[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 8 (Wednesday, January 12, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1913-1915]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-707]


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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. Monterey Coal Company

[Docket No. M-1999-135-C]

    Monterey Coal Company, 14300 Brushy Mound Road Carlinville, 
Illinois 62626 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 
75.1909(b)(6) (nonpermissible diesel-powered equipment; design and 
performance requirements) to its No. 1 Mine (I.D. No. 11-00726) located 
in Macoupin County, Illinois. The petitioner relief from the 
requirement to add brakes on each wheel of its Petitto Mule Model 2066,

[[Page 1914]]

Serial Number 955106. The petitioner states that additional brakes will 
result in safety risks due to additional maintenance that will be 
required. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method 
would provide at least the same measure of protection as the mandatory 
standard or will not result in a diminution of safety.

2. Twentymile Coal Company

[Docket No. M-1999-136-C]

    Twentymile Coal Company, One Oxford Centre, 301 Grant Street, 20th 
Floor, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219-1410 has filed a petition to 
modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1909(b)(6) (nonpermissible diesel-
powered equipment; design and performance requirements) to its Foidel 
Creek Mine (I.D. 05-03836) located in Routt County, Colorado. The 
petitioner requests a modification of the mandatory safety standard to 
permit an alternative method of compliance for service brakes on 
diesel-powered graders. The petitioner proposes to equip the diesel 
graders with devices to limit the speed for operating the graders to 10 
miles per hour, and train each miner who operates the grader on the 
proper techniques for lowering the blade in order to restrict the speed 
and stop the grader. The petitioner states that application of the 
standard will 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 the mandatory 
standard.

3. Plateau Mining Company

[Docket No. M-1999-137-C]

    Plateau Mining Company, One Oxford Centre, 301 Grant Street, 20th 
Floor, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219-1410 has filed a petition to 
modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1909(b)(6) (nonpermissible diesel-
powered equipment; design and performance requirements) to its Willow 
Creek Mine (I.D. No. 42-02113) located in Carbon County, Utah. The 
petitioner requests a modification of the mandatory safety standard to 
permit an alternative method of compliance for service brakes on 
diesel-powered graders. The petitioner proposes to equip the diesel 
graders with devices to limit the speed for operating the graders to 10 
miles per hour, and train each miner who operate the grader on the 
proper techniques for lowering the blade in order to restrict the speed 
and stop the grader. The petitioner states that application of the 
standard will 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 the mandatory 
standard.

4. Plateau Mining Company

[Docket No. M-1999-138-C]

    Plateau Mining Company, One Oxford Centre, 301 Grant Street, 20th 
Floor, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219-1410 has filed a petition to 
modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1909(a)(1) (nonpermissible diesel-
powered equipment; design and performance requirements) to its Willow 
Creek Mine (I.D. No. 42-02113) located in Carbon County, Utah. The 
petitioner requests a modification of the mandatory safety standard to 
permit an alternative method of compliance with the engine approval 
requirements for a diesel generator. The petitioner proposes to equip 
the diesel generator with a DST Management SystemTM exhaust 
conditioner and use a ventilation rate of 8,200 cfm. The petitioner 
asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide at least the 
same measure of protection as the mandatory standard.

5. RAG Shoshone Coal Corporation

[Docket No. M-1999-139-C]

    RAG Shoshone Coal Corporation, One Oxford Centre, 301 Grant Street, 
20th Floor, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219-1410 has filed a petition to 
modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1909(b)(6) (nonpermissible diesel-
powered equipment; design and performance requirements) to its Shoshone 
No. 1 Mine (I.D. No. 48-01186) located in Carbon County, Wyoming. The 
petitioner requests a modification of the mandatory safety standard to 
permit an alternative method of compliance for service brakes on 
diesel-powered graders. The petitioner proposes to equip the diesel 
graders with devices to limit the speed for operating the graders to 10 
miles per hour, and train each miner who operates the grader on the 
proper techniques for lowering the blade in order to restrict the speed 
and stop the grader. The petitioner states that application of the 
standard will 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 the mandatory 
standard.

6. Twentymile Coal Company

[Docket No. M-1999-140-C]

    Twentymile Coal Company, One Oxford Centre, 301 Grant Street, 20th 
Floor, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219-1410 has filed a petition to 
modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1909(a)(1) (nonpermissible diesel-
powered equipment; design and performance requirements) to its Foidel 
Creek Mine (I.D. No. 05-03836) located in Routt County, Colorado . The 
petitioner requests a modification of the mandatory safety standard to 
permit an alternative method of compliance with the engine approval 
requirements for a diesel generator. The petitioner proposes to equip 
the diesel generator with a DST Management SystemTM exhaust 
conditioner and use a ventilation rate of 8,200 cfm. The petitioner 
asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide at least the 
same measure of protection as the mandatory standard.

7. Lodestar Energy, Inc.

[Docket No. M-1999-141-C]

    Lodestar Energy, Inc., P.O. Box 38, Providence, Kentucky 42450 has 
filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1909(b)(6) 
(nonpermissible diesel-powered equipment; design and performance 
requirements) to its Baker Mine (I.D. No. 15-14492) located in Webster 
County, Kentucky. The petitioner requests a modification of the 
mandatory safety standard to permit an alternative method of compliance 
for service brakes on diesel-powered graders. The petitioner proposes 
to equip the diesel graders with devices to limit the speed for 
operating the graders to 10 miles per hour, and train each miner who 
operate the grader on the proper techniques for lowering the blade in 
order to restrict the speed and stop the grader. The petitioner states 
that application of the standard will 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 the mandatory standard.

8. Twentymile Coal Company

[Docket No. M-1999-142-C]

    Twentymile Coal Company, One Oxford Centre, 301 Grant Street, 20th 
Floor, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219-1410 has filed a petition to 
modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1908(a)(5) (nonpermissible diesel-
powered equipment; categories) to its Foidel Creek Mine (I.D. No. 05-
03836) located in Routt County, Colorado. The petitioner requests a 
modification of the mandatory safety standard to permit the use of 
pickup trucks to tow diesel fuel transportation units. The petitioner 
proposes to only use diesel-powered pickup trucks to tow diesel fuel 
transportation units if the rated capacity of the truck exceeds the 
load by a

[[Page 1915]]

fraction of 50 percent, and equip the diesel fuel transformation units 
with automatic fire suppression devices when towed by the pickup truck. 
The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method would 
provide at least the same measure of protection as the mandatory 
standard.

9. Original Sixteen to One Mine, Inc.

[Docket No. M-1999-020-M]

    Original Sixteen to One Mine, Inc., P.O. Box 1621, Alleghany, 
California 95910 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 
CFR 57.6132(a)(6) (magazine requirements) to its Sixteen to One Mine 
(I.D. No. 04-01299) located in Sierra County, California. The 
petitioner requests exemption from the mandatory safety standard on the 
basis that compliance with standard will result in a diminution of 
safety to the miners. The petitioner states that the existence of signs 
poses a greater threat to the health and safety and miners, authorized 
non-employees and the general public by calling attention to the area.

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 of 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 February 11, 
2000. Copies of these petitions are available for inspection at that 
address.

    Dated: January 4, 2000.
Carol J. Jones,
Acting Director, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances.
[FR Doc. 00-707 Filed 1-11-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-U