[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 9 (Thursday, January 14, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2518-2519]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-872]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Mine Safety and Health Administration
Petitions for Modification
The following parties have filed petitions to modify the
application of mandatory safety standards under section 101(c) of the
Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977.
1. Jackson Valley Energy Partners, L.P.
[Docket No. M-98-106-C]
Jackson Valley Energy Partners, L.P., 4655 Coal Mine Road, P.O. Box
1066, Ione, California 95640 has filed a petition to modify the
application of 30 CFR 77.502 (electric equipment; examination, testing,
and maintenance) to its Jackson Valley Open Pit Mine (I.D. No. 04-
05157) located in Amador County, California. The petitioner requests a
variance to operate typical shops where welding and normal maintenance
is done without conducting mandatory monthly inspections required for
electrical circuits and breakers for maintenance shops. The shops
include the normal 120 volt outlets and 480 volt circuit for welders
and air compressors. The petitioner states that the electrical circuits
in these shops originate in the cogeneration plant which has a complete
grounding system and ground fault system that protect from any and all
ground fault conditions; and that the lack of monthly inspections would
in no way create situations that would compromise the safety of the
employees.
2. Clinchfield Coal Company
[Docket No. M-98-107-C]
Clinchfield Coal Company, P.O. Box 7, Dante, Virginia 24237 has
filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1710-1(a)
(canopies or cabs; self-propelled diesel-powered and electric face
equipment; installation requirements) to its McClure No. 2 Mine (I.D.
No. 44-04946) located in Dickenson County, Virginia. The petitioner
proposes to operate self-propelled electric face equipment without
canopies or cabs. The petitioner asserts that application of the
standard would result in a diminution of safety to the miners.
3. The Ohio Valley Coal Company
[Docket No. M-98-108-C]
The Ohio Valley Coal Company, 56854 Pleasant Ridge Road, Alledonia,
Ohio 43902 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR
75.364(b)(1) and (b)(4) (weekly examination) to its Powhatan No. 6 Mine
(I.D. No. 33-01159) located in Belmont County, Ohio. Due to
deteriorating roof and rib conditions in certain areas of the intake
air course, traveling the affected area would be unsafe. The petitioner
proposes to establish evaluation and monitoring stations instead of
examining seals and traveling the entry in its entirety; to maintain
the evaluation and monitoring stations in safe travelable condition; to
have a certified person take readings for methane, oxygen, and air
quantity at the evaluation and monitoring stations for each shift
during pre-shift examination, and record the results of the readings on
a date board at the evaluation and
[[Page 2519]]
monitoring stations with the date, time, and their initials. The
petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide
at least the same measure of protection as would the mandatory
standard.
4. Meadow River Coal Company, Inc.
[Docket No. M-98-109-C]
Meadow River Coal Company, Inc., P.O. Box 7, Dante, Virginia 24237
has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.350 (air
courses and belt haulage entries) to its Meadow River No. 1 Mine (I.D.
No. 46-03467) located in Fayette County, Virginia. The petitioner
proposes to use belt entry as an intake airway. The petitioner proposes
to install a low-level carbon monoxide detection system in all belt
entries used as intake air courses as an early warning carbon monoxide
detection system. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative
method would provide at least the same measure of protection as would
the mandatory standard.
5. Eastern Associated Coal Corp.
[Docket No. M-98-110-C]
Eastern Associated Coal Corp., PO Box 1990, Henderson, Kentucky
42420 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.503
(permissible electric face equipment; maintenance) to its Harris No. 1
Mine (I.D. No. 46-01271) located in Boone County, West Virginia. The
petitioner proposes to use a threaded ring and spring-loaded device
instead of a padlock on the battery plug connectors for mobile battery-
powered machines to prevent the plug connector from accidently
disengaging while under load. The petitioner asserts that application
of the standard would result in diminution of safety to the miners. In
addition, the petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method
would provide at least the same measure of protection as would the
mandatory standard.
6. The Ohio Valley Coal Company
[Docket No. M-98-111-C]
The Ohio Valley Coal Company, 56854 Pleasant Ridge Road, Alledonia,
Ohio 43902 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR
75.1002 (location of trolley wires, trolley feeder wires, high-voltage
cables and transformers) to its Powhatan No. 6 Mine (I.D. No. 33-01159)
located in Belmont County, Ohio. The petitioner seeks to amend the
previously granted petition to include the use of a high voltage
shearer. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method
would provide at least the same measure of protection as would the
mandatory standard.
7. G & S Coal Company
[Docket No. M-98-112-C]
G & S Coal Company, 21 E. Wood Street, Pine Grove, Pennsylvania
17963 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1100-
2 (quantity and location of firefighting equipment) to its Buck Mt.
Slope (I.D. No. 36-08498) located in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania.
The petitioner proposes to use only portable fire extinguishers to
replace existing requirements where rock dust, water cars, and other
water storage are not practical. The petitioner asserts that the
proposed alternative method would provide at least the same measure of
protection as would the mandatory standard.
8. White County Coal Corporation
[Docket No. M-98-113-C]
White County Coal Corporation, PO Box 457, Carmi, Illinois 62821
has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.503
(permissible electric face equipment; maintenance) to its Pattiki Mine
(I.D. No. 11-02662) located in White County, Illinois. The petitioner
proposes to use a round eye bolt snap device instead of the presently
approved bolt and nut system to secure screw caps in place on plugs of
battery operated scoops and tractors. The petitioner asserts that the
proposed alternative method would provide no less protection for
securing the plugs.
9. Snyder Coal Company
[Docket No. M-98-114-C]
Snyder Coal Company, Box 93, RD #2, Hegins, Pennsylvania 17938 has
filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1202-1(a)
(temporary notations, revisions, and supplements) to its N and L Slope
(I.D. No. 36-02203) located in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. The
petitioner proposes to revise and supplement mine maps annually instead
of every 6 months, as required, and to update maps daily by hand
notations. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method
would provide at least the same measure of protection as would the
mandatory standard.
10. Primrose Coal #2
[Docket No. M-98-115-C]
Primrose Coal #2, 475 High Road, Ashland, Pennsylvania 17921 has
filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.335
(construction of seals) to its Buck Mountain Vein Slope (I.D. No. 36-
08698) located in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. The petitioner
requests a modification of the standard to permit alternative methods
of construction using wooden materials of moderate size and weight due
to the difficulty in accessing previously driven headings and breasts
containing inaccessible abandoned workings; a design criteria in the 10
psi range; and installed in pairs permit the water trap to be installed
only in the gangway seal and sampling tube in the monkey seal. The
petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide
at least the same measure of protection as would the mandatory
standard.
Request for Comments
Persons interested in these petitions are encouraged to submit
comments via e-mail to comments@msha.gov'', or on a computer disk
along with an original hard copy to the Office of Standards,
Regulations, and Variances, Mine Safety and Health Administration, 4015
Wilson Boulevard, Room 627, Arlington, Virginia 22203. All comments
must be postmarked or received in that office on or before February 16,
1999. Copies of these petitions are available for inspection at that
address.
Dated: January 6, 1999.
Carol J. Jones,
Acting Director, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances.
[FR Doc. 99-872 Filed 1-13-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-43-P
