[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 222 (Wednesday, November 18, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64103-64104]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-30862]
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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. Consolidation Coal Company
[Docket No. M-98-89-C]
Consolidation Coal Company, Consol Plaza, 1800 Washington Road,
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15241-1421 has filed a petition to modify the
application of 30 CFR 75.503 (permissible electric face equipment;
maintenance) to its Loveridge No. 22 Mine (I.D. No. 46-01433) located
in Marion County, West Virginia. The petitioner proposes to increase
the maximum length of their trailing cables to 1,000 feet for the
mining machine, loading machine, shuttle car, roof bolter, and the
section ventilation fan while developing longwall panels. The
petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide
at least the same measure of protection as would the mandatory
standard.
2. Cyprus Plateau Mining Corporation
[Docket No. M-98-90-C]
Cyprus Plateau Mining Corporation, One Oxford Centre, 301 Grant
Street, 20th Floor, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219-1410 has filed a
petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.323(e) (actions for
excessive methane) to its Willow Creek Mine (I.D. No. 42-02113) located
in Carbon County, Utah. The petitioner requests a modification of the
standard to permit more than 2 percent methane in a bleeder split of
air immediately before the split joins another split of air. The
petitioner asserts that application of the standard would result in a
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.
3. Deitz Bros. Coal Company
[Docket No. M-98-92-C]
Deitz Bros. Coal Company, 137 W. 7th Street, Tuscarora,
Pennsylvania 17851 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30
CFR 75.1100-2 (quantity and location of firefighting equipment) to its
4 Ft. Vein (I.D. No. 36-08706) 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 equipped with three 10 quart pails 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.
4. Deitz Bros. Coal Company
[Docket No. M-98-93-C]
Deitz Bros. Coal Company, 137 W. 7th Street, Tuscarora,
Pennsylvania 17851 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30
CFR 75.1400 (hoisting equipment; general) to its 4 Ft. Vein (I.D. No.
36-08706) located in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. The petitioner
requests a modification of the existing standard to permit the gunboat
to be operated without safety catches or other no less effective
devices. The petitioner proposes to operate the man cage or steel
gunboat with secondary safety connections securely fastened around the
gunboat and to the hoisting rope above the main connecting device and
to use hoisting ropes with a safety factor in excess of the 4 to 8 to
1. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method would
provide at least the same measure of protection as would the mandatory
standard.
5. Bowie Resources, Inc.
[Docket No. M-98-94-C]
Bowie Resources, Inc., 1855 Old Hwy. 133, PO Box 483, Paonia,
Colorado 81428 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR
75.701 (grounding metallic frames, casings, and other enclosures of
electric equipment) to its Bowie Mine (I.D. No. 05-04591) located in
Delta County, Colorado. The petitioner proposes to use a portable
diesel powered generator for utility power and to move electrically
powered mining equipment in and around the mine following the specific
procedures outlined in this petition. The petitioner asserts that the
proposed alternative method would provide at least the same measure of
protection as would the mandatory standard.
6. Bowie Resources, Inc.
[Docket No. M-98-95-C]
Bowie Resources, Inc., 1855 Old Hwy. 133, PO Box 483, Paonia,
Colorado 81428 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR
75.901 (protection
[[Page 64104]]
of low- and medium-voltage three-phase circuits used underground) to
its Bowie Mine (I.D. No. 05-04591) located in Delta County, Colorado.
The petitioner proposes to use a portable diesel powered generator for
utility power and to move electrically powered mining equipment in and
around the mine following the specific procedures outlined in this
petition. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method
would provide at least the same measure of protection as would the
mandatory standard.
7. Mettiki Coal Corporation
[Docket No. M-98-96-C]
Mettiki Coal Corporation, 293 Table Rock Road, Oakland, Maryland
21550 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1100-
2(e)(2) (quantity and location of firefighting equipment) to its
Mettiki Mine (I.D. No. 18-00621) located in Garrett County, Maryland.
The petitioner requests a modification of the standard to permit
provision of two portable fire extinguishers at each temporary
electrical installation. The petitioner proposes to store at each
temporary electrical installation two multipurpose, dry chemical,
portable fire extinguishers, each having at least a minimum capacity of
10 pounds of dry powder. The petitioner states that all portable fire
extinguishers would be approved by the Underwriters Laboratories, Inc.,
or Factory Research Corporation, and each would have a rating of 2A
10BC or higher. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative
method would provide at least the same measure of protection as would
the mandatory standard.
8. The Pittsburg & Midway Coal Mining Company
[Docket No. M-98-97-C]
The Pittsburg & Midway Coal Mining Company, PO Box 6518, Englewood,
Colorado 80155-6518 has filed a petition to modify the application of
30 CFR 75.364(b)(4) (weekly examination) to its Sebree #1 Mine (I.D.
No. 15-17044) located in Webster County, Kentucky. Due to a rock fall
in front of the No. 2 Seal at the No. 7 entry in the North Submain
return, examining the area every 7 days would be unsafe. The petitioner
proposes to examine the inby and outby side of the rock fall at the No.
2 Seal once during each 24 hour period. The petitioner asserts that the
proposed alternative method would provide at least the same measure of
protection as would the mandatory standard.
9. Oxbow Mining, Inc.
[Docket No. M-98-98-C]
Oxbow Mining, Inc., PO Box 535, Somerset, Colorado 81434 has filed
a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.380(d)(5)
(escapeways; bituminous and lignite mines) to its Sanborn Creek Mine
(I.D. No. 05-04452) located in Gunnison County, Colorado. The
petitioner requests a modification of the standard to allow continued
usage of the current secondary escapeway as an alternative intake
escapeway instead of using the No. 3 Substation Return Airshaft. 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 December 18,
1998. Copies of these petitions are available for inspection at that
address.
Dated: November 10, 1998.
Carol J. Jones,
Acting Director, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances.
[FR Doc. 98-30862 Filed 11-17-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P
