[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 24 (Thursday, February 5, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6550-6551]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-02277]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration


Affirmative Decisions on Petitions for Modification Granted in 
Whole or in Part

AGENCY: Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), Labor.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Section 101(c) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 
1977 and 30 CFR part 44 govern the application, processing, and 
disposition of petitions for modification. This Federal Register Notice 
notifies the public that MSHA has investigated and issued a final 
decision on certain mine operator petitions to modify a safety 
standard.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the final decisions are posted on MSHA's Web site 
at http://www.msha.gov/indexes/petition.htm. The public may inspect the 
petitions and final decisions during normal business hours in MSHA's 
Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, 
Room 2349, Arlington, Virginia 22209. All visitors must first stop at 
the receptionist desk on the 21st Floor to sign-in.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Roslyn B. Fontaine, Office of 
Standards, Regulations, and Variances at 202-693-9475 (Voice), 
[email protected] (Email), or 202-693-9441 (Telefax), or Barbara 
Barron at 202-693-9447 (Voice), [email protected] (Email), or 202-
693-9441 (Telefax). [These are not toll-free numbers.]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Introduction

    Under section 101 of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 
1977, a mine operator may petition and the Secretary of Labor 
(Secretary) may modify the application of a mandatory safety standard 
to that mine if the Secretary determines that: (1) An alternative 
method exists that will guarantee no less protection for the miners 
affected than that provided by the standard; or (2) that the 
application of the standard will result in a diminution of safety to 
the affected miners.
    MSHA bases the final decision on the petitioner's statements, any 
comments and information submitted by interested persons, and a field 
investigation of the conditions at the mine. In some instances, MSHA 
may approve a petition for modification on the condition that the mine 
operator complies with other requirements noted in the decision.

II. Granted Petitions for Modification

    On the basis of the findings of MSHA's investigation, and as 
designee of the Secretary, MSHA has granted or partially granted the 
following petitions for modification:

     Docket Number: M-2013-014-C.
    FR Notice: 78 FR 19021 (3/28/2013).
    Petitioner: Gibson County Coal, LLC, 3455 S 700 W, Owensville, 
Indiana 47665.

[[Page 6551]]

    Mine: South Mine, MSHA I.D. No. 12-02388, located in Gibson County, 
Indiana.
    Regulation Affected: 30 CFR 75.1700 (Oil and gas wells).

     Docket Number: M-2013-030-C.
    FR Notice: 78 FR 49775 (8/15/2013).
    Petitioner: Newtown Energy, Inc., P.O. Box 189, Comfort, West 
Virginia 25049.
    Mine: Peerless Rachel Mine, MSHA I.D. No. 46-09258, located in 
Boone County, West Virginia.
    Regulation Affected: 30 CFR 75.1700 (Oil and gas wells).

     Docket Number: M-2013-054-C.
    FR Notice: 78 FR 78392 (12/26/2013).
    Petitioner: Peabody Midwest Mining, LLC, Three Gateway Center, 
Suite 1500, 401 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222-1000.
    Mine: Wildcat Hills Underground Mine, MSHA I.D. No. 11-03156, 
located in Saline County, Illinois.
    Regulation Affected: 30 CFR 75.1700 (Oil and gas wells).

     Docket Number: M-2014-001-C.
    FR Notice: 79 FR 11136 (2/27/2014).
    Petitioner: CONSOL Buchanan Mining Company, LLC, 1000 CONSOL Energy 
Drive, Canonsburg, Pennsylvania 15317-6506.
    Mine: Buchanan Mine #1, MSHA I.D. No. 44-04856, located in Buchanan 
County, Virginia.
    Regulation Affected: 30 CFR 75.503 (Permissible electric face 
equipment; maintenance) and 30 CFR 18.35(a)(5)(i) (Portable (trailing) 
cables and cords).

     Docket Number: M-2014-015-C.
    FR Notice: 79 FR 30169 (5/27/2014).
    Petitioner: Luminant Mining Company, LLC, P.O. Box 1359, Tatum, 
Texas 75691.
    Mine: Liberty Strip Mine, MSHA I.D. No. 41-04964, located in Rusk 
County, Texas.
    Regulation Affected: 30 CFR 77.803 (Fail safe ground check circuits 
on high-voltage resistance grounded systems).

     Docket Number: M-2014-016-C.
    FR Notice: 79 FR 30170 (5/27/2014).
    Petitioner: Cliffs Natural Resources, Inc., Cliffs Logan County 
Coal, LLC, P.O. Box 446, Man, West Virginia 25635.
    Mine: Saunders Preparation Plant, MSHA I.D. No. 46-02140, located 
in Logan County, West Virginia.
    Regulation Affected: 30 CFR 77.214(a) (Refuse piles; general).

     Docket Number: M-2014-019-C.
    FR Notice: 79 FR 36562 (6/27/2014).
    Petitioner: M-Class Coal Company, 11351 North Thompsonville Road, 
Macedonia, Illinois 62860.
    Mine: M-Class Mine, MSHA I.D. No. 11-03189, located in Franklin 
County, Illinois.
    Regulation Affected: 30 CFR 75.1909(b)(6) (Nonpermissible diesel-
powered equipment; design and performance requirements).

     Docket Number: M-2014-022-C.
    FR Notice: 79 FR 45465 (8/5/2014).
    Petitioner: Mountain Coal Company, P.O. Box 591, 5174 Highway 133, 
Somerset, Colorado 81434.
    Mine: West Elk Mine, MSHA I.D. No. 05-03672, located in Gunnison 
County, Colorado.
    Regulation Affected: 30 CFR 75.1909(b)(6) (Nonpermissible diesel-
powered equipment; design and performance requirements).

     Docket Number: M-2013-010-M.
    FR Notice: 78 FR 59724 (9/27/2013).
    Petitioner: U.S. Silica Company, 105 Burkett Switch Road, Jackson, 
Tennessee 38301.
    Mine: Jackson Plant, MSHA I.D. No. 40-02937, located in Madison 
County, Tennessee.
    Regulation Affected: 30 CFR 56.13020 (Use of compressed air).

     Docket Number: M-2014-001-M.
    FR Notice: 79 FR 11139 (2/27/2014).
    Petitioner: DMC Mining Services, 488 East 6400 South, Suite 250, 
Murray, Utah 84107.
    Mine: Tata Chemicals Mine, MSHA I.D. No. 48-00155, 324 Allied 
Chemical Road, Green River, Wyoming 82935, located in Sweetwater 
County, Wyoming.
    Regulation Affected: 30 CFR 57.22606(a) and (c) (Explosive 
materials and blasting units (III mines)).

     Docket Number: M-2014-002-M.
    FR Notice: 79 FR 11139 (2/27/2014).
    Petitioner: FMC Minerals, 580 Westvaco Road, Box 872, Green River, 
Wyoming 82935.
    Mine: Westvaco Underground Trona Mine, MSHA I.D. No. 48-00152, 
located in Sweetwater County, Wyoming.
    Regulation Affected: 30 CFR 57.22305 (Approved equipment (III 
mines)).

    Dated: February 2, 2015.
Sheila McConnell,
Acting Director, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances.
[FR Doc. 2015-02277 Filed 2-4-15; 8:45 am]
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