[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 146 (Thursday, July 30, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45554-45555]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-18657]


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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 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 August 31, 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, 201 12th Street South, Suite 4E401, 
Arlington, Virginia 22202-5452, Attention: Sheila McConnell, Acting 
Director, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances. Persons 
delivering documents are required to check in at the receptionist's 
desk in Suite 4E401. 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 Number: M-2015-015-C.
    Petitioner: Canyon Fuel Company, LLC, Three Gateway Center, Suite 
1340, 401 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222.
    Mine: Sufco Mine, MSHA I.D. No. 42-00089, located in Sevier County, 
Utah.
    Regulation Affected: 30 CFR 75.1713-1(b) (Arrangements for 
emergency

[[Page 45555]]

medical assistance and transportation for injured persons; agreements; 
reporting requirements; posting requirements).
    Modification Request: The petitioner requests a modification of the 
existing standard to permit an alternative method of compliance for the 
existing standard because the application of the standard results in a 
diminution of safety. The petitioner proposes to:
    1. Contract for transportation services to be available at all 
times when it is feasible to fly to the 4 East Portal and airlift 
miners from there.
    2. Construct a ``safe house'' at the 4 East Portal for miners 
exiting that portal. The portal will contain food, water, medical 
supplies, and communication equipment.
    3. Submit proposed revisions for its approved part 48 training plan 
to the District Manager within 60 days after the Proposed Decision and 
Order (PDO) becomes final. These proposed revisions will specify 
initial and refresher training regarding the terms and conditions 
stated in the PDO. The petitioner states that:

--Canyon Fuel is a large mine with a number of portals to the outside, 
either for transportation of miners or ventilation. The 4 East Portal 
was constructed to the outside in approximately 1991.
--For approximately 24 years, Canyon Fuel has routed its alternate 
escapeway to this portal as the safest and shortest route out of the 
mine.
--The escapeway at issue has been designated as an escapeway for a 
number of years. It has been inspected every quarter by MSHA inspectors 
and no issue has been raised.
--The escapeway is the shortest most practical route to the nearest 
mine opening suitable for the safe evacuation of miners. The 
alternative routes that would be available would be two to three times 
longer. The route to the 4 East Portal is also the least difficult of 
the alternate routes to travel. Such routes would require five or six 
self-contained self-rescuer ``changeouts'' as opposed to two. The route 
that Canyon Fuel would have to use for other routes is not as safe as 
the current secondary escapeway.
--In discussions with MSHA, concerning such designation, Citation Nos. 
8483666 and 84807666 were issued on May 22, 2015 and May 26, 2015, 
respectively, pursuant to Section 104(a) of the Federal Mine Safety and 
Health Act of 1977, 30 U.S.C. Section 814(a), alleging violations of 30 
CFR 75.1713-1(b) and 30 CFR 75.380(a), requiring the availability of 
transportation from the 4 East Portal. Such citations are subjects of 
notices of contest.

    The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method will at 
times guarantee no less than the same measure of protection afforded by 
the existing standard.

    Dated: July 27, 2015.
Sheila McConnell,
Acting Director, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances.
[FR Doc. 2015-18657 Filed 7-29-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4510-43-P