[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 47 (Thursday, March 11, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12183-12184]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-6038]


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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. Mountain Coal Company

[Docket No. M-1999-001-C]

    Mountain Coal Company, P.O. Box 591, 5174 Highway 133, Somerset, 
Colorado 81434 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 West Elk Mine (I.D. No. 05-03672) located in 
Gunnison County, Colorado. The petitioner proposes to use portable 
diesel generators to move and operate electric powered mobile equipment 
and pumps throughout the mine. The petitioner has outlined in this 
petition specific requirements that would be followed as an alternative 
for existing and future generators. The petitioner asserts that the 
proposed alternative method would provide at least the same measure of 
protection as would the mandatory standard.

2. Mountain Coal Company

[Docket No. M-1999-002-C]

    Mountain Coal Company, P.O. Box 591, 5174 Highway 133, Somerset, 
Colorado 81434 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 
75.901 (protection of low- and medium-voltage three-phase circuits used 
underground) to its West Elk Mine (I.D. No. 05-03672) located in 
Gunnison County, Colorado. The petitioner proposes to use portable 
diesel generators to move and operate electric powered mobile equipment 
and pumps throughout the mine. The petitioner has outlined in this 
petition specific requirements that would be followed as an alternative 
for existing and future generators. The petitioner asserts that the 
proposed alternative method would provide at least the same measure of 
protection as would the mandatory standard.

3. Peabody Coal Company

[Docket No. M-1999-003-C]

    Peabody Coal Company, 1951 Barrett Court, P.O. Box 1990, Henderson, 
Kentucky 42420 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 
75.364(b)(4) (weekly examination) to its Camp No. 1 Mine (I.D. No. 15-
02709) located in Union County, Kentucky. Due to hazardous conditions 
near the return air course inby and outby the seals, traveling the area 
to conduct weekly examinations would create a diminution of safety to 
the miners. The petitioner proposes to establish evaluation points to 
monitor the affected area and have a certified person monitor the 
evaluation points on a weekly basis to determine the volume of air, and 
the methane and oxygen concentrations; and to record all examination 
results in a book maintained on the surface of the mine. The petitioner 
states that monitoring of these evaluation points would determine the 
atmosphere immediately prior to up-wind and immediately after down-wind 
the seals. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method 
would provide at least the same measure of protection as would the 
mandatory standard.

4. Peabody Coal Company

[Docket No. M-1999-004-C]

    Peabody Coal Company, 1951 Barrett Court, P.O. Box 1990, Henderson, 
Kentucky 42420 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 
75.364(b)(2) (weekly examination) to its Camp No. 1 Mine (I.D. No. 15-
02709) located in Union County, Kentucky. Due to hazardous conditions 
near the return air course inby and outby the seals, traveling the area 
to conduct weekly examinations would create a diminution of safety to 
the miners. The petitioner proposes to establish evaluation points to 
monitor the affected area and have a certified person monitor the 
evaluation points on a weekly basis to determine the volume of air, and 
the methane and oxygen concentrations; and to record all examination 
results in a book maintained on the surface of the mine. The petitioner 
asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide at least the 
same measure of protection as would the mandatory standard.

5. Canyon Fuel Company, LLC

[Docket No. M-1999-005-C]

    Canyon Fuel Company, LLC, P.O. Box 1029, Wellington, Utah 84542 has 
filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1101-8 (water 
sprinkler systems; arrangement of sprinklers) to its Dugout Canyon Mine 
(I.D. No. 42-01890) located in Carbon County, Utah. The petitioner 
proposes to use an alternative method of arranging its sprinkler 
system. The petitioner proposes a modification based on the following 
terms: (i) Each water sprinkler system would consist of a single 
overhead pipe water sprinkler system with automatic sprinklers located 
not more than 10 feet apart for the water discharged from the 
sprinklers to cover the 50 feet of fire-resistant belt or 150 feet of 
non fire-resistant belt adjacent to the belt drive and one or more 
automatic sprinklers located 10 feet apart for water discharged from 
the sprinkler(s) to cover the drive motor(s), belt takeup, electrical 
controls, and gear reducing unit for each belt drive; (ii) Each water 
sprinkler would be in installed for the clearance between the center of 
the top belt and the roof to permit the single overhead pipe system to 
be installed in accordance with adequate height, and where the 
clearance between the center of the top belt and the roof does not 
permit the installation of the single overhead pipe system directly 
over the belt, the single overhead pipe system would be installed in 
accordance with restricted height; (iii) The residual pressure in each 
sprinkler system would not be less than 10 psi with any three 
sprinklers open, and an adequate supply of water to provide a constant 
flow for at least 10 minutes with all sprinklers functioning; (iv) Each 
water sprinkler system would be equipped with a flush-out connection 
and a manual shut-off valve; and (v)

[[Page 12184]]

Each automatic sprinkler would be a standard \1/2\-inch orifice 
pendant-type with fusible link actuation temperature for each sprinkler 
between 200 and 230 degrees Fahrenheit. The petitioner proposes to 
conduct a functional test annually for each water sprinkler system. 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 April 12, 
1999. Copies of these petitions are available for inspection at that 
address.

    Dated: March 5, 1999.
Carol J. Jones,
Acting Director, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances.
[FR Doc. 99-6038 Filed 3-10-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P