[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 37 (Wednesday, February 25, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10163-10164]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-03835]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration


Petitions for Modification of Application of Existing Mandatory 
Safety Standards

AGENCY: Mine Safety and Health Administration, Labor.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Section 101(c) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 
1977 and Title 30 of the Code of Federal Regulations, 30 CFR part 44, 
govern the

[[Page 10164]]

application, processing, and disposition of petitions for modification. 
This notice is a summary of petitions for modification submitted to the 
Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) by the parties listed 
below.

DATES: All comments on the petitions must be received by the Office of 
Standards, Regulations, and Variances on or before March 27, 2015.

ADDRESSES: You may submit your comments, identified by ``docket 
number'' on the subject line, by any of the following methods:
    1. Electronic Mail: [email protected]. Include the docket 
number of the petition in the subject line of the message.
    2. Facsimile: 202-693-9441.
    3. Regular Mail or Hand Delivery: MSHA, Office of Standards, 
Regulations, and Variances, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, Room 2350, 
Arlington, Virginia 22209-3939, Attention: Sheila McConnell, Acting 
Director, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances. Persons 
delivering documents are required to check in at the receptionist's 
desk on the 21st floor. Individuals may inspect copies of the petitions 
and comments during normal business hours at the address listed above.
    MSHA will consider only comments postmarked by the U.S. Postal 
Service or proof of delivery from another delivery service such as UPS 
or Federal Express on or before the deadline for comments.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    Section 101(c) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 
(Mine Act) allows the mine operator or representative of miners to file 
a petition to modify the application of any mandatory safety standard 
to a coal or other mine if the Secretary of Labor determines that:
    1. An alternative method of achieving the result of such standard 
exists which will at all times guarantee no less than the same measure 
of protection afforded the miners of such mine by such standard; or
    2. That the application of such standard to such mine will result 
in a diminution of safety to the miners in such mine.
    In addition, the regulations at 30 CFR 44.10 and 44.11 establish 
the requirements and procedures for filing petitions for modification.

II. Petitions for Modification

    Docket Numbers: M-2015-001-C and M-2015-002-C.
    Petitioner: Sunrise Coal LLC, 12661 North Agricare Road, Oaktown, 
Indiana 47561.
    Mines: Oaktown Fuels No. 1 Mine, MSHA I.D. No. 12-02394, and 
Oaktown Fuels No. 2, MSHA I.D. No. 12-02418, both located in Knox 
County, Indiana.
    Regulation Affected: 30 CFR 75.503 (Permissible electric face 
equipment; maintenance), 30 CFR 18.35(a)(5) (Portable (trailing) cables 
and cords).
    Modification Request: The petitioner requests a modification of the 
existing standard to increase the maximum length of trailing cables 
supplying power to permissible pumps in the mines. The petitioner 
states that:
    (1) These petitions will apply only to trailing cables supplying 
three-phase, 480-volt power for permissible pumps.
    (2) The maximum length of the trailing cables for a 480-volt 
permissible pump will be 4000 feet.
    (3) The permissible pump will be no greater than 6.2 horsepower.
    (4) The 480-volt power for permissible pump trailing cables 
exceeding 500 feet will not be smaller than No. 6 AWG.
    (5) All circuit breakers used to protect No. 6 AWG trailing cables 
exceeding 500 feet in length will have an instantaneous trip unit 
calibrated to trip at 60 amperes. These circuit breakers will be in the 
cable coupler and the cable coupler will have permanent, legible 
labels. Each label will identify the cable coupler as being suitable 
for protecting No. 6 AWG cables. This label will be maintained legible.
    (6) Replacement circuit breakers used to protect No. 6 AWG trailing 
cables exceeding 500 feet in length will be calibrated to trip at 60 
amperes.
    (7) All circuit breakers used to protect the No. 2 AWG trailing 
cables exceeding 500 feet in length will have instantaneous trip units 
calibrated to trip at 150 amperes. These circuit breakers will be in 
the cable coupler and the cable coupler will have permanent, legible 
labels. Each label will identify the cable coupler as being suitable 
for protecting No. 2 AWG cables. The labels will be maintained legible.
    (8) Replacement circuit breakers used to protect No. 2 AWG trailing 
cables exceeding 500 feet in length will be calibrated to trip at 150 
amperes.
    (9) The petitioner's alternative method will not be implemented 
until all miners who have been designated to examine and verify the 
short-circuit settings and proper procedures for examining trailing 
cables for defects and damage have received training.
    (10) Within 60 days after these petitions are granted, the 
petitioner will submit proposed revisions for their approved 30 CFR 
part 48 training plans to the District Manager for the area in which 
the mine is located. The training will include the following:
    (a) Mining methods and operating procedures for protecting the 
trailing cables against damage.
    (b) Proper procedures for examining the trailing cables to ensure 
safe operating condition.
    (c) The hazards of setting the instantaneous circuit breakers too 
high to adequately protect the trailing cables.
    (d) How to verify that the circuit interrupting device(s) 
protecting the trailing cable(s) are properly set and maintained.
    The petitioner further states that procedures specified in 30 CFR 
48.3 for proposed revisions to approved training plans will apply.
    The petitioner asserts that the alternative method will guarantee 
no less than the same measure of protection for all miners than that of 
the existing standard.

    Dated: February 19, 2015.
Sheila McConnell,
Acting Director, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances.
[FR Doc. 2015-03835 Filed 2-24-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P