[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 69 (Tuesday, April 10, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18659-18661]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-8732]


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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 existing safety standards under section 101(c) of the 
Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977.

[[Page 18660]]

1. Newtown Energy, Inc.

[Docket No. M-2000-158-C]

    Newtown Energy, Inc., 13905 MacCorkle Avenue, One Carbon Center, 
Suite 200, Chesapeake, West Virginia 25315 has filed a petition to 
modify the application of 30 CFR 75.350 (air course and belt haulage 
entries) to its Eagle Mine No. 1 (I.D. No. 46-08759) located in Kanawha 
County, West Virginia. The petitioner requests a modification of the 
existing standard to permit the use of belt air to ventilate active 
working places. The petitioner proposes to install a low-level carbon 
monoxide monitoring system as an early warning fire-detection system in 
all belt entries used to course air to a working place. The petitioner 
asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide at least the 
same measure of protection as the existing standard.

2. G & P Contractors, Inc.

[Docket No. M-2000-159-C]

    G & P Contractors, Inc., Rt. 1 Box 419-A1, Gray, Kentucky 40634 has 
filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.380(f)(4)(I) 
(escapeways; bituminous and lignite mines) to its Powers Branch Mine 
(I.D. No. 15-18276) located in Whitley County, Kentucky. The petitioner 
proposes to use two ten-pound portable chemical fire extinguishers on 
each Mescher Jeep. The fire extinguishers would be readily accessible 
to the equipment operator. The petitioner proposes to instruct the 
equipment operator to inspect each fire extinguisher daily before 
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 
height 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.

3. G & P Contractors, Inc.

[Docket No. M-2000-160-C]

    G & P Contractors, Inc., Rt. 1 Box 419-A1, Gray, Kentucky 40634 has 
filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.342 (methane 
monitors) to its Powers Branch Mine (I.D. No. 15-018276) located in 
Whitley County, Kentucky. The petitioner proposes to use hand-held, 
continuous-duty methane and oxygen indicators instead of machine-
mounted methane monitors on three-wheel tractors with drag bottom 
buckets. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method 
would provide at least the same measure of protection as the existing 
standard.

4. Rosebud Mining Company

[Docket No. M-2000-161-C]

    Rosebud Mining Company, R.D. #9, Box 379A, Kittanning, Pennsylvania 
16201 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1100-
2(e)(2) (quantity and location of firefighting equipment) to its 
Clementine Mine (I.D. No. 36-08862) 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.

5. PennAmerican Coal, L.P.

[Docket No. M-2000-162-C]

    PennAmerican Coal, L.P., RD #1, Box 119, Avonmore, Pennsylvania 
15618 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.350 
(air courses and belt-haulage entries) to its Burrell Mine (I.D. No. 
36-08525) located in Indiana County, Pennsylvania. The petitioner 
requests a modification of the existing standard to permit air 
ventilating the belt entry and associated entries in common with the 
belt to be used to ventilate a working section or sections. The 
petitioner proposes to install a carbon monoxide monitoring system in 
all belt entries in which air coursed through the belt entry is used to 
ventilate active working places. The petitioner asserts that the 
proposed alternative method would provide at least the same measure of 
protection as the existing standard.

6. T.J.S. Mining, Inc.

[Docket No. M-2000-163-C]

    T.J.S. Mining, Inc., R.D. #1, Box 260-D, Shelocta, Pennsylvania 
15774 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1100-
2(e)(2) (quantity and location of firefighting and location of 
firefighting equipment) to its T.J.S 1 Mine (I.D. No. 36-
08255), T.J.S. 4 Mine (I.D. No. 36-08694), Darmac 3 
Mine (36-08278), and Darmac 2 Mine (I.D. No. 36-08135) all 
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.

