[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 15 (Tuesday, January 24, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3889-3891]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-828]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration


Petitions for Modification

    The petition for modification notice published in the Federal 
Register on

[[Page 3890]]

December 28, 2005 (70 FR 76892) for the R S & W Coal Company, Drift 
Mine, docket number M-2005-079-C, had the wrong MSHA I.D. Number. The 
correct MSHA I.D. Number is 36-01818.
    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. Anthracite Underground Rescue, Inc.

[Docket No. M-2005-085-C]

    Anthracite Underground Rescue, Inc., 44 Crescent Street, Tremont, 
Pennsylvania 17981 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 
CFR 49.6(a)(1) & (5) (Equipment and maintenance requirements) for the 
following Anthracite Underground Mines in District 1: Alfred Brown Coal 
Company, 7 FT Slope Mine (MSHA I.D. No. 36-08893) located in Schuylkill 
County, Pennsylvania; B & B Rockridge Slope, Rockridge No. 1 Slope Mine 
(MSHA I.D. No. 36-07741) located in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania; 
Chestnut Coal Company, No. 10 Slope Mine (MSHA I.D. No. 36-07059) 
located in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania; D & D Coal Company, 
Primrose Slope Mine (MSHA I.D. No. 36-08341) located in Schuylkill 
County, Pennsylvania; F.K.Z Coal Company, No. 1 Slope Mine (MSHA I.D. 
No. 36-08637) located in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania; Joliett 
Coal Company, 3 Vein Slope Mine (MSHA I.D. No. 36-08702) 
located in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania; Little Buck Coal Company, 
No. 2 Slope Mine (MSHA I.D. No. 36-08299) located in Schuylkill County, 
Pennsylvania; R & D Coal Company, R & D Coal Co., Inc. Mine (MSHA I.D. 
No. 36-02053) located in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania; R S & W Coal 
Co., Inc., R S & W Drift Mine (MSHA I.D. No. 36-01818) located in 
Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania; Orchard Coal Company, Orchard Slope 
Mine (MSHA I.D. No. 36-08346) located in Schuylkill County, 
Pennsylvania; Snyder Coal Company, N & L Slope Mine (MSHA I.D. No. 36-
02203) located in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania; Snyder Coal 
Company, Rock Slope 1 Mine (MSHA I.D. No. 36-09256) located in 
Northumberland County, Pennsylvania; Tito Coal Company, Whites Vein 
Slope Mine (MSHA I.D. No. 36-06815) located in Schuylkill County, 
Pennsylvania; UAE Coalcorp Association, Harmony Mine (MSHA I.D. No. 36-
07838) located in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania; S & M Coal 
Company, Buck Mountain Slope Mine (MSHA I.D. No. 36-02022) located in 
Dauphin County, Pennsylvania; R & R Coal Company, R & R Coal Company 
Mine (MSHA I.D. No. 36-08498) located in Schuylkill County, 
Pennsylvania; Six M Coal Company, No. 1 Slope Mine (MSHA I.D. No. 36-
09138) located in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania; Bear Gap Coal Company, 
Bear Gap Coal Company 6 Slope Mine (MSHA I.D. No. 36-09296) 
located in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. The petitioner requests a 
modification of the existing standard to permit the reduction of twelve 
self-contained oxygen breathing apparatus to eight self-contained 
breathing apparatus, and the reduction of twelve permissible cap lamps 
and charging rack to eight permissible cap lamps and charging rack. The 
petitioner states that reduction of two rescue teams with five members 
and one alternate to two rescue teams of three members with one 
alternative has been granted to all operating anthracite coal mines. 
The petitioner asserts that eight self-contained breathing apparatus 
and eight permissible cap lamps are sufficient to supply the seven 
members of the rescue team, and that the proposed alternate method of 
compliance will not alter, change, or reduce the ability, 
effectiveness, or safety of the underground mine personnel.

