[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 131 (Tuesday, July 9, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 45553]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-17112]



[[Page 45553]]

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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. Peabody Coal Company

[Docket No. M-2002-046-C]

    Peabody Coal Company, 1970 Barrett Court, P. O. Box 1990, 
Henderson, Kentucky 42419-1990 has filed a petition to modify the 
application of 30 CFR 75.1101-1(b) (Deluge-type water spray system) to 
its Gibraltar Highwall Mine (I.D. No. 15-17495) located in Muhlenberg 
County, Kentucky. The petitioner requests a modification of the 
existing standard to permit an alternative method for conducting 
functional tests of its complete deluge-type water system. The 
petitioner proposes to conduct these tests on a weekly basis instead of 
annually. The petitioner states that the existing standard will not 
allow the system to be functionally tested weekly because the dust 
covers could be blown off and to return the water spray system safely 
for compliance with the existing standard, the belt would have to be 
de-energized, locked and tagged, and the dust cover would have to be 
replaced, which would take approximately 30 minutes per belt drive. The 
petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide 
at least the same measure of protection as the existing standard since 
any restrictions to the spray system otherwise prevented by the blow-
off dust covers would be recognized during the weekly functional test 
and promptly corrected. The petitioner has requested that this petition 
be withdrawn due to the mine being worked out and ceasing operations.

2. Husky Coal Company, Inc.

[Docket No. M-2002-047-C]

    Husky Coal Company, Inc., P.O. Box 3311, Pikeville, Kentucky 41502 
has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.503 and 30 
CFR 18.41(f) (Permissible electric face equipment; maintenance) to its 
No. 12 Mine (I.D. No. 15-16974) located in Pike County, Kentucky. The 
petitioner proposes to use a permanently installed, spring-loaded 
device on mobile battery-powered machine plug connectors in lieu of a 
padlock 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.

3. Buck Mountain Coal Company

[Docket No. M-2002-048-C]

    Buck Mountain Coal Company, 11 S. Pine Street, Tremont, 
Pennsylvania 17981 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 
CFR 75.381 (Escapeways; anthracite mines) to its Buck Mountain Slope 
Mine (I.D. No. 36-01962) located in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. 
The petitioner proposes to establish two separate and distinct 
travelable passageways designated as escapeways continuous from each 
working section to a point within the mine at the intersection of these 
two escapeways with an existing rock tunnel and maintain one means of 
ingress/egress from this point to approximately 900 feet to the 
surface. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method 
would provide at least the same measure of protection as the existing 
standard.

4. Peabody Coal Company

[Docket No. M-2002-049-C]

    Peabody Coal Company, 202 Laidley Tower, P.O. Box 1233, Charleston, 
West Virginia 25324-1233 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 Highland Mine (I.D. No. 15-02709) 
located in Union County, Kentucky. The petitioner proposes to use a 
480-volt, three-phase diesel powered generator to move equipment using 
specific procedures outlined in this petition. The petitioner states 
that specific hands on training will be provided to all qualified 
persons on the proper testing procedures to be utilized and incorporate 
this training in its part 48 training plans and in the annual refresher 
training plans for the mine and submit the proposed revisions for its 
part 48 training plan to the Coal Mine Safety and Health District 
Manager. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method 
would provide at least the same measure of protection as the existing 
standard.

5. Bubber Coal Company, Inc.

[Docket No. M-2002-050-C]

    Bubber Coal Company, Inc., P.O. Box 43, Kite, Kentucky 41653 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. 1 Mine (I.D. No. 15-
17547) located in Knott County, Kentucky. The petitioner proposes to 
use permanently installed, spring-loaded locking devices 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 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, 1100 
Wilson Boulevard, 23rd Floor, Arlington, Virginia 22209. All comments 
must be postmarked or received in that office on or before August 8, 
2002. Copies of these petitions are available for inspection at that 
address.

    Dated at Arlington, Virginia, this 2nd day of July, 2002.
Marvin W. Nichols, Jr.,
Director, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances.
[FR Doc. 02-17112 Filed 7-8-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P