[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 179 (Thursday, September 16, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55841-55842]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-20883]


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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. Eastern Associated Coal Corporation

[Docket No. M-2004-037-C]

    Eastern Associated Coal Corporation, P.O. Box 1990, Henderson, 
Kentucky 42420 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 
75.503 (Permissible electric face equipment; maintenance) and 30 CFR 
18.35 (Portable trailing Cables and Cords) to its Harris No. 1 Mine 
(MSHA I.D. No. 46-01271) located in Boone County, West Virginia. The 
petitioner requests a modification of the existing standard to permit 
the use of trailing cables for certain roof bolters, mobile roof 
supports, and shuttle cars longer than the cable lengths specified in 
30 CFR 18.35. The maximum length of the cables supplying the roof 
bolters, and mobile roof supports shall not exceed 900 feet. The 
maximum length of the trailing cables supplying shuttle cars will not 
exceed 800 feet. The trailing cable(s) for the 480-volt mobile roof 
support(s) will not be smaller than a No. 4 A.W.G, the trailing 
cable(s) for roof bolters (E) will not be smaller than No. 2 A.W.G., 
and the cables for shuttle cars will not be smaller than No. 1/0. This 
petition will apply only to trailing cables that supply 480-volt, three 
phase, and alternating current to roof bolters, mobile roof supports, 
and 300-volt D.C shuttle cars. The petitioner has listed specific 
procedures in this petition that would be followed when implementing 
the proposed alternative method. The petitioner asserts that the 
proposed alternative method would provide at least the same measure of 
protection as the existing standard.

2. Brooks Run Mining Company, LLC

[Docket No. M-2004-038-C]

    Brooks Run Mining Company, LLC, 25 Little Birch Road, Sutton, West

[[Page 55842]]

Virginia 26601 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 
75.1711 (Sealing of mines) to its Mine No. 4 (MSHA I.D. No. 46-06213) 
located in Webster County, West Virginia. The petitioner proposes to 
barricade or fence-off mine openings to prevent entrance to the Mine 
No. 4, instead of sealing mine openings. The petitioner states that the 
Mine No. 4 has remaining coal reserves that may be economically 
recoverable in the future, currently no miners are employed at the mine 
site, and the mine has been idle and the portals barricaded since March 
25, 1993. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method 
would provide at least the same measure of protection as the existing 
standard.

3. Vigo Coal Company

[Docket No. M-2004-039-C]

    Vigo Coal Company, 14649 Highway 41 North, Evansville, Indiana 
47725 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 
77.1304(a) (Blasting agents; special provisions) to its Friendsville 
Mine (MSHA I.D. No. 11-03064) located in Wabash County, Illinois, and 
Cypress Creek Mine (MSHA I.D. No. 12-02178) located in Warrick County, 
Indiana. The petitioner requests a modification of the existing 
standard to permit the blending of coal with ammonium nitrate and fuel 
oil (ANFO) to form an efficient and cost effective blasting agent at 
the Friendsville Mine and Cypress Mine. The petitioner states that 
proposed guidelines will be provided for testing, storage, 
transportation, mixing and use of coal and ANFO blends. The petitioner 
has listed specific terms and conditions in this petition that will be 
followed when implementing the proposed alternative method. The 
petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method will not result 
in a diminution of safety to the miners.

Request for Comments

    Persons interested in these petitions are encouraged to submit 
comments via e-mail to [email protected], by fax at (202) 693-9441, or 
by regular mail 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 October 18, 2004. Copies of these 
petitions are available for inspection at that address.

    Dated at Arlington, Virginia, this 10th day of September 2004.
Marvin W. Nichols, Jr.,
Director, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances.
[FR Doc. 04-20883 Filed 9-15-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P