[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 239 (Wednesday, December 13, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64079-64081]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-30396]



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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration


Petitions for Modification

    This notice amends a petition document published in the Federal 
Register on November 13, 1995 (60 FR 57025), docket number M-95-156-C, 
Amax Coal Company and Clipmate Corporation, Chinook Mine (I.D. No. 12-
00322). The petitioner filed a petition to modify the application of 30 
CFR 77.1303(y) (1) and (2) (explosives, handling and use) instead of 30 
CFR 75.1303(y) (1) and (2).
    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. R.S. Coal Company

[Docket No. M-95-157-C]

    R.S. Coal Company, 729-B West Shamokin Street, Trevorton, 
Pennsylvania 17881-1461 has filed a petition to modify the application 
of 30 CFR 75.332 (b)(1) and (b)(2) (working sections and working 
places) to its No. 1 Slope (I.D. No. 36-07108) located in 
Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. The petitioner proposes to use air 
passing through inaccessible abandoned workings and additional areas 
not examined and which is currently mixing with the air in the intake 
haulage slope to ventilate the active working section, and to ensure 
the maintenance of air quality through the sampling of section intake 
air for carbon dioxide, methane, and oxygen deficiency at the gangway 
level during the preshift and on-shift examinations. The petitioner 
asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide at least the 
same measure of protection as would the mandatory standard.

2. R.S. Coal Company

[Docket No. M-95-158-C]

    R.S. Coal Company, 729-B West Shamokin Street, Trevorton, 
Pennsylvania 17881-1461 has filed a petition to modify the application 
of 30 CFR 75.335 (construction of seals) to its No. 1 Slope (I.D. No. 
36-07108) located in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. The 
petitioner requests a modification of the standard to permit 
alternative methods of 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 criteria 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.

3. R.S. Coal Company

[Docket No. M-95-159-C]

    R.S. Coal Company, 729-B West Shamokin Street, Trevorton, 
Pennsylvania 17881-1461 has filed a petition to modify the application 
of 30 CFR 75.364(b)(1), (4) and (5) (weekly examination) to its No. 1 
Slope (I.D. No. 36-07108) located in Northumberland County, 
Pennsylvania. Due to hazardous conditions and roof falls, certain areas 
of the intake haulage slope and primary escapeway cannot be traveled 
safely. The petitioner proposes to examine these areas from the 
gunboat/slope car with an alternative air quality evaluation at the 
section's intake level, and to travel and thoroughly examine these 
areas for hazardous conditions 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.

[[Page 64080]]


4. R.S. Coal Company

[Docket No. M-95-160-C]

    R.S. Coal Company, 729-B West Shamokin Street, Trevorton, 
Pennsylvania 17881-1461 has filed a petition to modify the application 
of 30 CFR 75.1100-2 (quantity and location of firefighting equipment) 
to its No. 1 Slope (I.D. No. 36-07108) 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.

5. R.S. Coal Company

[Docket No. M-95-161-C]

    R.S. Coal Company, 729-B West Shamokin Street, Trevorton, 
Pennsylvania 17881-1461 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-
07108) 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-foot intervals of advance from the intake slope and to 
limit the required mapping of the mine workings above and below to 
those present within 100 feet of the veins being mined except when 
veins are interconnected to other veins beyond the 100-foot limit 
through rock tunnel. The petitioner asserts that the proposed 
alternative method would provide at least the same measure of 
protection as would the mandatory standard.

6. R.S. Coal Company

[Docket No. M-95-162-C]

    R.S. Coal Company, 729-B West Shamokin Street, Trevorton, 
Pennsylvania 17881-1461 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. 36-07108) located in 
Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. The petitioner proposes to revise 
and supplement mine maps annually instead of every 6 months, as 
required, 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.

7. Consolidation Coal Company

[Docket No. M-95-163-C]

    Consolidation Coal Company, Consol Plaza, 1800 Washington Road, 
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15241-1421 has filed a petition to modify the 
application of 30 CFR 75.804(a) (underground high-voltage cables) to 
its Blacksville No. 2 Mine (I.D. No. 46-01968) located in Monongalia 
County, West Virginia. The petitioner proposes to use a high-voltage 
(4,160-volt) cable with an internal ground check conductor smaller than 
No. 10 (A.W.G.) as a part of its longwall mining system. The type of 
cable would be the CABLE/BICC Anaconda brand, 5 kV, 3/C, Type SHD+GC; 
Amercable Tiger brand, 3/C, 5 kV, Type SHD-CGC; Pirelli 5 kV, 3/C, Type 
SHD-CENTER-GC; or similar 5,000-volt cable with center ground check 
conductor, but otherwise manufactured to the ICEA Standard S-75-381 for 
Type SHD, three-conductor cables accepted by MSHA as flame-resistant. 
The petitioner states that the cable would be constructed of 
symmetrical 3/C, 3/G, and 1/GC; the ground check conductor would be 
insulated flexible center conductor with a cross-sectional area not 
less than 1,800 circular mils; that all electrical personnel who 
perform maintenance on the longwall would receive training in the 
installation and repair of the cable; and that proposed revision(s) for 
the approved 30 CFR Part 48 training plan would be submitted to the 
Coal Mine Safety and Health District Manager and would specify task 
training, including review of the proposed terms and conditions of this 
petition. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method 
would provide at least the same measure of protection as would the 
mandatory standard.