2. Bear Gap Coal Company

[Docket No. M-2005-086-C]

    Bear Gap Coal Company, Box 64 Kushwa Road, Spring Glen, 
Pennsylvania 17978 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 
CFR 49.2(b) (Availability of mine rescue teams) to its Bear Gap Coal 
Company 6 Slope Mine (MSHA I.D. No. 36-09296) located in 
Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. The petitioner requests a modification of 
the existing standard to permit the reduction of two mine rescue teams 
with five members and one alternate each to two mine rescue teams of 
three members with one alternate for either team. The petitioner 
asserts that application of the existing standard will result in a 
diminution of safety to the miners, and that the proposed alternative 
method would provide at least the same measure of protection as the 
existing standard.

3. Oxbow Mining, LLC

[Docket No. M-2006-001-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 
75.1726(a) (Performing work from a raised position; safeguards) to its 
Elk Creek Mine (MSHA I.D. No. 05-04674) located in Gunnison County, 
Colorado. The petitioner proposes to modify existing scoops for use as 
mobile work platforms and implement operational restrictions to 
safeguard miners working from the raised platform. The petitioner 
states that this petition will apply only to Wagner ST3.5 Scoops, 
Serial Nos. SA04C0228, Company ID No. 24-25 and SA 04P0292, Company ID 
No. 24-26. The petitioner has listed in this petition specific terms 
and conditions that will be used when the proposed alternative is 
implemented. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative 
method would provide at least the same measure of protection as the 
existing standard.

4. Twentymile Coal Company

[Docket No. M-2006-002-C]

    Twentymile Coal Company, 29515 Routt County Road 27, Oak 
Creek, Colorado 80467 has filed a petition to modify the application of 
30 CFR 75.500(d) (Permissible electric equipment) to its Foidel Creek 
Mine (MSHA I.D. No. 05-03836) located in Routt County, Colorado. The 
petitioner requests a modification of the existing standard to permit 
an alternative method of compliance to use battery-powered non-
permissible hand-held computers in or inby the last open crosscut, 
including in the return airways, to allow supervisors and selected 
miners to collect and record data pertinent to safety observations 
during work processes. The petitioner states that the recorded data in 
the hand-held computers will be downloaded at the end of the shift and 
collated with other data to allow the petitioner to proactively correct 
unsafe practices and to prevent accidents before they occur. The 
petitioner has listed in this petition specific terms and conditions 
that will be used when the 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.

5. Twentymile Coal Company

[Docket No. M-2006-003-C]

    Twentymile Coal Company, 29515 Routt County Road 27, Oak 
Creek, Colorado 80467 has filed a petition to modify the application of 
30 CFR 75.1002(a) (Installation of electric equipment and conductors; 
permissibility) to its Foidel Creek Mine (MSHA I.D. No. 05-03836) 
located in Routt County, Colorado. The petitioner requests a 
modification of the existing standard to permit an alternative method 
of compliance to use battery-powered non-permissible hand-held

[[Page 3891]]

computers in or inby the last open crosscut, including in the return 
airways, to allow supervisors and selected miners to collect and record 
data pertinent to safety observations during work processes. The 
petitioner states that the recorded data in the hand-held computers 
will be downloaded at the end of the shift and collated with other data 
to allow the petitioner to proactively correct unsafe practices and to 
prevent accidents before they occur. The petitioner has listed in this 
petition specific terms and conditions that will be used when the 
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: [email protected]; Fax: (202) 693-9441; or 
Regular Mail/Hand Delivery/Courier: Mine Safety and Health 
Administration, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances, 1100 
Wilson Boulevard, Room 2350, Arlington, Virginia 22209. All comments 
must be postmarked or received in that office on or before February 23, 
2006. Copies of these petitions are available for inspection at that 
address.

    Dated at Arlington, Virginia this 18th day of January 2006.
Robert F. Stone,
 Acting Director, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances.
[FR Doc. E6-828 Filed 1-23-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P