[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 51 (Friday, March 15, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11717-11718]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-6236]


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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. D & F Deep Mine Buck Drift

[Docket No. M-2002-001-C]

    D & F Deep Mine Buck Drift, RD #1, Box 33A, Klingerstown, 
Pennsylvania 17941 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 
CFR 75.1002-1 (Location of other electric equipment; requirements for 
permissibility) to its Buck Drift Mine (I.D. No. 36-07456) located in 
Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. The petitioner requests a modification 
of the existing standard to permit the use of non-permissible electric 
equipment within 150 feet of the pillar line. The petitioner states 
that the non-permissible equipment would include drags and battery 
locomotives due in part to the method of mining used in pitching 
anthracite mines and the alternative evaluation of the mine air quality 
for methane on an hourly basis during operation. The petitioner further 
states that one gas test result would be recorded in the on-shift 
examination record and equipment operation will be suspended when 
methane concentration at the equipment reaches 0.5 percent 
CH4, either during operation or when found during a pre-
shift examination. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative 
method would provide at least the same measure of protection as the 
existing standard.

2. Canyon Fuel Company, LLC

[Docket No. M-2002-002-C]

    Canyon Fuel Company, LLC, P.O. Box 1029, Wellington, Utah 84542 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 Dugout Canyon Mine (I.D. No. 42-01890) located in 
Carbon County, Utah. The petitioner requests a modification of the 
existing standard to permit the use of a nominal voltage of longwall 
power circuits not to exceed 4,160 volts to supply power to permissible 
longwall mining equipment. The petitioner has listed specific terms and 
conditions in this petition that would be followed when implementing 
the proposed alternative method. The petitioner states that its present 
longwall voltage is 2,400-volts, but due to increased horsepower 
necessary to operate the longwall, the operating voltage must be 
increased. The petitioner asserts that a diminished safety factor 
exists as the short circuit interrupting rating limits of the available 
2,400-volt breaker are approached and that the proposed alternative 
method would provide at least the same measure of protection as the 
existing standard.

3. Knott County Mining Company

[Docket No. M-2002-003-C]

    Knott County Mining Company, P.O. Box 2805, Pikeville, Kentucky 
41502 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.900 
(Low- and medium-voltage circuits serving three-phase alternating 
current equipment; circuit breakers) to its Mallet Branch Mine (I.D. 
No. 15-18393) located in Knott County, Kentucky. The petitioner 
proposes to use contactors to obtain undervoltage protection instead of 
using circuit breakers. The petitioner states that all qualified 
persons who perform work on the equipment and circuits will receive 
training in safe maintenance procedures as well as the terms and 
conditions of the proposed decision and order. The training will occur 
before

[[Page 11718]]

implementing the proposed alternative method. The petitioner asserts 
that the proposed alternative method would provide at least the same 
measure of protection as the existing standard.

4. Perry County Coal Company

[Docket No. M-2002-004-C]

    Perry County Coal Company, 1845 South Hwy, 15, P.O. Box 5001, 
Hazard, Kentucky 41702 has filed a petition to modify the application 
of 30 CFR 75.364(b)(2) (Weekly examination) to its HZ4-1 Mine (I.D. No. 
15-02085) located in Perry County, Kentucky. The petitioner proposes to 
establish evaluation check points to measure the quality and quantity 
of air in certain areas of the return air course. This is necessary due 
to hazardous roof and rib conditions impeding passage. The petitioner 
states that the check points will be established at locations that will 
allow effective evaluation of ventilation in the affected areas and 
will be examined by a certified person. These measuring stations will 
be maintained in safe conditions at all times. Further, conditions at 
the stations will be recorded in a book or on a date board located at 
each measuring station with the date, time and results of the 
measurements. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative 
method would provide at least the same measure of protection as the 
existing standard.

5. Cannelton Industries, Inc.

[Docket No. M-2002-005-C]

    Cannelton Industries, Inc., P.O. Box 88, Mammoth, West Virginia 
25132 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 Shadrick Mine (I.D. No. 
46-08159) and its Mine #130 (I.D. No. 46-06051) both located in Kanawha 
County, West Virginia. The petitioner proposes to use a spring-loaded 
device on battery plug connectors on mobile battery-powered machines in 
lieu of a padlock to prevent the plug connector from accidentally 
disengaging while under load. The petitioner states that a warning tag 
that states ``Do Not Disengage Under Load'', will be installed on all 
battery plug connectors and that instructions on the safe practices and 
provisions for complying with its proposed alternative method will be 
provided to all persons who operate or maintain the battery-powered 
machines. The petitioner asserts that the existing standard would 
result in a diminution of safety to the miners.

6. Point Mining, Inc.

[Docket No. M-2002-006-C]

    Point Mining, Inc., 197 Branch Road, Belle, West Virginia 25015 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 Point Mining Number 4 Mine 
(I.D. No. 46-08437) located in Kanawha 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 instead 
of a padlock to prevent the plug connector from accidentally 
disengaging while under load, and provide instructions to all persons 
who operate or maintain the battery-powered machines on the safe 
practices and provisions for complying with its proposed alternative 
method. The petitioner asserts that the existing standard would result 
in a diminution of safety to the miners.

7. OCI Wyoming, L.P.

[Docket No. M-2002-001-M]

    OCI Wyoming, L.P., P.O. Box 513, Green River, Wyoming 82935 has 
filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 57.22305 (Approved 
equipment (III mines)) to its Big Island Mine and Refinery (I.D. No. 
48-00154) located in Sweetwater County, Wyoming. The petitioner 
proposes to use a 12 to 18 volt battery powered cordless drill 
manufactured by Black & Decker, DeWalt, Makita, Milwaukee or Hilti, or 
use similar battery powered drills for an indefinite period of time, in 
or beyond the last open crosscut. The drills would be used to drill 
spad holes for surveying and to install rock mechanics stations. The 
petitioner asserts that the alternative method of using a cordless 
drill would not 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.

8. OCI Wyoming, L.P.

[Docket No. M-2002-002-M]

    OCI Wyoming, L.P., P.O. Box 513, Green River, Wyoming 82935 has 
filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 57.22305 (Approved 
equipment (III mines)) to its Big Island Mine and Refinery (I.D. No. 
48-00154) located in Sweetwater County, Wyoming. The petitioner 
proposes to use a Topcon GTS Series Electronic Total Station surveying 
instrument or similar surveying instrument in or beyond the last open 
crosscut to traverse for mine expansion and obtain elevations in 
support of on-going geologic and rock mechanics modeling. The 
petitioner states that the Topcon GTS is mounted with an intrinsically 
sealed 9.6 volt battery and that the use of the Topcon GTS would 
eliminate labor intensive ventilation modifications and allow for more 
accurate surveying of abandoned panels. The petitioner asserts that the 
alternative method of using the Topcon would not 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 April 15, 
2002. Copies of these petitions are available for inspection at that 
address.

    Dated at Arlington, Virginia this 12th day of March 2002.
Marvin W. Nichols, Jr.,
Director, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances.
[FR Doc. 02-6236 Filed 3-14-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P