[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 143 (Wednesday, July 25, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38748-38750]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-18448]


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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.

1. Kentucky May Coal Company

[Docket No. M-2001-063-C]

    Kentucky May Coal Company, 1045 Arnold Fork Road, Kite, Kentucky 
41828 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 
77.214(a) (refuse piles; general) to its Preparation Plant (I.D. No. 
15-17338) located in Knott County, Kentucky. The petitioner proposes to 
fill its Refuse Disposal Fill ``A'' with refuse generated from its 
preparation plant in Arnold Fork Kentucky. The petitioner states that 
Refuse Fill ``A'' is a combined fill being constructed by the 
structural shell method, and that proposed modifications to Fill ``A'' 
to raise the proposed top of the Fill from elevation 1700 feet to 
elevation 1750 feet have

[[Page 38749]]

been submitted to the Barbourville Regional Office for review and 
approval. The petitioner submits this petition to supplement the 
modifications since the proposed top of the Fill will now be above an 
abandoned underground mine face up No. 1, an underground mining 
operation in the Hazard No. 4 coal Seam that is currently backfilled, 
and for face-up No. 2 that is constructed for the same mine and also 
backfilled and the Coal Seam dips toward face-up No. 2. For this 
reason, a four inch P.V.C. Pipe has been installed in the lowest entry 
of face-up No. 2 during backfilling operations to prevent the 
impoundment of water in the old mine works. The petitioner has outlined 
in this petition specific procedures that would be followed to 
implement its proposed alternative method. The petitioner asserts that 
the proposed alternative method would provide at least the same measure 
of protection as the existing standard.

2. DLR Mining, Inc.

[Docket No. M-2001-064-C]

    DLR Mining, Inc., 3065 Airport Road, Indiana, Pennsylvania 15701 
has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.350 (air 
courses and belt haulage entries) to its Nolo Mine (I.D. No. 36-08850) 
located in Indiana County, Pennsylvania. The petitioner requests a 
modification of the existing standard to permit belt air to be used to 
ventilate a working section or sections. The petitioner proposes to 
install carbon monoxide sensors as an early warning fire detection 
system in all belt entries used to course air through the belt entry to 
ventilate active working places. The petitioner states that the sensors 
would be capable of providing both visual and audible alarm signals. 
The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method would 
provide at least the same measure of protection as the existing 
standard.

3. Consol Pennsylvania Coal Company

[Docket No. M-2001-065-C]

    Consol Pennsylvania Coal Company, Consol Plaza, 1800 Washington 
Road, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15241-1421 has filed a petition to 
modify the application of 30 CFR 75.312(c) and (d) (main mine fan 
examinations and records) to its Enlow Fork Mine (I.D. No. 36-07416) 
located in Greene County, Pennsylvania. The petitioner proposes to test 
automatic closing door(s) and the automatic fan signal device at least 
every 31 days without shutting down the fan and without removing miners 
from the mine. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative 
method would provide at least the same measure of protection as the 
existing standard.

4. Branham & Baker Underground Corp.

[Docket No. M-2001-066-C]

    Branham & Baker Underground Corp., P.O. Box 1409, Pikeville, 
Kentucky 41502 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 Mine #23 (I.D. 
No. 15-18368) located in Pike County, Kentucky. The petitioner proposes 
to use a permanently installed spring-loaded device instead of a 
padlock on mobile battery-powered equipment to prevent unintentional 
loosening of battery plugs from battery receptacles and to eliminate 
hazards associated with difficult removal of padlocks during emergency 
situations. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method 
would provide at least the same measure of protection as the existing 
standard.

5. Long Fork Development, Inc.

[Docket No. M-2001-067-C]

    Long Fork Development, Inc., P.O. Box 480, Lovely, Kentucky 41231 
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 No. 6 Mine (I.D. No. 15-
18385) located in Johnson County, Kentucky. The petitioner proposes to 
use a permanently installed spring-loaded device instead of a padlock 
on mobile battery-powered equipment to prevent unintentional loosening 
of battery plugs from battery receptacles and to eliminate hazards 
associated with difficult removal of padlocks during emergency 
situations. 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.

