[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 154 (Thursday, August 9, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41891-41892]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-19944]


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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. Rockhouse Creek Development Corp.

[Docket No. M-2001-075-C]

    Rockhouse Creek Development Corp., P.O. Box 1389, Gilbert, West 
Virginia 25621 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 
75.1103 (automatic fire warning devices) to its No. 1 Mine (I.D. No. 
46-08366) located in Mingo County, West Virginia. The petitioner 
proposes to use an alternative method for automatic fire warning 
devices. The petitioner proposes to install a low-level carbon monoxide 
detection system as an early warning fire detection system in all belt 
entries. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method 
would provide at least the same measure of protection as the existing 
standard.

2. Coastal Coal-West Virginia, LLC

[Docket No. M-2001-076-C]

    Coastal Coal-West Virginia, LLC, 61 Missouri Run Road, Cowen, West 
Virginia 26206 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 Popular Ridge No. 1 Deep Mine (I.D. No. 
46-08885) located in Webster County, West Virginia. The petitioner 
proposes to use continuous mining machines with nominal voltage of the 
power circuits not to exceed 2,400 volts at its Popular Ridge No. 1 
Deep Mine. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method 
would provide at least the same measure of protection as the existing 
standard.

3. San Juan Coal Company

[Docket No. M-2001-077-C]

    San Juan Coal Company, P.O. Box 561, Waterflow, New Mexico 87421 
has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.804(a) and 
(b) (underground high-voltage cables) 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 proposes to use 4,160-volt 
cables for longwall equipment, with a symmetrical 3/C, 3/G, and 1/GC 
construction and a ground check conductor not smaller than a No. 16 
(AWG). The high-voltage cables would be Cablec Anaconda brand 5KV 3/C 
type SHD+GC or similar 5,000-volt cable with a center ground check 
conductor, but otherwise manufactured to the ICEA Standard S-75-381 for 
Type SHD, three-conductor cables. The petitioner asserts that the 
cables would be MSHA accepted flame-resistant and that the proposed 
alternative method would provide at least the same measure of 
protection as the existing standard.

4. Black Beauty Coal Company

[Docket No. M-2001-078-C]

    Black Beauty Coal Company, P.O. Box 290, Georgetown, Illinois 61846 
has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1002 
(location of trolley wires, trolley feeder wires,

[[Page 41892]]

high-voltage cables and transformers) to its Vermillion Grove Mine 
(I.D. No. 11-03060) located in Vermillion County, Indiana. The 
petitioner proposes to use high-voltage (2,400-volt) cables inby the 
last open crosscut at the working continuous miner section(s). The 
petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide 
at least the same measure of protection as the existing standard.

5. Drummond Company, Inc.

[Docket No. M-2001-079-C]

    Drummond Company, Inc., P.O. Box 10246, Birmingham, Alabama 35202-
0246 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 Shoal Creek Mine (I.D. No. 01-02901) located 
in Jefferson County, Alabama. The petitioner proposes to use continuous 
mining machines with nominal voltage of the power circuits not to 
exceed 2,400 volts at its Shoal Creek Mine. The petitioner asserts that 
the proposed alternative method would provide at least the same measure 
of protection as the existing standard.

6. Beech Fork Processing, Inc.

[Docket No. M-2001-080-C]

    Beech Fork Processing, 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. 5 Mine (I.D. No. 15-
18407) located in Martin County, Kentucky. The petitioner proposes to 
use permanently installed spring-loaded devices instead of a padlock on 
mobile battery-powered equipment to prevent unintentional loosening of 
battery plugs from battery receptacles to eliminate the 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.

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

    Dated at Arlington, Virginia this 30th day of July 2001.
David L. Meyer,
Director, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances.
[FR Doc. 01-19944 Filed 8-8-01; 8:45 am]
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