7. Excel Mining, LLC

[Docket No. M-2000-164-C]

    Excel Mining, LLC, HC 67 Box 615, Pilgrim, Kentucky 41250 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 Mine No. 1 (I.D. No. 15-08413), and Mine No. 2 (I.D. No. 15-
09571) located in Martin County, Kentucky, and Mine No. 3 (I.D. No. 15-
08079) located in Pike County, Kentucky. The petitioner proposes to use 
a 480-volt, three-phase, 150-KW diesel-powered generator in its 
underground coal mines. The petitioner asserts that the proposed 
alternative method would provide at least the same measure of 
protection as the existing standard. In subsequent correspondence, the 
petitioner has requested that this petition be withdrawn.

8. Excel Mining, LLC

[Docket No. M-2000-165-C]

    Excel Mining, LLC, HC 67 Box 615, Pilgrim, Kentucky 41250 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 
Mine No. 1 (I.D. No. 15-08413), and Mine No. 2 (I.D. No. 15-09571) 
located in Martin County, Kentucky, and Mine No. 3 (I.D. No. 15-08079) 
located in Pike County, Kentucky. The petitioner proposes to use 480-
volt, three-phase, 150-KW diesel-powered generator in its underground 
coal mines. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method 
would provide at least the same measure of protection as the existing 
standard. In subsequent correspondence, the petitioner has requested 
this petition be withdrawn.

9. Straight Fork Mining, Inc.

[Docket No. M-2000-166-C]

    Straight Fork Mining, Inc., P.O. Box 249, Stanville, Kentucky 41659 
has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.503 
(permissible electric face equipment; maintenance) and 30 CFR 18.41(f) 
(plug and receptacle-type connectors) to its Skullfork Mine (I.D. No. 
15-18186) located in Knott County, Kentucky. The petitioner proposes to 
use a permanently installed spring-loaded device on mobile battery-
powered equipment to prevent unintentional loosening of battery plugs 
from battery receptacles instead of using padlocks. The petitioner 
asserts that the

[[Page 18661]]

proposed alternative method would provide at least the same measure of 
protection as the existing standard.

10. Big Ridge, Inc.

[Docket No. M-2000-167-C]

    Big Ridge, Inc., 29 West Raymond Street, P.O. Box 444, Harrisburg, 
Illinois 62946 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 
75.1700 (oil and gas wells) to its Willow Lake Portal Mine (I.D. No. 
11-03054) located in Saline County, Illinois. The petitioner proposes 
to plug oil and gas wells and then mine in close proximity or through 
the plugged wells using specific procedures outlined in this petition 
for modification. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative 
method would provide at least the same measure of protection as the 
existing standard.

11. D & R Coal Company, Inc.

[Docket No. M-2000-168-C

    D & R Coal Company, Inc., P.O. Box 728, Barbourville, Kentucky 
40906 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.342 
(methane monitors) to its Mine #2 (I.D. No. 15-18261) 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 the proposed alternative method would provide 
at least the same measure of protection as the existing standard.

12. D & R Coal Company, Inc.

[Docket No. M-2000-169-C]

    D & R Coal Company, Inc., P.O. Box 728, Barbourville, Kentucky 
40906 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 
75.380(f)(4)(i) (escapeways, bituminous and lignite mines) to its Mine 
#2 (I.D. No. 15-18261) located in Knox County, Kentucky. The petitioner 
proposes to install two five-pound or one ten-pound portable chemical 
fire extinguisher in the operator deck of each Mescher tractor. The 
fire extinguishers would be readily accessible to the equipment 
operator. The petitioner proposes to instruct the equipment operator to 
inspect each fire extinguisher daily before 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 the proposed alternative method would provide at least the 
same measure of protection as the existing standard.

13. Penn View Mining, Inc.

[Docket No. M-2000-173-C]

    Penn View Mining, Inc., R.D. #1, Box 260-D, Shelocta, Pennsylvania 
15774 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1100-
2(e)(2) (quantity and location of firefighting and location of 
firefighting equipment) to its and Penn View Mine (I.D. No. 36-08741) 
located in Indiana 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.

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 May 10, 
2001. Copies of these petitions are available for inspection at that 
address.

    Dated at Arlington, Virginia this 27th day of March 2001.
David L. Meyer,
Director, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances.
[FR Doc. 01-8732 Filed 4-9-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-U