6. Energy West Mining Company

[Docket No. M-2001-068-C]

    Energy West Mining Company, P.O. Box 310, 15 North Main, 
Huntington, Utah 84528 has filed a petition to modify the application 
of 30 CFR 75.364(b)(1) (weekly examination) to its Deer Creek Mine 
(I.D. No. 42-00121) located in Emery County, Utah. Due to deteriorating 
roof conditions, deep water, and high roof through the area, the 
petitioner requests a modification of the existing standard to 
establish evaluation points instead of traveling an area from the top 
of the Cowin Raise for a distance of approximately three hundred (300) 
feet inby the intake air course. The petitioner proposes to establish 
three input evaluation points and three crosscuts outby the top of the 
Cowin Raise and to have an examiner check the evaluation points to 
determine that air is moving in the proper direction; and establish one 
output evaluation point at the bottom of the Cowin Raise and have the 
examiner determine that air is moving in the proper direction and take 
an air reading, and record the date, time, and his/her initials at 
evaluation point, and record the air reading in a weekly examination 
book. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method would 
provide at least the same measure of protection as the existing 
standard.

7. Consolidation Coal Company

[Docket No. M-2001-069-C]

    Consolidation Coal Company, Consol Plaza, 1800 Washington Road, 
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15241-1421 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 Buchanan No. 
1 Mine (I.D. No. 44-04856) located in Buchanan County, Virginia. The 
petitioner proposes to use high-voltage (4,160-volt) cables inby the 
last open crosscut. The petitioner asserts that the proposed 
alternative method would provide at least the same measure of 
protection as the existing standard.

8. Consolidation Coal Company

[Docket No. M-2001-070-C]

    Consolidation Coal Company, Consol Plaza, 1800 Washington Road, 
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15241-1421 has filed a petition to modify the 
application of 30 CFR 75.804(a) (underground high-voltage cables) to 
its Buchanan No. 1 Mine (I.D. No. 44-04856) located in Buchanan County, 
Virginia. The petitioner proposes to use a high-voltage (4,160-volt) 
cable with an internal ground check conductor smaller than #10 A.W.G. 
as part of its longwall mining system. The petitioner asserts that the 
proposed alternative method would provide at least the same measure of 
protection as the existing standard.

9. American Energy Corporation

[Docket No. M-2001-071-C]

    American Energy Corporation, P.O. Box 5, Alledonia, Ohio 43902 has 
filed a petition to modify the application of

[[Page 38750]]

30 CFR 75.804(a) (underground high-voltage cables) to its Century Mine 
(I.D. No. 33-01070) located in Belmont County, Ohio. The petitioner 
proposes to use a high-voltage cable with an internal ground check 
conductor smaller than No. 10 A.W.G as part of its longwall mining 
system. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method 
would provide at least the same measure of protection as the existing 
standard.

10. American Energy Corporation

[Docket No. M-2001-072-C]

    American Energy Corporation, P.O. Box 5, Alledonia, Ohio 43902 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 Century Mine (I.D. No. 33-01070) located in 
Belmont County, Ohio. The petitioner proposes to use high-voltage 
(4,160-volt) cables inby the last open crosscut. The petitioner asserts 
that the proposed alternative method would provide at least the same 
measure of protection as the existing standard.

11. Mettiki Coal, LLC

[Docket No. M-2001-073-C]

    Mettiki Coal, LLC, 293 Table Rock Road, Oakland, Maryland 21550 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 Mettiki Mine (I.D. No. 18-00621) located in 
Garrett County, Maryland. The petitioner proposes to use high-voltage 
(2,400-volts) on its longwall face conveyor circuits and its shearer 
circuits when new longwall equipment is installed and has been 
inspected by MSHA. The petitioner states that a request will be made to 
revoke its previously granted petition, docket number M-98-032-C, when 
or if this petition is granted. The petitioner asserts that the 
proposed alternative method would provide at least the same measure of 
protection as the existing standard.

12. San Juan Coal Company

[Docket No. M-2001-074-C]

    San Juan Coal Company, P.O. Box 561, Waterflow, New Mexico 87421 
has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1726(a) 
(performing work from a raised position; safeguards) to its San Juan 
South Mine (I.D. No. 29-02170) and San Juan Deep Mine (I.D. No. 29-
02201) located in San Juan County, New Mexico. The petitioner requests 
a modification of the existing standard to permit the use of modified 
scoops to provide an elevated work platform for miners at the San Juan 
South Mine and the San Juan Deep Mine. 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 August 24, 
2001. Copies of these petitions are available for inspection at that 
address.

    Dated at Arlington, Virginia this 13th day of July 2001.
David L. Meyer,
Director, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances.
[FR Doc. 01-18448 Filed 7-24-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-U