[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 83 (Thursday, April 29, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 23540]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-9747]


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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. Goodin Creek Mining Company, Inc.

[Docket No. M-2004-014-C]

    Goodin Creek Mining Company, Inc., 340 South Broadway, Suite 200, 
Lexington, Kentucky 40508 has filed a petition to modify the 
application of 30 CFR 75.342 (Methane monitors) to its Mine 1 
(MSHA I.D. No. 15-18176) located in Knox County, Kentucky. The 
petitioner proposes to use a hand-held continuous-duty methane and 
oxygen detector on each coal hauling three-wheel tractor with drag 
bottom buckets in lieu of using machine mounted methane monitors. The 
petitioner states that the tractor operator will be trained in the 
proper use of the oxygen detector. The petitioner has listed in this 
petition specific terms and conditions that would be implemented when 
using its proposed alternative method at the Goodin Creek Mining 
Company, Inc., Mine 1. The petitioner asserts that the 
proposed alternative method would provide at least the same measure of 
protection as the existing standard.

2. Oxbow Mining, LLC

[Docket No. M-2004-015-C]

    Oxbow Mining, LLC, P.O. Box 535, 3737 Highway 133, Somerset, 
Colorado 81434 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 
75.1100-2(b) (Quantity and location of firefighting equipment) to its 
Elk Creek Mine (MSHA I.D. No. 05-04674) located in Gunnison County, 
Colorado. The petitioner requests a modification of the existing 
standard to permit an alternative method for installing water lines for 
the entire length of the belt conveyors, in lieu of keeping the water 
line charged with water at all times, because in February 2003, the 
Oxbow Mining, LLC was granted a petition for modification to allow the 
use of intake air coursed through conveyor belt entries and the belt 
entry portal sits at approximately 6300 feet elevation, which causes 
freezing conditions of the existing water line in the conveyor entry 
during the winter. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative 
method would provide at least the same measure of protection as the 
existing standard.

3. Dolet Hills Lignite Company

[Docket No. M-2004-016-C]

    Dolet Hills Lignite Company, 377 Highway 522, Mansfield, Louisiana 
71052 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 77.803 
(Fail safe ground check circuits on high-voltage resistance grounded 
systems) to its Dolet Hills Lignite Mine (MSHA I.D. No. 16-01031) 
located in De Soto County, Louisiana. The petitioner requests a 
modification of the existing standard to allow an alternative method of 
compliance when raising or lowering the boom/mast at construction sites 
during initial Dragline assembly. The petitioner states that this 
method would only be used during the boom/mast raising/lowering 
process, and when raising and lowering the boom for construction/
maintenance, the machine will not be performing mining operations. The 
procedure would also be applicable in instances of disassembly or major 
maintenance which require the boom to be raised or lowered. The 
petitioner has listed specific guidelines in this petition that would 
be followed to minimize the potential for electrical power loss during 
this critical boom procedure. The petitioner asserts that this 
procedure does not replace other mechanical precautions or the 
requirements 30 CFR 77.405(b) that are necessary to safely secure boom/
masts during construction or maintenance procedures and that its 
proposed alternative method would not result in a diminution of safety 
to the miners, but would provide the same measure of protection to the 
miners as the existing standard.

4. Meadow Branch Mining Corporation

[Docket No. M-2004-017-C]

    Meadow Branch Mining Corporation, P.O. Box 2560, Wise, Virginia 
24293 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.350 
(Air courses and belt haulage entries) to its Low Splint No. 1 Mine 
(MSHA I.D. No. 44-06883) located in Wise County, Virginia. The 
petitioner requests a modification of the existing standard to permit 
the use of belt air to ventilate active working places. The petitioner 
proposes to install a carbon monoxide monitoring system as an early 
warning fire detection system in all belt entries used to course intake 
air to a working place. 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 2350, Arlington, Virginia 22209. All comments must be 
postmarked or received in that office on or before June 1, 2004. Copies 
of these petitions are available for inspection at that address.

    Dated in Arlington, Virginia this 23rd day of April, 2004.
Marvin W. Nichols, Jr.,
Director, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances.
[FR Doc. 04-9747 Filed 4-28-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P