[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 222 (Wednesday, November 18, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64103-64104]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-30862]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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. Consolidation Coal Company

[Docket No. M-98-89-C]

    Consolidation Coal Company, Consol Plaza, 1800 Washington Road, 
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15241-1421 has filed a petition to modify the 
application of 30 CFR 75.503 (permissible electric face equipment; 
maintenance) to its Loveridge No. 22 Mine (I.D. No. 46-01433) located 
in Marion County, West Virginia. The petitioner proposes to increase 
the maximum length of their trailing cables to 1,000 feet for the 
mining machine, loading machine, shuttle car, roof bolter, and the 
section ventilation fan while developing longwall panels. The 
petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide 
at least the same measure of protection as would the mandatory 
standard.

2. Cyprus Plateau Mining Corporation

[Docket No. M-98-90-C]

    Cyprus Plateau Mining Corporation, One Oxford Centre, 301 Grant 
Street, 20th Floor, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219-1410 has filed a 
petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.323(e) (actions for 
excessive methane) to its Willow Creek Mine (I.D. No. 42-02113) located 
in Carbon County, Utah. The petitioner requests a modification of the 
standard to permit more than 2 percent methane in a bleeder split of 
air immediately before the split joins another split of air. 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.

3. Deitz Bros. Coal Company

[Docket No. M-98-92-C]

    Deitz Bros. Coal Company, 137 W. 7th Street, Tuscarora, 
Pennsylvania 17851 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 
CFR 75.1100-2 (quantity and location of firefighting equipment) to its 
4 Ft. Vein (I.D. No. 36-08706) 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 equipped with three 10 quart pails 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.

4. Deitz Bros. Coal Company

[Docket No. M-98-93-C]

    Deitz Bros. Coal Company, 137 W. 7th Street, Tuscarora, 
Pennsylvania 17851 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 
CFR 75.1400 (hoisting equipment; general) to its 4 Ft. Vein (I.D. No. 
36-08706) located in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. The petitioner 
requests a modification of the existing standard to permit the gunboat 
to be operated without safety catches or other no less effective 
devices. The petitioner proposes to operate the man cage or steel 
gunboat with secondary safety connections securely fastened around the 
gunboat and to the hoisting rope above the main connecting device and 
to use hoisting ropes with a safety factor in excess of the 4 to 8 to 
1. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method would 
provide at least the same measure of protection as would the mandatory 
standard.

5. Bowie Resources, Inc.

[Docket No. M-98-94-C]

    Bowie Resources, Inc., 1855 Old Hwy. 133, PO Box 483, Paonia, 
Colorado 81428 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 Bowie Mine (I.D. No. 05-04591) located in 
Delta County, Colorado. The petitioner proposes to use a portable 
diesel powered generator for utility power and to move electrically 
powered mining equipment in and around the mine following the specific 
procedures outlined in this petition. The petitioner asserts that the 
proposed alternative method would provide at least the same measure of 
protection as would the mandatory standard.

6. Bowie Resources, Inc.

[Docket No. M-98-95-C]

    Bowie Resources, Inc., 1855 Old Hwy. 133, PO Box 483, Paonia, 
Colorado 81428 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 
75.901 (protection

[[Page 64104]]

of low- and medium-voltage three-phase circuits used underground) to 
its Bowie Mine (I.D. No. 05-04591) located in Delta County, Colorado. 
The petitioner proposes to use a portable diesel powered generator for 
utility power and to move electrically powered mining equipment in and 
around the mine following the specific procedures outlined in this 
petition. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method 
would provide at least the same measure of protection as would the 
mandatory standard.

7. Mettiki Coal Corporation

[Docket No. M-98-96-C]

    Mettiki Coal Corporation, 293 Table Rock Road, Oakland, Maryland 
21550 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1100-
2(e)(2) (quantity and location of firefighting equipment) to its 
Mettiki Mine (I.D. No. 18-00621) located in Garrett County, Maryland. 
The petitioner requests a modification of the standard to permit 
provision of two portable fire extinguishers at each temporary 
electrical installation. The petitioner proposes to store at each 
temporary electrical installation two multipurpose, dry chemical, 
portable fire extinguishers, each having at least a minimum capacity of 
10 pounds of dry powder. The petitioner states that all portable fire 
extinguishers would be approved by the Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., 
or Factory Research Corporation, and each would have a rating of 2A 
10BC or higher. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative 
method would provide at least the same measure of protection as would 
the mandatory standard.

8. The Pittsburg & Midway Coal Mining Company

[Docket No. M-98-97-C]

    The Pittsburg & Midway Coal Mining Company, PO Box 6518, Englewood, 
Colorado 80155-6518 has filed a petition to modify the application of 
30 CFR 75.364(b)(4) (weekly examination) to its Sebree #1 Mine (I.D. 
No. 15-17044) located in Webster County, Kentucky. Due to a rock fall 
in front of the No. 2 Seal at the No. 7 entry in the North Submain 
return, examining the area every 7 days would be unsafe. The petitioner 
proposes to examine the inby and outby side of the rock fall at the No. 
2 Seal once during each 24 hour period. The petitioner asserts that the 
proposed alternative method would provide at least the same measure of 
protection as would the mandatory standard.

9. Oxbow Mining, Inc.

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

    Oxbow Mining, Inc., PO Box 535, Somerset, Colorado 81434 has filed 
a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.380(d)(5) 
(escapeways; bituminous and lignite mines) to its Sanborn Creek Mine 
(I.D. No. 05-04452) located in Gunnison County, Colorado. The 
petitioner requests a modification of the standard to allow continued 
usage of the current secondary escapeway as an alternative intake 
escapeway instead of using the No. 3 Substation Return Airshaft. 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 December 18, 
1998. Copies of these petitions are available for inspection at that 
address.

    Dated: November 10, 1998.
Carol J. Jones,
Acting Director, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances.
[FR Doc. 98-30862 Filed 11-17-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P