[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 242 (Friday, December 17, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70731-70732]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-32747]


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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. Long Branch Energy

[Docket No. M-1999-121-C]

    Long Branch Energy, P.O. Box 776, Danville, West Virginia 25033 has 
filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.503 
(permissible electric face equipment; maintenance) to its #18 Mine 
(I.D. No. 46-08305) located in Boone County, West Virginia. The 
petitioner proposes to replace a padlock on battery plug connectors on 
mobile battery-powered machines with a threaded ring and a spring 
loaded device to prevent the plug connector from accidently disengaging 
while under load. The petitioner asserts that application of the 
standard will result in a diminution of safety to the miners. In 
addition, the petitioner asserts that the

[[Page 70732]]

proposed alternative method will provide at least the same measure of 
protection as the mandatory standard.

2. McElroy Coal Company

[Docket No. M-1999-122-C]

    McElroy Coal Company, Consol Plaza, 1800 Washington Road, 
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15241-1421 has filed a petition to modify the 
application of 30 CFR 75.364(b)(1) and (2) (weekly examination) to its 
McElroy Mine (I.D. No. 46-01437) located in Marshall County, West 
Virginia. The petitioner requests a modification of the standard to 
permit weekly examinations of designated monitoring stations instead of 
traveling and conducting weekly examinations in certain intake and 
return entries of the mine. The petitioner states that the area of the 
mine affected by this petition is subject to previously granted 
petitions, docket numbers M-91-78-C, M-92-142-C, and M-93-007-C, which 
established the monitoring stations (``PCS'') to be used instead of 
traveling the affected return air courses and granted the district 
manager discretion to relocate the PCS. The petitioner requests that 
the three existing petitions be withdrawn and consolidated into one 
petition. The petitioner proposes to: (i) conduct a weekly examination 
at each monitoring station for methane and to verify direction of air 
flow; (ii) instruct the person making the examinations and tests to 
place his/her initials, the date, and time the monitoring station and 
record the results in a book on the surface and made available for 
inspection by interested parties; (iii) maintain each monitoring 
station in a safe condition at all times; and (iv) have the monitoring 
stations shown on the ventilation and part of the approved ventilation 
plan. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method will 
provide at least the same measure of protection as the mandatory 
standard.

3. Blue Mountain Energy, Inc.

[Docket No. M-1999-123-C]

    Blue Mountain Energy, Inc., 3607 County Road #65, Rangely, Colorado 
81648 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 
75.500(d) (permissible electric equipment) to its Deserado Mine (I.D. 
No. 05-03505) located in Rio Blanco County, Colorado. The petitioner 
requests a modification of the standard to permit the use of low-
voltage and nonpermissible diagnostic equipment within 150 feet of 
pillar workings in its continuous miners development sections. The 
petitioner proposes to use the nonpermissible electronic testing or 
diagnostic equipment in or by the last open crosscut. The petitioner 
asserts that the proposed alternative method will provide at least the 
same measure of protection as the mandatory standard.

4. Independence Coal Company, Inc.

[Docket No. M-1999-124-C]

    Independence Coal Company, Inc., HC 78 Box 1800, Madison, West 
Virginia 25130 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 
75.350 (air courses and belt haulage entries) to its Justice No. 1 Mine 
(I.D. No. 46-07273) located in Boone County, West Virginia. The 
petitioner proposes to use belt air to ventilate active working places. 
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 the 
proposed alternative method will provide at least the same measure of 
protection as the mandatory standard.

5. Genwal Resources, Inc.

[Docket No. M-1999-125-C]

    Genwal Resources, Inc., P.O. Box 1420, 195 North 100 West, 
Huntington, Utah 84528 has filed a petition to modify the application 
of 30 CFR 75.350 (air courses and belt haulage entries) to its Crandall 
Canyon Mine (I.D. No. 42-01715) located in Emery County, Utah. The 
petitioner requests that some of the language in the Decision and Order 
(D&O) for its previously granted petition, docket number M-96-71-C, be 
amended because the petitioner states that certain product availability 
for the exhaust systems have become limited and require an extensive 
lead time and to replace these products at frequent intervals would be 
substantially costly since durability is limited in the mining 
atmosphere. The petitioner proposes that diesel equipment include a 
means to prevent spray from ruptured fuel and oil lines from being 
ignited by contact with engine exhaust systems. The petitioner asserts 
that the proposed alternative method will provide at least the same 
measure of protection as the granted D&O and will not result in a 
diminution of safety provided by the existing standard.

6. Mingo Logan Coal Company

[Docket No. M-1999-126-C]

    Mingo Logan Coal Company, 1000 Mingo Logan Avenue, Wharncliffe, 
West Virginia 25651 has filed a petition to modify the application of 
30 CFR 75.1002 (location of feeder wires, trolley feeder wires, high-
voltage cables and transformers) to its Mountaineer Alma-A Mine (I.D. 
No. 46-08730) located in Mingo County, West Virginia. The petitioner 
proposes to use a high-voltage cable within 150 feet of pillar workings 
to power a 2400 VAC longwall mining machine. The petitioner asserts 
that the proposed alternative method will provide at least the same 
measure of protection as 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 January 18, 
2000. Copies of these petitions are available for inspection at that 
address.

    Dated: December 9, 1999
Carol J. Jones
Acting Director, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances.
[FR Doc. 99-32747 Filed 12-16-99; 8:45 am]
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