[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 242 (Monday, December 17, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64992-64993]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-30940]


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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. Wabash Mine Holding Company

[Docket No. M-2001-098-C]

    Wabash Mine Holding Company, One Oxford Centre, 301 Grant Street, 
20th Floor, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219 has filed a petition to 
modify the application of 30 CFR 75.332(a)(2) (working sections and 
working places) to its Wabash Mine (I.D. No. 11-00877) located in 
Wabash County Illinois. The petitioner requests that Item 29 of the 
Proposed Decision and Order for its previously granted petition for 
modification, docket number M-1999-095-C be amended to permit the 
scrubber system to be operational and maintained to provide 6,500 cfm 
instead of 7,500 cfm of output capacity while cleanup is being 
performed. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method 
would provide at least the same measure of protection as the existing 
standard.

2. Hopkins County Coal, LLC

[Docket No. M-2001-099-C]

    Hopkins County Coal, LLC, P.O. Box 711, Madisonville, Kentucky 
42431 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 
75.364(b)(2) (weekly examination) to its Island Mine No. 1 (I.D. No. 
15-17515) located in Hopkins County, Kentucky. The petitioner requests 
a modification of the standard to permit evaluation points (A, inby and 
B, outby) in lieu of traveling approximately 75 feet of the return air 
course. The petitioner states that due to deteriorating roof 
conditions, traveling the affected area would be unsafe. The petitioner 
proposes to: (1) Establish evaluation points outby the #3 entry at/near 
spad #22+21/3 and inby at/near spad #23+21/3, to provide ingress/egress 
to the outby evaluation point (B) at crosscut #43 and to provide 
ingress/egress to the inby evaluation point (A) at crosscut #51; (ii) 
post signs in strategic locations that would direct personnel to each 
evaluation point; and (iii) have a certified person examine the 
evaluation points on a weekly basis to determine methane and oxygen 
concentrations, quantity of air, and to determine if the air is moving 
in the proper direction and record the results of the examinations in a 
book maintained on the surface. 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-2001-100-C]

    San Juan Coal Company, P.O. Box 561, Waterflow, New Mexico 87421 
has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.362(d)(2) 
(on-shift examination) to its San Juan South Mine (I.D. No. 29-02170) 
and San Juan Deep Mine (I.D. No. 29-02201) both located in San Juan 
County, New Mexico. The petitioner proposes to: (i) Equip each 
continuous miner with a General Monitor S800 Methane Monitor with 
detection sensors near the cutter drum and one sensor on each side of 
the machine; (ii) equip each roof-bolting machine with a General 
Monitors S800 Methane Monitor that would have detection sensors on ATRS 
for a total of one sensor; and (iii) to conduct tests every twenty 
minutes at the operator's station while operating the roof-bolting 
machine on or inby the last open crosscut. The petitioner states that 
the methane monitor would provide a visual alert when the methane 
concentration reaches 1 percent and provide automatic shutdown when the 
methane concentration reaches 2 percent at any of the sensors, the 
monitors would provide continuous monitoring of the methane content 
rather than just testing every twenty minutes and would test for 
methane near the roof where methane is likely to be found, the monitors 
would calibrated with a known concentration of methane at intervals not 
to exceed 31 days, and that calibration would be performed by a 
certified person. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative 
method would provide at least the same measure of protection as the 
existing standard.

4. Canyon Fuel Company, LLC

[Docket No. M-2001-101-C]

    Canyon Fuel Company, LLC, P.O. Box 1029, Wellington, Utah 84542 has 
filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.500(d) 
(permissible electric equipment) to its Dugout Canyon Mine (I.D. No, 
42-01890) located in Carbon County, Utah. The petitioner proposes to 
use the following non-permissible low-voltage or battery powered 
electronic testing and diagnostic equipment inby the last open 
crosscut: Lap top computers, oscilloscopes, vibration analysis 
machines, cable fault detectors, point temperature probes, infrared 
temperature devices and recorders, pressure and flow measurement 
devices, signal analyzer devices, ultrasonic thickness gauges, 
electronic component testers, and electronic tachometers, and may use 
other testing and diagnostic equipment if approved by the District 
Office. The petitioner states that all other tests and diagnostic 
equipment use in or inby the last open crosscut will be permissible. 
The petitioner has listed in this petition for modification specific 
procedures that would be followed when using this equipment. The 
petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide 
at least the same measure of protection as the existing standard.

