[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 135 (Monday, July 15, 2002)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 46431-46432]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-17652]



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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration

30 CFR Parts 14, 18, and 75

RIN 1219-AA92


Requirements for Approval of Flame-Resistant Conveyor Belts

AGENCY: Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), Labor.

ACTION: Proposed rule; withdrawal.

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SUMMARY: This document withdraws the proposed rule that would have 
established a new laboratory-scale flame test for conveyor belts used 
in underground coal mines. This rulemaking was initiated in 1989 in 
response to a number, over the prior 12 years, of reportable (i.e., 
greater than 30 minutes) conveyor belt fires attributable to belt 
material. Since that time, accident and injury data reflect a decline 
in the number of these fires. We attribute this decrease in conveyor 
belt fires to improvements in belt monitoring and maintenance, along 
with technological advances in conveyor systems. Therefore, in the 
absence of a need for rulemaking, MSHA is withdrawing the proposed 
rule.

DATES: This proposed rule published on December 24, 1992, is withdrawn 
as of July 15, 2002.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marvin W. Nichols, Jr., Director, 
Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances, MSHA, 1100 Wilson 
Blvd., Room 2313, Arlington, Virginia 22209-3939, [email protected], (202) 693-9440 (telephone), (202) 693-9441 
(facsimile). You can request a copy of this withdrawal notice in an 
alternate format, such as a large print version, an electronic file or 
a file on a disk. This withdrawal notice is available on MSHA's 
Internet site, http://www.msha.gov, at the ``Statutory and Regulatory 
Information'' icon.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

    On January 17, 1989, in response to a number of conveyor belt fires 
in underground coal mines, MSHA announced a public meeting to discuss 
the development of a revised laboratory-scale flame resistance test for 
conveyor belts (54 FR 1802). MSHA investigated 293 underground coal 
mine fires between 1970 and 1988, and determined that conveyor belts 
were involved in 53 of those fires. During this 19 year period, 36 of 
the 53 belt fires (68%) occurred during the 9 years between 1980 and 
1988.
    After reviewing the testimony and comments from the mining and 
manufacturing communities, as well as the specific recommendations from 
MSHA's Belt Air Advisory Committee, ``Belt Entry Ventilation Review: 
Report of Findings and Recommendations'' (1989), MSHA chose to pursue 
rulemaking. During the next several years, MSHA worked closely with the 
former Bureau of Mines to develop a new laboratory-scale test for 
determining the flame resistance of conveyor belts, and the two 
agencies jointly developed a laboratory-scale test for assessing the 
flame resistance of conveyor belts which would measure flame 
propagation rather than burn time, as the current test does. On 
December 24, 1992, MSHA published the proposed rule (57 FR 61524) which 
would have replaced the existing standards for testing and acceptance 
of conveyor belts with the new test.

B. Reasons for Withdrawal

    The number of conveyor belt fires has significantly declined since 
MSHA began work on this rulemaking. During the 10 years since this 
proposed rule was published (1993-2002), the industry reported 10 
conveyor belt fires, as compared with the 34 reported fires during the 
10 years before publication (1983-1992). Further, the injuries to 
miners from the fires reported since MSHA initiated this rulemaking 
consist of smoke inhalation during two of the fires. This decrease is 
due largely to belt monitoring improvements that alert miners to 
potentially hazardous situations which could cause fires, and to 
technological advances that minimize friction on the belt, a primary 
cause of belt fires.
    The most notable improvement in belt monitoring is the mining 
industry's increased use of atmospheric monitoring systems (AMS)in 
conveyor belt passageways. Monitoring systems in general give advance 
warning to allow a fire in a belt entry to be addressed sooner, thereby 
limiting potential fire damage and injuries to miners. An AMS can 
further provide advance warning of carbon monoxide (CO) and methane 
(CH4) concentrations, thereby allowing the opportunity to 
address potentially hazardous situations.
    Although AMSs have been in use for many years, these systems have 
rapidly become more sophisticated, evolving from simple monitors into 
complex devices with integral computer technology capable of 
transmitting environmental measurements from remote locations to 
attended mine areas.
    The industry practice of ventilating active working places in the 
mine with air coursed through the belt haulageway has contributed to 
the increased use of belt monitoring systems, and has thereby 
indirectly contributed to the decrease in the severity of belt fires. 
Currently this practice is only allowed in a mine after MSHA grants a 
petition for modification of the safety standard that requires entries 
used to course air to the mine face and working areas to be separate 
from belt haulage entries.
    During the past 15 years, MSHA has granted more than 100 of these 
petitions. Each petition involves a thorough on-site investigation to 
determine that safety measures exist to address the concerns normally 
associated with coursing belt air to working places. The primary 
concern is combustion products from a fire on or near the conveyor belt 
being carried to the miners. The required system of safeguards, which 
includes ability to monitor and detect conditions which could 
contribute to fires in the belt haulageway, is actively in place at all 
these mines. MSHA is currently pursuing a separate rulemaking that 
would permit the use of belt air in active working places, conditioned 
on the use of AMS systems, required for approval of these petitions, as 
well as additional safety measures.
    The mining industry has also benefitted from many technological 
advances in conveyor belt systems, and has applied this technology at 
many mines since this proposed rule was published. Improvements in belt 
rollers, roller bearings, slippage alignment, and belt rip detection 
have been instrumental in minimizing friction. Also, flame-resistant 
pulley lagging and roller covers are available for belt rollers. Some 
roller bearings are permanently sealed, which prevents combustible 
lubricants from igniting and involving the belt, and also eliminates 
some maintenance requirements. A number of slippage control systems 
which monitor the sequence systems on each conveyor are in use today. 
When a conveyor is not moving, a slippage switch automatically shuts 
down all conveyors behind the stopped conveyor. Rip detection systems 
continually scan the belt and notify miners of rips or tears.
    A number of devices, such as chute liners and belt skirting, 
control the flow of coal at transfer points. These devices not only 
reduce the amount of coal that spills, thereby minimizing a source of 
combustible material, but also help reduce the level of combustible 
coal dust in the atmosphere. Finally, automated systems provide more 
reliable and accurate readings of

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conditions that could potentially result in hazards to miners.
    For all the reasons stated herein, this proposed rule is withdrawn.

    Signed at Arlington, VA, this 8th day of July 2002.
Dave D. Lauriski,
Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health.
[FR Doc. 02-17652 Filed 7-12-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P