8. The Pittsburg & Midway Coal Mining Company

[Docket No. M-95-164-C]

    The Pittsburg & Midway Coal Mining Company, 6400 South Fiddler's 
Green Circle, Englewood, Colorado 80111-4991 has filed a petition to 
modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1700 (oil and gas wells) to its 
North River No. 1 (I.D. No. 01-00759) located in Tuscaloosa County, 
Alabama. The petitioner proposes to plug and mine through oil and gas 
wells. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method 
would provide at least the same measure of protection as would the 
mandatory standard.

9. Elk Run Coal Company, Inc.

[Docket No. M-95-165-C]

    Elk Run Coal Company, Inc., Box 497, Sylvester, West Virginia 25193 
has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.333(d)(1) 
(ventilation controls) to its Black King Mine (I.D. No. 46-08230), its 
White Knight Mine (I.D. No. 46-08055), and its Bishop 2 Mine (I.D. No. 
46-08181) all located in Boone County, West Virginia; and its Laurel 
Alma Mine (I.D. No. 46-08457), and its Laurel Eagle Mine (I.D. No. 46-
08383) both located in Raleigh County, West Virginia. The petitioner 
proposes to use electronically operated Roll-Down Doors constructed of 
rubber material similar to those used in conveyor belts to control 
ventilation within the air course in the main entries instead of heavy 
Metal Doors. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative 
method would provide at least the same measure of protection as would 
the mandatory standard.

10. Cyprus Plateau Mining Corporation

[Docket No. M-95-166-C]

    Cyprus Plateau Mining Corporation, Buchanan Ingersoll Professional 
Corporation, One Oxford Centre, 301 Grant Street, 20th Floor, 
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219-1410 has filed a petition to modify the 
application of 30 CFR 75.350 (air courses and belt haulage entries) to 
its Willow Creek Mine (I.D. No. 42-02113) located in Carbon County, 
Utah. The petitioner proposes to use the belt entry in its longwall 
development entries as a return entry during longwall development and 
to use the belt entry as an intake entry during longwall retreat mining 
and in some mains during and after development. The petitioner proposes 
to install carbon monoxide detectors as an early warning fire detection 
system in the longwall panel intake escapeway entry and the panel belt 
entry used as a return air course. The petitioner states that 
application of the 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.

11. Cyprus Plateau Mining Corporation

[Docket No. M-95-167-C]

    Cyprus Plateau Mining Corporation, Buchanan Ingersoll Professional 
Corporation, One Oxford Centre, 301 Grant Street, 20th Floor, 
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219-1410 has filed a petition to modify the 
application of 30 CFR 75.1002 (location of trolley wires, trolley 
feeder wires, high-voltage cables 

[[Page 64081]]
and transformers) to its Willow Creek Mine (I.D. No. 42-02113) located 
in Carbon County, Utah. The petitioner proposes to use high-voltage 
(2,400 or 4,160 volt) cables to power longwall mining equipment. The 
petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide 
at least the same measure of protection as would the mandatory 
standard.

12. Cyprus Plateau Mining Corporation

[Docket No. M-95-168-C]

    Cyprus Plateau Mining Corporation, Buchanan Ingersoll Professional 
Corporation, One Oxford Centre, 301 Grant Street, 20th Floor, 
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219-1410 has filed a petition to modify the 
application of 30 CFR 75.352 (return air courses) to its Willow Creek 
Mine (I.D. No. 42-02113) located in Carbon County, Utah. The petitioner 
proposes to use the belt entry in its longwall development entries as a 
return entry during longwall development. The petitioner proposes to 
install carbon monoxide detectors as an early warning fire detection 
system in the longwall panel intake escapeway entry and the panel belt 
entry used as a return air course. The petitioner states that 
application of the 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 received in that office on or before January 12, 1996. 
Copies of these petitions are available for inspection at that address.

    Dated: December 6, 1995.

Patricia W. Silvey,

Director, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances.

[FR Doc. 95-30396 Filed 12-12-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P