[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 159 (Tuesday, August 18, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44291-44292]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-22164]



[[Page 44291]]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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. Primrose Coal Company

[Docket No. M-98-53-C]

    Primrose Coal Company, 475 High Road, Ashland, Pennsylvania 17921 
has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1400 
(hoisting equipment; general) to its Buck Mountain Vein Slope (I.D. No. 
36-08698) located in Schuylkill 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 increased rope strength 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.

2. Shamrock Coal Company, Inc.

[Docket No. M-98-54-C]

    Shamrock Coal Company, P.O. Box 1360, London, Kentucky 40743 has 
filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 
75.1902(c)(2)(i)(underground diesel fuel storage--general requirements) 
to its No. 18 Mine (I.D. No. 15-02502) located in Leslie County, 
Kentucky. The petitioner proposes to have a temporary underground 
diesel fuel storage area located within 500 feet of the longwall 
section track loading area; to have the track loading area for the 
longwall section within 200 to 1200 foot range outby the active 
longwall face as the longwall section retreats; and to have the loading 
point for the longwall crews within the normal daily work and travel 
area. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method would 
provide at least the same measure of protection as would the mandatory 
standard.

3. Twentymile Coal Company

[Docket No. M-98-55-C]

    Twentymile Coal Company, One Oxford Centre, 301 Grant Street, 20th 
Floor, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219 has filed a petition to modify 
the application of 30 CFR 75.500(d) (permissible electric equipment) to 
its Foidel Creek Mine (I.D. No. 05-03836) located in Routt County, 
Colorado. The petitioner proposes to measure the thickness of the deck 
plate and related components on its longwall face conveyor using a 
hand-held, double insulated 7.5 volt non-permissible ultrasonic 
thickness gauge during idle shifts when mining is not occurring; to 
deenergize all electrical equipment, except lighting, on the longwall 
face and follow all appropriate lockout and tagout procedures prior to 
using the gauge; and to have a certified person examine for methane in 
the immediate area of the longwall face conveyor and record the 
results, as a special examination, in the onshift examination books 
after the shift on which the examination is performed. The petitioner 
asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide at least the 
same measure of protection as would the mandatory standard.

4. Twentymile Coal Company

[Docket No. M-98-56-C]

    Twentymile Coal Company, One Oxford Centre, 301 Grant Street, 20th 
Floor, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219 has filed a petition to modify 
the application of 30 CFR 75.901(a) (protection of low- and medium-
voltage three-phase circuits used underground) to its Foidel Creek Mine 
(I.D. No. 05-03836) located in Routt County, Colorado. The petitioner 
proposes to use a portable diesel powered generator to move 
electrically powered mining equipment from one section of the mine to 
another. The petitioner proposes to incorporate a ground fault system 
for the power circuits that would deenergize mining equipment if a 
phase to frame fault occurs. The petitioner asserts that the proposed 
alternative method would provide at least the same measure of 
protection as would the mandatory standard.

5. Blue Mountain Energy, Inc.

[Docket No. M-98-57-C]

    Blue Mountain Energy, Inc., P.O. Box 1067, Rangely, Colorado 81648 
has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1002-1(a) 
(location of other electric equipment; requirements for permissibility) 
to its Deserado Mine (I.D. No. 05-03505) located in Rio Blanco County, 
Colorado. The petitioner requests a modification of the standard to 
allow the use of non-permissible electronic testing or diagnostic 
equipment within 150 feet of pillar workings. The petitioner asserts 
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.

6. Rustler Coal Company

[Docket No. M-98-58-C]

    Rustler Coal Company, 66 South Tremont Street, Zerby, Pennsylvania 
17981 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1405 
(automatic couplers) to its Orchard Slope (I.D. No. 36-08346) located 
in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. The petitioner requests a 
modification of the standard to allow the use of bar and pin, or link 
and pin couplers on underground haulage equipment. The petitioner 
asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide at least the 
same measure of protection as would the mandatory standard.

7. CONSOL of Kentucky, Inc.

[Docket No. M-98-59-C]

    CONSOL of Kentucky, Inc., Consol Plaza, 1800 Washington Road, 
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15241-1421 has filed a petition to modify the 
application of 30 CFR 75.1101-8 (water sprinkler system; arrangement of 
sprinklers) to its Big Springs No. 17 Mine (I.D. No. 15-17996) located 
in Knott County, Kentucky. The petitioner requests a modification of 
the standard to allow the use of a single line of automatic sprinklers 
for its fire protection system on main and secondary belt conveyors in 
the Big Springs No. 1 Mine. The petitioner proposes to use a single 
overhead pipe system with \1/2\-inch orifice automatic sprinklers 
located on 10-foot centers to cover 50 feet of fire-resistant belt or 
150 feet of non-fire resistant belt adjacent to the belt drive, with 
actuation temperatures between 200 and 230 degrees Fahrenheit, and with 
water pressure equal to or greater than 10 psi. The petitioner proposes 
to have the automatic sprinklers located not more than 10 feet apart so 
that the discharge of water would extend over the belt drive, belt 
take-up, electrical control, and gear reducing unit. The petitioner 
states that the water sprinkler system would be tested annually. The 
petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide 
at least the same measure of protection as would the mandatory 
standard.

