[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 208 (Thursday, October 26, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64261-64262]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-27535]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration


Petitions for Modification; D&A Resources, Inc., etc.

    The following parties have filed petitions to modify the 
application of existing safety standards under section 101(c) of the 
Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977.

1. D & A Resources, Inc.

[Docket No. M-2000-122-C]

    D & A Resources, Inc., 915 Main Street, Rainelle, West Virginia 
25962 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.503 
(permissible electric face equipment; maintenance) to its No. 1 Mine 
(I.D. No. 46-07781) located in Fayette County, West 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, instead of using a padlock. The petitioner asserts that 
application of the existing standard would result in a diminution of 
safety to the miners.

2. Dominion Coal Corporation

[Docket No. M-2000-123-C]

    Dominion Coal Corporation, P.O. Box 70, Vansant, Virginia 24656 has 
filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.204(a) (roof 
bolting) to its No. 16 Mine (I.D. No. 44-06643), Mine No. 22 (I.D. No. 
44-06645), No. 34 Mine (I.D. No. 44-06839), and No. 36 Mine (I.D. No. 
44-06759) all located in Buchanan County, Virginia. The petitioner 
proposes to use special purpose roof bolts that meet the requirements 
of ASTM F432-83 and ASTM F432-88, instead of using ASTM F432-95 roof 
bolts. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method 
would not result in a diminution of safety to the miners and would 
provide at least the same measure of protection as the existing 
standard.

3. Parkwood Resources, Inc.

[Docket No. M-2000-124-C]

    Parkwood Resources, Inc., 25 North Ridge Road, Shelocta, 
Pennsylvania 15774 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 
CFR 75.1100-2(e)(2) (quantity and location of firefighting equipment) 
to its Parkwood Mine (I.D. No 36-08785) located in Armstrong County, 
Pennsylvania. The petitioner proposes to use two (2) fire extinguishers 
or one fire extinguisher of twice the required capacity at all 
temporary electrical installations instead of using 240 pounds of rock 
dust. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method would 
provide at least the same measure of protection as the existing 
standard.

4. Snyder Coal Company

[Docket No. M-2000-125-C]

    Snyder Coal Company, 66 Snyder Lane, Hegins, Pennsylvania 17938 has 
filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1405 (automatic 
couplers) to its Rattling Run Slope (I.D. No. 36-08713) located in 
Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. The petitioner requests a modification 
of the existing standard to allow bar and pin, or link and pin couplers 
to be used on its underground haulage equipment. The petitioner asserts 
that the proposed alternative method would provide at least the same 
measure of protection as the existing standard.

5. Three W-M Coal Company

[Docket No. M-2000-126-C]

    Three W-M Coal Company, P.O. Box 602, Valley View, Pennsylvania 
17983 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1400 
(hoisting equipment; general) to its Orchard Slope Mine (I.D. No. 36-
08806) located in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. The petitioner 
proposes to use a slope conveyance (gunboat) in transporting persons 
without installing safety catches or other no less effective devices 
but instead use increased rope strength and secondary safety rope 
connection in place of such devices. The petitioner asserts that the 
proposed alternative method would provide at least the same measure of 
protection as the existing standard.

6. Blue Mountain Energy, Inc.

[Docket No. M-2000-127-C]

    Blue Mountain Energy, Inc., 3607 Co. Rd. 65, Rangely, Colorado 
81648 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.350 
(air courses and belt haulage entries) to its Deserado Mine (I.D. No. 
05-03505) located in Rio Blanco County, Colorado. The petitioner 
requests a modification of the standard to allow a carbon monoxide 
monitoring system to be installed in the belt entry and primary 
escapeway as an early warning fire detection system during two-entry 
longwall development. The petitioner asserts that application of the 
existing standard would result in a diminution of safety to the miners 
and that the proposed alternative method would provide at least the 
same measure of protection as the existing standard.

7. Girdner Mining Company, Inc.

[Docket No. M-2000-128-C]

    Girdner Mining Company, Inc., P.O. Box 1328, Barbourville, Kentucky 
40906 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 
75.380(f)(4) (escapeways; bituminous and lignite mines) to its Mine No. 
1 (I.D. No. 15-17288) located in Knox County, Kentucky. The petitioner 
proposes to use one twenty- or two ten-pound portable chemical fire 
extinguishers on each Mescher Jeep. The fire extinguishers will be 
readily accessible to the equipment operator. The petitioner proposes 
to instruct the equipment operator to inspect each fire extinguisher 
daily prior to entering the mine, replace all defective fire 
extinguishers before entering the mine, and maintain records of all 
inspections of the fire extinguishers. The petitioner asserts that 
because of the low 24 inch heights of the coal seam, available fire 
suppression systems will not fit on the equipment being used at the 
mine. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method would 
provide at least the same measure of protection as the existing 
standard.

