[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 183 (Friday, September 20, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59317-59318]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-23945]


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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. F-M Coal Corporation

[Docket No. M-2002-071-C]

    F-M Coal Corporation, P.O. Box 1733, Corbin, Kentucky 40702 has 
filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.380(f)(4)(i) 
(Escapeways; bituminous and lignite mines) to its Mine No. 4 (I.D. No. 
15-18466) located in Knox County, Kentucky. The petitioner proposes to 
use two five-pound or one ten-pound portable chemical fire 
extinguishers on each Mescher tractor at Mine No. 4. Each fire 
extinguisher would be inspected on a daily basis by the equipment 
operator prior to entering the escapeway, and records would be 
maintained for all inspections of the fire extinguishers. The fire 
extinguishers will be readily accessible to the equipment operator. A 
sufficient number of spare fire extinguishers will be maintained at the 
mine in case a defective fire extinguisher is detected. The petitioner 
asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide at least the 
same measure of protection as the existing standard.

2. Snyder Coal Company

[Docket No. M-2002-072-C]

    Snyder Coal Company, 66 Snyder Lane, Hegins, Pennsylvania 17938 has 
filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1002-1 
(Location of other electric equipment; requirements for permissibility) 
to its Rattling Run Slope Mine (I.D. No. 36-08713) 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 asserts 
that the proposed alternative method would provide at least the same 
measure of protection as the existing standard.

[[Page 59318]]

3. Mountain Coal Company, L.L.C.

[Docket No. M-2002-073-C]

    Mountain Coal Company, L.L.C., 5174 Highway 133, P.O. Box 591, 
Somerset, Colorado 81434 has filed a petition to modify the application 
of 30 CFR 75.352 (Return air courses) to its West Elk Mine (I.D. No. 
05-03672) located in Gunnison County, Colorado. The petitioner proposes 
to temporarily use a portion of the 4 belt entry as a return 
air course. The petitioner has listed specific stipulations that would 
be used to achieve an equivalent level of safety when its proposed 
alternative method is implemented. 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, Room 2352, Arlington, Virginia 22209. All comments must be 
postmarked or received in that office on or before October 21, 2002. 
Copies of these petitions are available for inspection at that address.

    Dated at Arlington, Virginia, this 16th day of September, 2002.
Marvin W. Nichols, Jr.,
Director, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances.
[FR Doc. 02-23945 Filed 9-19-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P