[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 78 (Wednesday, April 23, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20030-20031]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-9968]


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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

[[Page 20031]]

existing safety standards under section 101(c) of the Federal Mine 
Safety and Health Act of 1977.

1. Clintwood Elkhorn Mining Company

[Docket No. M-2003-018-C]

    Clintwood Elkhorn Mining Company, PO Box 196, Hurley, Virginia 
24620 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 
77.214(a) (Refuse piles; general) to its Clintwood Elkhorn III Mine 
(MSHA I.D. No. 44-03010) located in Buchanan County, Virginia. The 
petitioner requests a modification of the existing standard to allow 
construction of a refuse fill to cover abandoned mine openings in the 
Blair seam at the Clintwood Elkhorn Mining Company, Cedar Branch Refuse 
area, MSHA Site I.D. 1211VA50120-82. The petitioner asserts 
that the proposed alternative method would provide at least the same 
measure of protection as the existing standard.

2. Consol of Pennsylvania Coal Company

[Docket No. M-2003-024-C]

    Consol of Pennsylvania Coal Company, CONSOL Energy, Inc., 1800 
Washington Road, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15241 has filed a petition to 
modify the application of 30 CFR 77.516 (Electric wiring and equipment; 
installation and maintenance) to its Enlow Fork Mine (MSHA I.D. No. 36-
07416) located in Greene County, Pennsylvania. The petitioner proposes 
to use an electric heater in a thermal flow reversal reactor to oxidize 
the methane in mine ventilation air. The petitioner asserts that the 
proposed alternative method would provide at least the same measure of 
protection as the existing standard.

3. Speed Mining, Inc.

[Docket No. M-2003-025-C]

    Speed Mining, Inc., PO Box 1083, Beckley, West Virginia 25802 has 
filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1700 (Oil and 
gas wells) to its American Eagle Mine (MSHA I.D. No. 46-05437) located 
in Kanawha County, West Virginia. The petitioner proposes to drill out 
the oil and/or gas well as specified in its previous petition, docket 
number M-2001-041-C, and to pump cement to 50 feet above the eagle 
seam. The rest of the borehole will be left open to utilize 
degasification of methane out of the longwall gob, after the longwall 
has intersected the well. The petitioner asserts that the proposed 
alternative method would provide at least the same measure of 
protection as the existing standard.

4. Dickenson-Russell Coal Company, LLC

[Docket No. M-2003-026-C]

    Dickenson-Russell Coal Company, PO Box 573, Abingdon, Virginia 
24212-0573 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 
77.215-2(b) (Refuse piles; reporting requirements) to its Roaring Fork 
3 Mine (MSHA I.D. No. 44-06975) located in Dickenson County, 
Virginia. The petitioner requests a modification of the existing 
standard and review and approval of a report for the Roaring Fork 
3 Scalped Rock Disposal Area, MSHA Site I.D. 1211-
VA5-0203-01. The petitioner proposes to expand the Roaring Fork 
3 Scalped Rock Disposal to place scalped rock over existing 
Upper Banner Mine workings. The petitioner states that all organic and 
topsoil material will be cleared from the proposed fill area prior to 
placement of scalped rock. The petitioner has listed specific 
procedures that would be followed prior to placement of scalped rock 
over mine workings. 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 June 23, 2003. 
Copies of these petitions are available for inspection at that address.

    Dated at Arlington, Virginia this 17th day of April 2003.
Marvin W. Nichols, Jr.,
Director, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances.
[FR Doc. 03-9968 Filed 4-22-03; 8:45 am]
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