8. Girdner Mining Company, Inc.

[Docket No. M-2000-129-C]

    Girdner Mining Company, Inc., P.O. Box 1238, Barbourville, Kentucky 
40906 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.342 
(methane monitors) to its Mine No. 1 (I.D. No. 15-17288) located in 
Knox County, Kentucky. The petitioner proposes to use hand-held 
continuous-duty methane and oxygen indicators on three-wheel tractors 
with drag bottom buckets instead of using machine mounted monitors. The 
petitioner asserts that application of the standard would reduce the 
safety of the miners and that the proposed alternative method would 
provide at least the same measure of protection as the existing 
standard.

[[Page 64262]]

9. Magic Coal Company

[Docket No. M-2000-130-C]

    Magic Coal Company, P.O. Box 1352, Madisonville, Kentucky 42431 has 
filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.503 
(Permissible electric face equipment; maintenance) to its Magic Mine 
(I.D. No. 15-17071) located in Hopkins County, Kentucky. The petitioner 
proposes to use a spring-loaded device with specific fastening 
characteristics instead of a padlock to secure plugs and electrical 
type connectors to batteries and permissible mobile powered equipment 
to prevent accidental separation of the battery plugs from their 
receptacles during normal operation of the battery equipment. The 
petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide 
at least the same measure of protection as the existing standard.

10. Mountain Coal Company, L.L.C.

[Docket No. M-2000-131-C]

    Mountain Coal Company, P.O. Box 591, Somerset, Colorado 81434 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 West Elk Mine (I.D. No. 05-03672) located in 
Gunnison County, Colorado. The petitioner proposes to use high-voltage 
(2,400 volt) cables within 150 feet of pillar workings for continuous 
miners. The petitioner has listed specific terms and conditions in this 
petition for using high-voltage cables. The petitioner asserts that the 
proposed alternative method would provide at least the same measure of 
protection as the existing standard.

11. Blue Mountain Energy, Inc.

[Docket No. M-2000-132-C]

    Blue Mountain Energy, Inc., 3607 Co. Rd. 65, Rangely, Colorado 
81648 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.352 
(return air courses) to its Deserado Mine (I.D. No. 05-03505) located 
in Rio Blanco County, Colorado. The petitioner requests a modification 
of the standard to allow a carbon monoxide monitoring system to be 
installed in the belt entry and primary escapeway as an early warning 
fire detection system during two-entry longwall development. The 
petitioner asserts that application of the existing standard would 
result in a diminution of safety to the miners and that the proposed 
alternative method would provide at least the same measure of 
protection as the existing standard.

12. Peabody Coal Company

[Docket No. M-2000-133-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 
75.503 (permissible electric face equipment; maintenance) to its Camp 
#11 Mine (I.D. No. 15-08357) located in Union County, Kentucky. The 
petitioners proposes to use a spring-loaded metal locking device to 
secure battery connecting plugs to machine-mounted batter receptacles 
on permissible mobile battery-powered scoop cars and tractors to 
prevent the cable plug from inadvertently disengaging from the 
receptacle, instead of using padlocks. The petitioner asserts that the 
proposed alternative method would provide at least the same measure of 
protection as the existing standard.

13. Aracoma Coal Company

[Docket No. M-2000-134-C]

    Aracoma Coal Company, P.O. Box 470, Stollings, West Virginia 25646 
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 Aracoma Alma Mine No. 1 (I.D. No. 46-08801) 
located in Logan County, West Virginia. The petitioner proposes to use 
a 4,160 volt high-voltage longwall mining system. The petitioner 
asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide at least the 
same measure of protection as the existing standard.

14. Echo Bay Minerals Company, Kettle River Operations

[Docket No. M-2000-009-M]

    Echo Bay Minerals Company, Kettle River Operations, 363 Fish 
Hatchery Road, Republic, Washington 99166 has filed a petition to 
modify the application of 30 CFR 49.8 (training for mine rescue teams) 
to its Lamefoot Mine (I.D. No. 45-03265) and K-2 Mine (I.D. No. 45-
03336) located in Ferry County, Washington. The petitioner requests a 
modification of the existing standard to allow the company to 
participate in the Central Mine Rescue (CMR) of Wallace, Idaho, which 
consists of four training sessions per year, once per quarter, for the 
team in addition to Annual Refresher and Competition training. The 
petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide 
at least the same measure of protection as the existing standard.

Request for Comments

    Persons interested in these petitioners 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 27, 
2000. Copies of these petitioners are available for inspection at that 
address.

    Dated: October 18, 2000.
Carol J. Jones,
Director, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances.
[FR Doc. 00-27535 Filed 10-25-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-U