has 
filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1400 (hoisting 
equipment; general) to its No. 1 Slope (I.D. No. 36-07108) 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 an 
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.

5. Primrose Coal Company

[Docket No. M-95-90-C]

    Primrose Coal Company, 214 Vaux Avenue, Tremont, Pennsylvania 17981 
has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1002-1 
(location of other electric equipment; requirements for permissibility) 
to its Primrose Slope (I.D. No. 36-04629) located in Schuylkill County, 
Pennsylvania. The petitioner proposes to use nonpermissible electric 
equipment within 150 feet of the pillar line and to suspend equipment 
operation anytime methane concentration at the equipment reaches 0.5 
percent, either during operation or during a pre-shift examination. The 
petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide 
at least the same measure of protection as would the mandatory 
standard.
6. R & D Coal Company

[Docket No. M-95-91-C]

    R & D Coal Company, 214 Vaux Avenue, Tremont, Pennsylvania 17981 
has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1002-1 
(location of other electric equipment; requirements for permissibility) 
to its Buck Mountain Slope (I.D. No. 36-02053) located in Schuylkill 
County, Pennsylvania. The petitioner proposes to use nonpermissible 
electric equipment within 150 feet of the pillar line and to suspend 
equipment operation anytime methane concentration at the equipment 
reaches 0.5 percent, either during operation or during a pre-shift 
examination. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative 
method would provide at least the same measure of protection as would 
the mandatory standard.

7. Cobre Mining Company

[Docket No. M-95-09-M]

    Cobre Mining Company, 303 Fierro Road, PO Box 424, Hanover, New 
Mexico 88041 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 
57.11055 (inclined escapeways) to its Continental Mine (I.D. No. 29-
00233) located in Grant County, New Mexico. The petitioner proposes to 
modify the use of its present underground secondary escape route. The 
petitioner proposes to install two vent or fire doors on the 1300 level 
at the No. 2 shaft, one on each side of the shaft in the drifts leading 
to and from the shaft; to have a rest or refuge station equipped with 
telephone and audio, compressed air and water lines, suitable hand 
tools, and stopping materials located between the air doors; to install 
a ladderway in the No. 2 shaft cage compartments that would extend from 
the 1300 level up to the 400 level station, a total distance of 900 
vertical feet; to establish rest areas on the 1000, 800, and 600 foot 
levels; to have a walkway approximately 450 feet from the 400 level 
station that extends to the west wall of the open pit and daylight and 
the 6-13 stope connected to the east end of the west wall of the pit; 
to have the 99 stope connected to the bottom level of the pit and if 
any changes are detected in mine ventilation, the emergency escape 
would be carried out entirely in fresh air. The petitioner also 
proposes to retimber all refuge stations, level stations, rest areas or 
walkways, or install ground support when necessary; to remove all scrap 
from the station area; to seal and lock all walkways (drifts) leading 
from the rest stations into any unnecessary or abandoned stope areas. 
After the ladderway from 1300 to 400 level is completed in the No. 2 
shaft, the lagging would be removed from No. 53 for 316 feet and a 
bulkhead would be installed, a concrete and rebar plug poured to form a 
bearing set with a chute type drawpoint, the No. 2 shaft would be 
filled with clean gravel from the concrete plug to the surface, the 
manway would be constructed with 6 by 8 inch stringers nailed in from 
the end plate to the center dividers, and 3 by 5 inch lagging would be 
nailed down on the stringers to the outside of the shaft guides forming 
a 48 by 51 inch landing with at least a 25 by 25 inch ladder opening; 
at each landing 2 by 12 inch laggings would be installed from guide to 
guide to form a horizontal partition, three laggings would be nailed on 
a 1 foot space to a height of 5 feet, a chain link wire would be 
installed between the landings to further close the manway, ladders 
would be installed in 24 foot sections that would be inclined from each 
landing to the center divider above and bolted to a 7 foot vertical 
center divider for additional handholds. The petitioner states that no 
electrical power would be near the 

[[Page 35237]]
manway; that escaping miners would be in fresh air entirely from all 
areas on the 1300 level; and that its approximately 3,300 feet from the 
No. 3 shaft areas down 13-1 drift to the No. 2 shaft station and 
approximately 4,800 feet from 13-17 drift off 13-5 drift to the No. 2 
shaft station by 13-17 drift. 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 August 7, 1995. 
Copies of these petitions are available for inspection at that address.

    Dated: June 29, 1995.
Patricia W. Silvey,
Director, Office of Standards, Regulations and Variances.
[FR Doc. 95-16627 Filed 7-5-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P