[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 136 (Wednesday, July 16, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38123-38124]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-18639]


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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. Apogee Coal Company dBA Arch of Illinois

[Docket No. M-97-73-C]

    Apogee Coal Company dBA Arch of Illinois, P.O. Box 308, Percy, 
Illinois 62272-0308 has filed a petition to modify the application of 
30 CFR 75.1002 (location of trolley wires, trolley feeder wires, high-
voltage cables and transformers) to its Conant Mine (I.D. No. 11-02886) 
located in Perry County, Illinois. The petitioner requests a 
modification of the standard to allow the use of high-voltage trailing 
cables (2400 VAC) inby the last open crosscut and within 150 feet of 
pillar workings at the continuous miner sections. The petitioner states 
that this modification would not 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.

2. Canterbury Coal Company

[Docket No. M-97-74-C]

    Canterbury Coal Company, R.D. #1, Box 119, Avonmore, Pennsylvania 
15618 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 
75.362(d)(2) (on-shift examination) to its DiAnne Mine (I.D. No. 36-
05708) located in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. The petitioner 
requests a modification of the standard to allow an alternative method 
of compliance to the taking of methane tests at the face using an 
extendible probe. The petitioner proposes to conduct methane tests 
during the roof bolting cycle using a 20-foot extendable probe inby the 
first row of permanent supports. After this initial check is made, the 
petitioner proposes to conduct methane tests using an approved, hand-
held, digital detector at the row of roof bolts to be installed prior 
to installation. The petitioner would repeat this procedure until the 
20-foot extendable probe can reach within 12 inches from the roof, 
face, and rib. The petitioner states that the proposed alternative 
method would provide at least the same measure of protection as would 
the mandatory standard.

3. Addington, Inc.

[Docket No. M-97-75-C]

    Addington, Inc., P.O. Box 203, Ivel, Kentucky 41642 has filed a 
petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1710-1(a) (canopies or 
cabs; self-propelled electric face equipment; installation 
requirements) to its Pond Creek No. 1 Mine (I.D. No. 15-17287) located 
in Pike County, Kentucky. The petitioner proposes to operate its self-
propelled electric face equipment without canopies due to mining 
heights. The petitioner states that application of the standard would 
result in a diminution of safety to the miners.

4. Fola Coal Company

[Docket No. M-97-76-C]

    Fola Coal Company, P.O. Box 180, Bickmore, West Virginia 25019 has 
filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 71.402(c) (minimum 
requirements for bathing facilities, change rooms, and sanitary flush 
toilet facilities) to its Surface Mine No. 2 (I.D. No. 46-08377), and 
its Peach Orchard Preparation Plant and Loadout Facility (I.D. No. 46-
08376) located in Clay and Nicholas Counties, West Virginia. The 
petitioner proposes to construct an additional shower and locker 
building near its preparation plant. The petitioner asserts that the 
reason for this petition is that there is a lack of sewage treatment 
facilities necessary to handle the volume required by the mandatory 
standard; and that the West Virginia Department of Environmental 
Protection prohibits them from using the only level areas available for 
the size leach fields required. The petitioner states that the 
additional eight showers in the new shower and locker building would 
meet the needs of the workforce given the existing constraints at their 
facilities.

5. Apogee Coal Company dBA Arch of Illinois

[Docket No. M-97-77-C]

    Apogee Coal Company dBA Arch of Illinois, P.O. Box 308, Percy, 
Illinois 62272 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 
75.701 (grounding metallic frames, casings, and other enclosures of 
electric equipment) to its Conant Mine (I.D. No. 11-02886) located in 
Perry County, Kentucky. The petitioner requests a modification of the 
standard to allow the use of a diesel-powered generator to supply power 
to mobile mining equipment when the equipment is being moved from one 
area to another without grounding the neutral to a low resistance 
ground field. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative 
method would provide at least the same measure of protection as would 
the mandatory standard.

6. Eastern Associated Coal Corporation

[Docket No. M-97-78-C]

    Eastern Associated Coal Corporation, P.O. Box 1233, Charleston, 
West Virginia 25324 has filed a petition to modify the application of 
30 CFR 75.507 (power connection points) to its Harris No. 1 Mine (I.D. 
No. 46-01271) and its Lightfoot No. 2 Mine (I.D. No. 46-04955) both 
located in Boone County,

[[Page 38124]]

West Virginia. The petitioner proposes to use a 2300 volt three-phase 
alternating current electric power circuit for the pump. The power 
circuit would be designed and installed to contain (1) either a direct 
or derived neutral which would be grounded through a suitable resistor 
at the source transformer or power center; (2) a grounding circuit 
originating at the grounded side of the grounding resistor that would 
extend along with the power conductors and serve as the grounding 
conductor for the frame of the pump and all the associated electric 
equipment where power is supplied from the circuit; (3) a grounding 
resistor that would limit the ground fault current to no more that 15 
amperes; (4) a suitable circuit breaker to provide protection against 
grounded phase, undervoltage, short circuit, and overload; (5) a 
disconnecting device; and (6) a fail-safe ground check circuit. The 
petitioner has listed in this petition other specific precautions and 
procedures that would be implemented in using the proposed alternative 
method, including the submission of a proposed revision of its approved 
30 CFR Part 48 training plan to the Coal Mine Safety and Health 
District Manager for the area in which the pump and pump electric 
controls are located. 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-97-79-C]

    Consolidation Coal Company, Consol Plaza, 1800 Washington Road, 
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15241-1421 has filed a petition to modify the 
application of 30 CFR 75.1002 (location of trolley wires, trolley 
feeder wires, high-voltage cables and transformers) to its Blacksville 
No. 2 Mine (I.D. No. 46-01968) located in Monongalia County, West 
Virginia. The petitioner proposes to use high-voltage cables not 
exceeding 4,160 volts inby the last open crosscut and has listed in the 
petition specific terms and conditions for their safe use. The 
petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide 
at least the same measure of protection as would the mandatory 
standard.

8. Little Buck Coal Company

[Docket No. M-97-80-C]

    Little Buck Coal Company, RD #4, Box 395, Pine Grove, Pennsylvania 
17963 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1100 
(quantity and location of firefighting equipment) to its No. 3 Slope 
Buck Mt. Vein (I.D. No. 36-08568) 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.

9. Branham & Baker Coal Company, Inc.

[Docket No. M-97-81-C]

    Branham & Baker Coal Company, Inc., 148 South Lake Drive, P.O. Box 
271, Prestonsburg, Kentucky 41653 has filed a petition to modify the 
application of 30 CFR 77.1304(a) (blasting agents; special provisions) 
to its Road Creek Mine No. 1 (I.D. No. 15-17008) located in Pike 
County, Kentucky. The petitioner proposes to use recycled oil from 
equipment at the Road Creek, Petty's Fork, Gum Branch, Three Mile, Big 
Branch, and Ridge Top mines, which is filtered and blended with fuel 
oil, to create an ammonium nitrate-fuel oil (ANFO). The petitioner 
proposes numerous safeguards for implementing and using the proposed 
alternative method, and proposes to submit to the District Manager 
revisions to the mine's approved 30 CFR Part 48 training plan within 60 
days after the petition is granted. 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 15, 1997. 
Copies of these petitions are available for inspection at that address.

    Dated: July 8, 1997.
Patricia W. Silvey,
Director, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances.
[FR Doc. 97-18639 Filed 7-15-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P