8. ANR Coal Company, LLC

[Docket No. M-98-60-C]

    ANR Coal Company, LLC, P.O. Box 1578, Coeburn, Virginia 24230 has 
filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.350 (air 
courses and belt haulage entries) to its Sargent Hollow Mine (I.D. No. 
44-06795) located in

[[Page 44292]]

Wise County, Virginia. The petitioner proposes to use belt air to 
ventilate active working faces. The petitioner proposes to install a 
low-level carbon monoxide detection system as an early warning fire 
detection system in all belt entries used as intake air courses. The 
petitioner asserts 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.

9. Independence Coal Company, Inc.

[Docket Nos. M-98-61-C, M-98-62-C, and M-98-63-C]

    Independence Coal Company, Inc., HC 78 Box 1800, Madison, West 
Virginia 25130 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 Buffalo Creek Mine (I.D. No. 46-08514); 
its Justice No. 1 Mine (I.D. No. 46-07273); and its Twilight Chilton-R 
Mine (I.D. No. 46-08513) all located in Boone County, West Virginia. 
The petitioner proposes to use high-voltage longwall mining equipment. 
The nominal voltage of power circuits for this equipment would not 
exceed 2,400 volts. The petitioner asserts that the proposed 
alternative method would provide at least the same measure of 
protection as would the mandatory standard.

10. Southern Edge, Inc.

[Docket No. M-98-64-C]

    Southern Edge, Inc., HC 63 Box 22B, Bandy, Virginia 24602 has filed 
a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.364(b)(2) (weekly 
examination) to its Mine No. 2 (I.D. No. 46-08362) located in McDowell 
County, West Virginia. Due to a roof fall in the third crosscut in by 
the portals, the Right return air course is unsafe to travel in its 
entirety. The petitioner proposes to establish evaluation monitoring 
points A and B to monitor the affected area. The petitioner asserts 
that adverse roof conditions at the roof fall prevent any clean-up work 
to be safely performed at the roof fall.

11. Leeco, Inc.

[Docket No. M-98-65-C]

    Leeco, Inc., 1374 Highway 192 East, London, Kentucky 40741-3123 has 
filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.364(b)(2) 
(weekly examination) to its Maces Creek Mine (I.D. No. 15-17911) 
located in Perry County, Kentucky. Due to deteriorating roof conditions 
in the Fan Mains return air course, traveling the area to examine for 
hazardous conditions would be unsafe. The petitioner proposes to 
establish monitoring stations in the return air course instead of 
traveling the affected area in its entirety; to have a certified person 
evaluate the monitoring stations on a weekly basis to determine the 
quantity and quality of air entering and exiting the monitoring 
stations; to have the examiners record the date, their initials, the 
time, and the results of the examination in a book kept on the surface 
available to all interested parties; to maintain all monitoring 
stations and approaches to the monitoring stations in a safe condition 
at all times; and to have the monitoring station locations and air 
quantity and quality measurements at each monitoring station on the 
mine ventilation map; and not to remove the monitoring stations without 
prior approval from the District Manager as part of the mine's 
ventilation plan. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative 
method would provide at least the same measure of protection as would 
the mandatory standard.

12. G and A Coal Company, Inc.

[Docket No. M-98-66-C]

    G and A Coal Company, Inc., P.O. Box 250, Raven, Virginia 24639 has 
filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.350 (air 
courses and belt haulage entries) to its No. 1 Mine (I.D. No. 44-06239) 
located in Tazewell County, Virginia. The petitioner proposes to use 
belt air to ventilate the working faces. The petitioner proposes to 
install carbon monoxide monitoring devices to monitor the air at each 
belt drive and tailpiece and at intervals not to exceed 2,000 feet 
along each conveyor belt entry, and to have an audible alarm that would 
sound at the surface master station and that would give the location 
and type of alarm on a computer screen located at the surface master 
station. The petitioner states that the alarm system would be capable 
of giving a warning of a fire for a minimum of four (4) hours after the 
power to the belt is removed, except when the power is removed during a 
fan stoppage or the belt haulageway is examined. 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 are encouraged to submit 
comments via e-mail to ``[email protected]'', or on a computer disk 
along with an original hard copy to the Office of Standards, 
Regulations, and Variances, Mine Safety and Health Administration, 4015 
Wilson Boulevard, Room 627, Arlington, Virginia 22203. All comments 
must be postmarked or received in that office on or before September 
17, 1998. Copies of these petitions are available for inspection at 
that address.

    Dated: August 10, 1998.
Patricia W. Silvey,
Director, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances.
[FR Doc. 98-22164 Filed 8-17-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P