95-25757. High-Voltage Longwall Equipment Standards for Underground Coal Mines

[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 201 (Wednesday, October 18, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 53891]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-25757]



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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration

30 CFR Parts 18 and 75

RIN 1219-AA75


High-Voltage Longwall Equipment Standards for Underground Coal 
Mines

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

ACTION: Proposed rule; reopening of the record; request for public 
comment.

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SUMMARY: The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is reopening 
the rulemaking record on a proposed standard that allows the use of 
high-voltage longwall equipment in production areas of underground coal 
mines and sets out electrical safety standards for the use of this 
equipment. Because it has been some time since the record closed, MSHA 
is reopening the record, to provide all interested parties an 
opportunity to submit additional comments.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before November 17, 
1995.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to MSHA, Office of Standards, 
Regulations and Variances, 4015 Wilson Boulevard, Room 631, Arlington, 
VA 22203. Commenters are encouraged to submit comments on a computer 
disk along with a hard copy.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patricia W. Silvey, Director, Office 
of Standards, Regulations and Variances, 703-235-1910.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 4, 1989 (54 FR 50062), MSHA 
published a proposed rule to revise the electrical safety standards for 
underground coal mines. That proposal addressed all of the Agency's 
electrical standards for underground coal mines and would have allowed 
the use of high-voltage longwall equipment in production areas; 
however, it did not specifically focus on the safety issues related to 
the use of high-voltage longwall equipment. The Agency published a new 
proposed rule on August 27, 1992 (57 FR 39036) relating specifically to 
the use of high-voltage longwall equipment in underground coal mines. 
This proposed rule would eliminate the need for operators to submit 
petitions for modification when they wish to use high-voltage longwall 
equipment. The comment period closed on November 13, 1992. Because it 
has been some time since the record closed, MSHA is reopening the 
record for comments.

    Dated: October 12, 1995.
J. Davitt McAteer,
Assistant Secretary for Mine Safety and Health.
[FR Doc. 95-25757 Filed 10-17-95; 8:45 am]
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