[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 124 (Wednesday, June 26, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33140-33141]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-16260]
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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. Kade Coal Company, Inc.
[Docket No. M-96-36-C]
Kade Coal Company, Inc., Route 1, Box 513, Grundy, Virginia 24614
has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 77.214(a)
(refuse piles; general) to its Mine No. 2 (I.D. No. 44-06483) located
in Buchanan County, Virginia. The petitioner proposes to cover several
entries at each abandoned mine opening with coarse refuse material
during construction of a refuse fill. Presently, the petitioner is
depositing coarse refuse material on the existing Red Ash seam bench
(Refuse Disposal No: 1211-VA5-0297). The petitioner requests this
modification of the standard, to allow four drift openings to be filled
with refuse where drift entries to old mine workings at Mine No. 3
(I.D. No. 44-06310) exist, during construction of refuse fill. The
petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide
at least the same measure of protection as would the mandatory
standard.
2. Monterey Coal Company
[Docket No. M-96-37-C]
Monterey Coal Company, Rural Route 4, Box 235, Carlinville,
Illinois 62626 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR
75.380(d)(4)
[[Page 33141]]
(escapeways; bituminous and lignite mines) to its No. 1 Mine (I.D. No.
11-00726) located in Macoupin County, Illinois. The petitioner requests
a modification of the standard to allow the width of the escapeway to
be 5 feet instead of 6 feet when using the belt conveyor as an
alternate escapeway. The petitioner asserts that the proposed
alternative method would provide at least the same measure of
protection as would the mandatory standard.
3. Tennessee Energy Corporation
[Docket No. M-96-38-C]
Tennessee Energy Corporation, 1000 Pocket Road, Whitewell,
Tennessee 37397 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30
CFR 75.1405 (automatic couplers) to its Mine No. 41 (I.D. No. 40-02875)
located in Sequatche County, Tennessee. The petitioner proposed to use
flatcars instead of regular supply cars to haul supplies into the mine
due to mining heights. The petitioner proposes to connect the motor and
the flatcar with a steel tongue that would be aligned and secured with
a pin instead of using automatic couplers. The petitioner asserts that
the proposed alternative method would provide at least the same measure
of protection as would the mandatory standard.
4. R B Coal Company, Inc.
[Docket No. M-96-39-C]
R B Coal Company, Inc., 8174 East Highway 72, Pathfork, Kentucky
40863 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1710-
1 (canopies or cabs; self-propelled electric face equipment;
installation requirements) to its R B No. 5 Mine (I.D. No. 15-17077)
located in Harlan County, Kentucky. The petitioner requests a variance
from the use of canopies to the area of the tram leavers used to tram
the two Eimco, Model No. 350-43, roof bolting machines from place to
place. The petitioner states that at no time would the area pass in by
unsupported roof; and asserts that modification of the standard would
not pose any type of additional hazard to the miners.
5. Pontiki Coal Corporation
[Docket No. M-96-40-C and M-96-41-C]
Pontiki Coal Corporation, P.O. Box 801, Route 1401, Lovely,
Kentucky 41231 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR
75.388 (boreholes in advance of mining) to its Pontiki No. 1 Mine (I.D.
No. 15-08413), and its Pontiki No. 2 Mine (I.D. No. 15-09571) both
located in Martin County, Kentucky. The petitioner proposes to drill
boreholds when working places advance to within 30 feet of certain
surveyed areas in the mine unless those areas have been preshift
examined. The petitioner has outlined specific procedures for its
alternative method in the petition for modification. The petitioner
assets that the proposed alternative method would provide at least the
same measure of protection as would the mandatory standard.
6. Beech Fork Processing, Inc.
[Docket No. M-96-42-C]
Beech Fork Processing, Inc., P.O. Box 190, Lovely, Kentucky 41231
has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.388
(boreholes in advance of mining) to its Mine No. 1 (I.D. No. 15-16162)
located in Johnson County, Kentucky. The petitioner requests a variance
to mine adjacent to old works, leaving a 50 foot unmined barrier
without boring test holes, within 200 feet of old works. The petitioner
asserts that the proposed alternative method would not pose any breach
in safety procedures.
7. New Warwick Mining Company
[Docket No. M-96-43-C]
New Warwick Mining Company, R. D. 1 Box 167A, Mount Morris,
Pennsylvania 15349 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30
CFR 75.364(b)(2) (weekly examination) to its Warwick Mine (I.D. No. 36-
02374) located in Greene County, Pennsylvania. Due to hazardous
conditions in certain areas of the return air course, the area cannot
be traveled in its entirety. The petitioner proposes to establish two
monitoring points to evaluate the affected area. The petitioner states
that the area would be monitored on a weekly basis. The petitioner
asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide at least the
same measure of protection as would the mandatory standard.
8. Consolidation Coal Company
[Docket No. M-96-44-C]
Consolidation Coal Company, Consol, Inc., Consol Plaza, 1800
Washington Road, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15241-1421 has filed a
petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.364(b)(1) (weekly
examination) to its Loveridge No. Mine (I.D. No. 46-01433) located in
Monongalia County, West Virginia. Due to deteriorating roof conditions
in the intake airway from the vent tubes at the inside shop to the
Sugar Run return air shaft (one block West of Check Point ``C''),
traveling the area to make weekly examinations would be unsafe. The
petitioner proposes to establish two check points, on inby and outby
the affected area; to maintain these check points in a safe conditions
at all times; and to have a certified person test for methane and the
quantity of air on a weekly basis at both check points. In addition,
the person making such examinations would record the results with their
initials and date in a record book kept on the surface and made
accessible to interested parties. 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
[Docket No. M-96-45-C]
Elk Run Coal Company, P.O. Box 497, Sylvester, West Virginia 25193
has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.503
(permissible electric face equipment; maintenance) to its Castle Mine
(I.D. No. 46-07009), Bishop No. 2 Mine (I.D. No. 46-08181), Black King
No. 1/North Portal (I.D. No. 46-08553), White Knight Mine (I.D. No. 46-
08055), and Black King No. 1 Mine all located in Boone County, West
Virginia; and its Laurel Eagle Mine (I.D. No. 46-0883), and Laurel Alma
Mine (I.D. No. 46-08457) located in Raleigh County, West Virginia. The
petitioner proposes to use permanently installed spring-loaded locking
devices to secure battery plugs on mobile equipment instead of padlocks
to maintain equipment in permissible condition in accordance with 30
CFR 18.41. 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 July 26, 1996.
Copies of these petitions are available for inspection at that address.
Dated: June 20, 1996.
Edward C. Hugler,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Mine Safety and Health.
[FR Doc. 96-16260 Filed 6-25-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-M