[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 210 (Friday, October 30, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58430-58431]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-29082]


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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. U.S. Steel Mining Company, L.L.C.

[Docket No. M-98-81-C]

    U.S. Steel Mining Company, L.L.C., 600 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, 
Pennsylvania 15219-2749 has filed a petition to modify the application 
of 30 CFR 75.503 (permissible electric face equipment; maintenance) to 
its Gary No. 50 Mine (I.D. No. 46-01816) located in Wyoming County, 
West Virginia. The petitioner proposes to use permanently installed 
spring-loaded locking devices on battery plugs on battery-powered 
equipment instead of using padlocks. The petitioner asserts that the 
proposed alternative method would provide at least the same measure of 
protection as would the mandatory standard.

2. Old Dominion Energy, Inc.

[Docket No. M-98-82-C]

    Old Dominion Energy, Inc., P.O. Box 1234, Grundy, Virginia 24614 
has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1710 
(canopies or cabs; diesel-powered and electric face equipment) to its 
Mine No. 5 (I.D. No. 44-06890) located in Wise County, Virginia. The 
petitioner proposes to operate electric mobile equipment without 
canopies in seam heights up to 50 inches. The petitioner asserts that 
the proposed alternative method would not result in a diminution of 
safety to the miners.

3. Long Branch Energy

[Docket No. M-98-83-C]

    Long Branch Energy, P.O. Box 776, Danville, West Virginia 25053 has 
filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.503 
(permissible electric face equipment; maintenance) to its Mine No. 23 
(I.D. No. 46-08637) located in Boone County, Virginia. The petitioner 
proposes to use a threaded ring and a spring loaded device on battery 
plug connectors on mobile battery-powered machines to prevent the plug 
connector from accidently disengaging while under load. 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.

4. CONSOL of Kentucky, Inc.

[Docket No. M-98-84-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 75.901(a) (protection of low- and medium-voltage 
three-phase circuits used underground) to its Big Spring No. 16 Mine 
(I.D. No. 15-17957), E3RF Mine (I.D. No. 15-17894), Motts Branch Mine 
(I.D. No. 15-18012), and its Big Spring No. 17 Mine (I.D. No. 15-17996) 
all located in Knott County, Kentucky; and its Wiley (MC) Mine (I.D. 
No. 15-17220), E3-MC Mine (I.D. No. 15-17720), and its Loves Branch 
Mine (I.D. No. 15-17814) located in Letcher County, Kentucky. The 
petitioner proposes to derive a low and medium voltage three-phase, 
alternating current for use underground from a portable, diesel-driven 
generator

[[Page 58431]]

and to connect the neutral of the generator's transformer secondary 
through a suitable resistor to the frame of the diesel generator. The 
frame of the diesel generator would have solid connection to a borehole 
casing, a metal waterline, or a grounding conductor with a low 
resistance to earth. The petitioner proposes to follow specific terms 
and conditions listed in this petition for utilizing the proposed 
alternative method. The petitioner asserts that the proposed 
alternative method would provide at least the same measure of 
protection as would the mandatory standard.

5. Rustler Coal Company

[Docket No. M-98-85-C]

    Rustler Coal Company, 66 South Tremont Street, Zerby, Tremont, 
Pennsylvania 17981 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 
CFR 75.340 (underground electrical installations) to its Orchard Slope 
Mine (I.D. No. 36-08346) located in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. 
The petitioner proposes to charge its batteries on the mine's 
locomotive during idle periods when all miners have been removed from 
the mine and to allow the intake air used to ventilate the charging 
station, located at the No. 1 chute of the active gangway level, to 
continue through its normal route to the last open crosscut and into 
the monkey airway (return). The petitioner asserts that the proposed 
alternative method would provide at least the same measure of 
protection as would the mandatory standard.

6. Kedco, Inc.

[Docket No. M-98-86-C]

    Kedco, Inc., P.O. Box 1358, Gilbert, West Virginia 25621 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 Mine No. 2 (I.D. No. 46-08019) located in Mingo 
County, West Virginia. The petitioner proposes to use high-voltage 
(2,400 volt cables) to power continuous mining machines in and inby the 
last open crosscut. The petitioner asserts that the proposed 
alternative method would provide at least the same measure of 
protection as would the mandatory standard.

7. Solvay Minerals

[Docket No. M-98-07-M]

    Solvay Minerals, P.O. Box 1167, Green River, Wyoming 82935 has 
filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 57.22305 [approved 
equipment (III mines)] to its Solvay Minerals, Inc. (I.D. No. 48-01295) 
located in Sweetwater County, Wyoming. The petitioner requests that 
previous petition for modification, docket number M-91-05-M, be amended 
to allow specific nonpermissible tools listed in this petition to be 
used in or beyond the last open crosscut. The petitioner states that 
prior to using these tools, the atmosphere would be examined for 
methane and would be continuously monitored with an approved instrument 
[MS240], [MX212], or MX250 CMX 270, CMX 271, and/or equivalent capable 
of providing both visual and audible alarms required in 30 CFR 57.22227 
and according to the definition of mine atmosphere; that qualified 
personnel would physically attend the equipment when used in or inby 
the last open crosscut or in areas where methane may enter the air 
current; that the procedures in 30 CFR 57.22234 would be followed if 
1.0 percent or more methane is detected; that the proposed changes to 
the petition would ensure the most up-to-date equipment, which would 
not only ensure compliance accuracy but would also meet or exceed the 
previous modification. The petitioner states that the alternative 
method of purchasing and using the most up-to-date equipment would 
allow them to continue ensuring the same level of protection that has 
been afforded to their employees in the past. 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 November 30, 
1998. Copies of these petitions are available for inspection at that 
address.

    Dated: October 20, 1998.
Carol J. Jones,
Acting Director, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances.
[FR Doc. 98-29082 Filed 10-29-98; 8:45 am]
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