[[Page 64993]]

5. Canyon Fuel Company, LLC

[Docket No. M-2001-102-C]

    Canyon Fuel Company, LLC, P.O. Box 1029, Wellington, Utah 84542 has 
filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1001-1(a) 
(location of other electric equipment; requirements for permissibility) 
to its Dugout Canyon Mine (I.D. No. 42-01890) located in Carbon County, 
Utah. The petitioner proposes to use the following non-permissible low-
voltage or battery powered electronic testing and diagnostic equipment 
in by the last open crosscut: Lap top computers, oscilloscopes, 
vibration analysis machines, cable fault detectors, point temperature 
probes, infrared temperature devices and recorders, pressure and flow 
measurement devices, signal analyzer devices, ultrasonic thickness 
gauges, electronic component testers, and electronic tachometers, and 
may use other testing and diagnostic equipment if approved by the 
District Office. The petitioner states that all other test and 
diagnostic equipment use in or in by the last open crosscut will be 
permissible. The petitioner has listed in this petition for 
modification specific procedures that would be followed when using this 
equipment. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method 
would provide at least the same measure of protection as the existing 
standard.

6. Consol Pennsylvania Coal Company

[Docket No. M-2001-103-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 requests a 
modification of the standard to permit testing of the 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.

7. Oxbow Mining, Inc.

[Docket No. M-2001-104-C]

    Oxbow Mining, Inc., 3737 Hwy 133, P.O. Box 535, 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 Elk Creek Mine (I.D. No. 05-04674) located in 
Gunnison County, Colorado. The petitioner proposes to use a 2,400-volt 
longwall power circuit in the active pillar workings. The petitioner 
has listed in this petition specific procedures for implementing 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 and has listed specific procedures 
in this petition for modification for implementing the alternative 
method.

8. Oxbow Mining, Inc.

[Docket No. M-2001-105-C]

    Oxbow Mining, Inc., 3737 Hwy 133, P.O. Box 535, Somerset, Colorado 
81434 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 
75.804(a) (underground high-voltage cables) to its Elk Creek Mine (I.D. 
No. 05-04674) located in Gunnison County, Colorado. The petitioner 
requests a modification of the standard to allow the use of a No. 16 
A.W.G. ground check conductor in a high-voltage cable. The petitioner 
proposes to use the following flame-resistant cables on the high-
voltage longwall system(s): Anaconda Type SHD+GC, Pirelli Type SHD-
Center-GC, Tiger Brand Type SHD-CGC, and other brands of cable of 
identical construction. The petitioner asserts that these brands of 
cable utilize a flexible No. 16 A.W.G. ground check conductor for the 
ground continuity check circuit and that the proposed alternative 
method would provide at least the same measure of protection as the 
existing standard.

9. FMC Westvaco

[Docket No. M-2001-005-M]

    FMC Westvaco, FMC Corporation, Box 872, Green River, Wyoming 82935 
has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 57.22305 
(approved equipment (III mines)) to its FMC Trona Mine (I.D. No. 48-
00152) located in Sweetwater County, Wyoming. The petitioner requests a 
modification of the standard to permit the use of portable low power 
0.5-2.0 watt radios for communication in face areas. The petitioner 
proposes to use (Audiovox, or equivalent) radios inby the last open 
break or face areas of the time to improve communications, conduct 
examinations to test for methane in the mine atmosphere at least every 
ten minutes before using the radios in the face area, and instruct all 
mine employees in the petition requirements and complete training forms 
before using the radios. The petitioner states that these radios would 
not be used where methane is 1.0 percent or more, or in the same mining 
section where blasting is taking place. 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, 4014 
Wilson Boulevard, Room 627, Arlington, Virginia 22203. All comments 
must be postmarked or received in that office on or before January 16, 
2002. Copies of these petitions are available for inspection at that 
address.

    Dated at Arlington, Virginia this 10th day of December 2001.
David L. Meyer,
Director, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances.
[FR Doc. 01-30940 Filed 12-14-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-M