[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 89 (Tuesday, May 7, 1996)] [Notices] [Pages 20543-20545] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 96-11273] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. West End Coal Company, Deep Mine [Docket No. M-96-24-C] West End Coal Company, Deep Mine, 525 Pine Street, Lykens, Pennsylvania 17048 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1202-1(a) (temporary notations, revisions, and supplements) to its Last Chance Slope (I.D. No. 36-07859) located in Schuylkill 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. 2. West End Coal Company, Deep Mine [Docket No. M-96-25-C] West End Coal Company, Deep Mine, 525 Pine Street, Lykens, Pennsylvania 17048 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1200(d) & (i) (mine map) to its Last Chance Slope (I.D. No. 36- 07859) located in Schuylkill 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. 3. West End Coal Company, Deep Mine [Docket No. M-96-26-C] West End Coal Company, Deep Mine, 525 Pine Street, Lykens, Pennsylvania 17048 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.364(b)(1), (4), and (5) (weekly examination) to its Last Chance Slope (I.D. No. 36-07859) located in Schuylkill 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. 4. West End Coal Company, Deep Mine [Docket No. M-96-27-C] West End Coal Company, Deep Mine, 525 Pine Street, Lykens, Pennsylvania 17048 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.360 (preshift examination) to its Last Chance Slope (I.D. No. 36-07859) located in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. The petitioner proposes to visually examine each seal for physical damage from the slope gunboat during the preshift examination after an air quality 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. 5. West End Coal Company, Deep Mine [Docket No. M-96-28-C] West End Coal Company, Deep Mine, 525 Pine Street, Lykens, Pennsylvania 17048 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.335 (construction of seals) to its Last Chance Slope (I.D. No. 36-07859) located in Schuylkill 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 [[Page 20544]] 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. 6. West End Coal Company, Deep Mine [Docket No. M-96-29-C] West End Coal Company, Deep Mine, 525 Pine Street, Lykens, Pennsylvania 17048 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1100 (quantity and location of firefighting equipment) to its Last Chance Slope (I.D. No. 36-07859) located in Schuylkill 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. 7. Amax Coal Company [Docket No. M-96-30-C] Amax Coal Company, One Oxford Centre, 301 Grant Street, 20th Floor, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219-1410 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.503 (permissible electric face equipment; maintenance) to its Wabash Mine (I.D. No. 11-00877) located in Wabash County, Illinois. The petitioner proposes to extend the length of portable trailing cables to 825 feet. These cables would carry electrical power from the working face transformer to the mobile roof supports. The trailing cables connecting the working section transformer to the mobile roof supports are No. 4 3/C G-GC. The petitioner is conducting second mining in certain areas of its mine where Voest-Alpine mobile roof supports are used and asserts that a safer mining process and more effective roof control is provided during second mining than if timbers and other types of support are used. In addition, the petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide at least the same measure of protection as would the mandatory standard. 8. Eighty-Four Mining Company [Docket No. M-96-31-C] Eighty-Four Mining Company, 655 Church Street, Indiana, Pennsylvania 15701 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1100-2(e) (quantity and location of firefighting equipment) to its Mine 84 (I.D. No. 36-00958) located in Washington County, Pennsylvania. The petitioner proposes to provide two portable fire extinguishers or one portable fire extinguisher with twice the required capacity at each temporary electrical installation instead of providing one extinguisher and rock dust at temporary electrical installations. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide at least the same measure of protection as would the mandatory standard. 9. Pittsburg & Midway Coal Mining Company [Docket No. M-96-32-C] Pittsburg & Midway Coal Mining Company, P.O. Box 6518, Englewood, Colorado 80155-6518 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.325(b) (air quantity) to its Sebree No. 1 Mine (I.D. No. 15- 17044) located in Webster County, Kentucky. The petitioner proposes to provide positive ventilation by using the stopping line constructed to separate the intake and return air courses in the rooms previously developed on the same panel. The petitioner states that the stopping line would be constructed and maintained in accordance with the requirements in 30 CFR 75.333; that permanent stopping lines would be constructed when rooms are driven more than 600 feet deep and temporary stopping lines would be used when rooms are driven 600 feet deep or less, as measured from the centerline of the panel from which the rooms are driven; and that air flow volumes would be measured in accordance with 30 CFR 75.360(c)(1) and 75.362(c)(1). The petitioner asserts that application of the standard would result in a diminution of safety to the miners; and that the proposed alternative method would provide at least the same measure of protection as would the mandatory standard. 10. Pittsburg & Midway Coal Mining Company [Docket No. M-96-33-C] Pittsburg & Midway Coal Mining Company, P.O. Box 6518, Englewood, Colorado 80155-6518 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.360(c)(1) (preshift examination) to its Sebree No. 1 Mine (I.D. No. 15-17044) located in Webster County, Kentucky. The petitioner proposes to provide positive ventilation by using the stopping line constructed to separate the intake and return air courses in the rooms previously developed on the same panel. The petitioner states that the stopping line would be constructed and maintained in accordance with the requirements in 30 CFR 75.333; that permanent stopping lines would be constructed when rooms are driven more than 600 feet deep and temporary stopping lines would be used when rooms are driven 600 feet deep or less, as measured from the centerline of the panel from which the rooms are driven; and that air flow volumes would be measured in accordance with 30 CFR 75.360(c)(1) and 75.362(c)(1). The petitioner asserts that application of the standard would result in a diminution of safety to the miners; and that the proposed alternative method would provide at least the same measure of protection as would the mandatory standard. 11. Pittsburg & Midway Coal Mining Company [Docket No. M-96-34-C] Pittsburg & Midway Coal Mining Company, P.O. Box 6518, Englewood, Colorado 80155-6518 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.362(c)(1) (on-shift examination) to its Sebree No. 1 Mine (I.D. No. 15-17044) located in Webster County, Kentucky. The petitioner proposes to provide positive ventilation by using the stopping line constructed to separate the intake and return air courses in the rooms previously developed on the same panel. The petitioner states that the stopping line would be constructed and maintained in accordance with the requirements in 30 CFR 75.333; that permanent stopping lines would be constructed when rooms are driven more than 600 feet deep and temporary stopping lines would be used when rooms are driven 600 feet deep or less, as measured from the centerline of the panel from which the rooms are driven; and that air flow volumes would be measured in accordance with 30 CFR 75.360(c)(1) and 75.362(c)(1). The petitioner asserts that application of the standard would result in a diminution of safety to the miners; and that the proposed alternative method would provide at least the same measure of protection as would the mandatory standard. 12. Pittsburg & Midway Coal Mining Company [Docket No. M-96-35-C] Pittsburg & Midway Coal Mining Company, P.O. Box 6518, Englewood 80155-6518 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1700 (oil and gas wells) to its Sebree No. 1 Mine (I.D. No. 15- 17044) located in Webster County, Kentucky. The petitioner proposes to mine through oil and gas wells. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method would [[Page 20545]] 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 June 6, 1996. Copies of these petitions are available for inspection at that address. Dated: April 30, 1996. Patricia W. Silvey, Director, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances. [FR Doc. 96-11273 Filed 5-6-96; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4510-43-P