[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 70 (Tuesday, April 14, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17202-17203]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-8462]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


Request for Research Sites To Measure Composition of Sealed Area 
Atmosphere in Coal Mines

AGENCY: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) 
of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of 
Health and Human Services (HHS).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health 
(NIOSH) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is 
seeking research sites to measure composition of sealed area atmosphere 
in coal mines.
    NIOSH seeks to conduct scientific studies of the composition of 
sealed area atmospheres and the mechanisms of methane accumulation 
within sealed areas. Research questions to be addressed are: (1) 
Whether potentially explosive gas mixtures exist within sealed areas, 
(2) how extensive such mixtures might be, (3) how the gas composition 
changes over time, (4) whether methane layering exists, (5) the 
homogeneity of the atmosphere, and (6) how barometric pressure changes 
impact the sealed atmosphere. NIOSH will document measurements of the 
composition of the sealed area atmosphere over time, analyze the

[[Page 17203]]

findings, and report the findings generically to all interested 
parties.

DATES: Letter of interest must be received within 90 calendar days of 
publication in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Mining companies able to provide NIOSH with mine sites for 
this research should submit a letter of interest to the NIOSH 
Pittsburgh Research Laboratory (PRL) Director. The letter should 
provide the name of the mine and a brief description of the anticipated 
sealing plans. Any questions should be addressed by phone or e-mail. 
Please send letter of interest to: R. G[uuml]ner G[uuml]rtunca, PhD, 
NIOSH Pittsburgh Research Laboratory (PRL), 626 Cochrans Mill Road, 
Post Office Box 18070, Pittsburgh, PA 15236, telephone (412) 386-6601, 
E-mail [email protected].
    Background: Recent research reports published by NIOSH and the U.S. 
Army Corps of Engineers describe the potential for explosive methane 
mixtures to develop within sealed areas of underground coal mines. The 
composition and behavior of the atmosphere within sealed areas are not 
scientifically well-understood. Areas of interest include the extent 
and nature of explosive mixtures of gases, how the composition of these 
mixtures change over time, whether methane layering exists, the 
homogeneity of the atmosphere, and how barometric pressure changes 
impact the atmosphere behind seals.
    Description: To conduct these measurements, NIOSH will deploy a 
tube bundle system (TBS) at the mine site for a period of 2 to 5 months 
(usually not more than 3 months). A TBS is a mechanical system for 
collecting and analyzing atmospheric samples continuously from anywhere 
in a mine. The TBS that NIOSH plans to use is a system that is 
currently being successfully deployed in many Australian underground 
coal mines. NIOSH seeks three to four underground coal mines throughout 
the U.S. to cooperate in this study. Underground coal mines covering at 
least one square mile and producing a medium to high volume of methane 
are needed. Sampling will be conducted one mine at a time. Either 
longwall or room-and-pillar mines are acceptable. NIOSH wants to deploy 
the system in a variety of geological conditions. A soon-to-be-
abandoned coal mine is another option for deployment of the TBS.
    Prior to sealing, NIOSH will install plastic sample tubing 
throughout the mine and the future sealed area. This should require a 
few days to accomplish and will require minimal effort from the 
cooperating mine. NIOSH will need to be present during the sealing 
process to insure that the tubing is properly installed through the 
seals. After sealing, NIOSH will monitor the composition of the 
atmosphere throughout the sealed area during the initial methane-
accumulation phase and for several months thereafter until stability of 
the sealed atmosphere develops. Collected data will not be analyzed on 
a real time basis other than to insure that the system is properly 
working.
    NIOSH will require the following assistance from mining company 
personnel:
     Site-specific guidance concerning the area to be sealed 
and how to most efficiently run the sampling tube out of the mine to 
the sampling analysis location.
     Transportation to and from the sealed area during the 
installation phase of the TBS and to occasionally check the status of 
the TBS underground.
     A surface location to locate the sampling trailer.
     For a mine site to be acceptable to NIOSH for this 
testing, the cooperating mine must be installing 120 psi seals that 
meet the current design standard.
     After installation, NIOSH will require little assistance 
from mining company personnel until NIOSH is ready to remove the system 
from the mine when some transportation assistance will be needed.
    After the data is analyzed, the cooperating mine will be provided 
the data pertaining to its mine. NIOSH will present and/or publish data 
in a manner that does not identify the cooperating mines. Cooperating 
mines will have the opportunity to review publications and 
presentations by NIOSH prior to their release. While NIOSH will not 
identify the mines in its publications, the identity of cooperating 
mines may be subject to release in response to a request for documents 
made under the Freedom of Information Act. This announcement does not 
obligate NIOSH to enter into an agreement with any respondent.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: R. G[uuml]ner G[uuml]rtunca, PhD, 
NIOSH Pittsburgh Research Laboratory (PRL), 626 Cochrans Mill Road, 
Post Office Box 18070, Pittsburgh PA, 15236, telephone (412) 386-6601, 
e-mail [email protected].

    Dated: April 6, 2009.
Christine M. Branche,
Acting Director, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. E9-8462 Filed 4-13-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-19-P