[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 60 (Wednesday, March 29, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16164-16167]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-7647]
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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. Topper Coal Company
[Docket No. M-95-21-C]
Topper Coal Company, Inc., 266 Rocky Road, Pikeville, Kentucky
41501 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1710-
1 (canopies or cabs; self-propelled electric face equipment;
installation [[Page 16165]] requirements) to its No. 10 Mine (I.D. No.
15-17516) located in Pike County, Kentucky. The petitioner proposes to
use specific electric face equipment without canopies which would
include one 16RB Joy Cutting Machine; two 21 SC Joy Shuttle Cars; two
CX-2 S & S Scoops; one Fletcher Roof Bolter; and one Long Airdox Roof
Bolter. The petitioner states that the use of canopies would limit the
visibility of the equipment operator, and could be a contributing
factor in any accidents which may arise.
2. Helvetia Coal Company
[Docket No. M-95-22-C]
Helvatia Coal Company, Box 729, Indiana, Pennsylvania 15701 has
filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1100-2(e)(2)
(quantity and location of firefighting equipment) to its Marshall Run
Mine (I.D. No. 36-08435) located in Indiana County, Pennsylvania. The
petitioner proposes to use two portable fire extinguishers, or one
portable fire extinguisher with twice the required capacity at each
temporary electrical installation. The petitioner asserts that the
proposed alternative method would provide at least the same measure of
protection as would the mandatory standard.
3. U.S. Steel Mining Company, Inc.
[Docket No. M-95-23-C]
U.S. Steel Mining Company, Inc., 600 Grant Street, Room 1580,
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219 has filed a petition to modify the
application of 30 CFR 75. 1101-1(b) (deluge-type water spray systems)
to its Gary No. 50 Mine (I.D. No. 46-01816) located in Wyoming County,
Pennsylvania. The petitioner proposes to continue its weekly
inspections and functional testing of the complete deluge-type water
spray system and to remove blow-off dust covers from the nozzles. The
petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide
at least the same measure of protection as would the mandatory
standard.
4. Green Coal Company, Inc.
[Docket No. M-95-24-C]
Green Coal Company, Inc., P.O. Box 908, Owensboro, Kentucky 42302
has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 77.1605(d)
(loading and haulage equipment; installations) to its K-9 Panther Mine
(I.D. No. 15-01982) located in Daviess County, Kentucky and its
Henderson County Mine No. 1 (I.D. No. 15-16454) located in Henderson
County, Kentucky. Instead of using tail lights on mobile equipment, the
petitioner proposes to build a metal rack across the complete width of
the rear of the mobile equipment; to paint the rack with fluorescent
paint, strip with fluorescent tape, and add reflectors; and to have the
rear end of the equipment so that it can be seen on the longest section
of any part of the mine property haulage roads. The petitioner asserts
that the proposed alternative method would not result in a diminution
of safety to the miners.
5. Southern Utah Fuel Company
[Docket No. M-95-25-C]
Southern Utah Fuel Company, 397 South 800 West, Salina, Utah 84654
has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.380(d)(3)
and (4) (escapeways; bituminous and lignite mines) to its SUFCo Mine
(I.D. No. 42-00089) located in Sevier County, Utah. As an alternate
escapeway from the 2 East workings to the surface, the petitioner
proposes to use the main return to #3 crosscut where the escapeway will
then enter the #1 beltline entry. At this point the escapeway would
cross over the #1 belt (height 4 feet) to the walkway side of the belt
and then proceed along this side of the belt to the surface at a
distance of approximately 450 feet. The petitioner states that because
of conventional supports and a barring wall for the tunnel liner in the
belt opening, the escapeway width is less that 6 feet; that the
narrowest point in this escapeway is the last 17 feet of the drift
opening where the width between the roof supports is 2 feet; that
because of the cement barring wall and the belt structure, this width
cannot be increased; and that an airlock with 3 feet by 7 feet doors is
installed inby the drift opening with one side of the airlock 85 feet
inby the opening and the other side 140 feet inby. The petitioner
asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide at least the
same measure of protection as would the mandatory standard.
6. McElroy Coal Company
[Docket No. M-95-26-C]
McElroy Coal Company, Consol Plaza, 1800 Washington Road,
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15241 has filed a petition to modify the
application of 30 CFR 75.503 (permissible electric face equipment;
maintenance) to its McElroy Mine (I.D. No. 46-01437) located in
Marshall County, West Virginia. The petitioner proposes to increase the
maximum length of its trailing cables to 800 feet to supply three-
phase, 480-volt power to loading machines, shuttle cars, roof bolters,
and section ventilation fans during development of longwall panels. The
petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide
at least the same measure of protection as would the mandatory
standard.
7. Monterey Coal Company
[Docket No. M-95-27-C]
Monterey Coal Company, P.O. Box 94, Albers, Illinois 62215 has
filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1100-2(i)(1)
(quantity and location of firefighting equipment) to its No. 2 Mine
(I.D. No. 11-02371) located in Clinton County, Illinois. Instead of
using the emergency materials required in the mandatory standard, the
petitioner proposes to use the following materials: 112 Kennedy Metal
Stopping Panels with associated head sills and twist clamps, 24 Kennedy
Stopping Rib Angles, 2 rolls of tape, 2 twist tools, 2 rolls of
brattice cloth, 2 stopping jacks, 2 picks, 2 shovels, 6 buckets of
Celtite 10-12 Airtite (or equivalent material for stoppings), and 5
tons of rock dust. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative
method would provide at least the same measure of protection as would
the mandatory standard.
8. Sky High Coal Company
[Docket No. M-95-28-C]
Sky High Coal Company, R.D. #4, P.O. Box 340M, Pine Grove,
Pennsylvania 17963 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30
CFR 75.1400 (hoisting equipment; general) to its LV No. 3 Mine (I.D.
No. 36-08405) located in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. Because of
steep, frequently changing pitch and numerous curves and knuckles in
the main haulage slope, the petitioner proposes to use a gunboat
without safety catches in transporting persons. As an alternate, when
using the gunboat to transport persons, the petitioner proposes to use
hoisting rope with a safety factor at least 3 times greater than
required and secondary safety connections which are securely fastened
around the gunboat and to the hoisting rope above the main connection
device. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method
would provide at least the same measure of protection as would the
mandatory standard.
9. U.S. Steel Mining Co., Inc.
[Docket No. M-95-29-C]
U.S. Steel Mining Co., Inc., 67 Seal Road, Eighty Four,
Pennsylvania 15330 has filed a petition to modify the application of
75.1002 (location of trolley wires, trolley feeder wires, high-voltage
cables and transformers) to its Maple Creek Mine (I.D. No. 36-00970)
located in Washington County, [[Page 16166]] Pennsylvania. The
petitioner proposes to use high-voltage (4,160 volts) cables to power
longwall mining equipment. The Petitioner states that all electrical
personnel would receive training before the alternate method is
implemented. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative
method would provide at least the same measure of protection as would
the mandatory standard.
10. Sky High Coal Company
[Docket No. M-95-30-C]
Sky High Coal Company, R.D. #4, P.O. Box 340M, Pine Grove,
Pennsylvania 17963 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30
CFR 75.335 (construction of seals) to its LV No. 3 Mine (I.D. No. 36-
08405) located in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. The petitioner
requests a modification of the standard to permit alternative methods
of seal construction using wooden materials of moderate size and weight
due to the difficulty in accessing previously driven headings and
breasts containing inaccessible abandoned workings; to accept a design
criterion in the 10 psi range; and to permit the water trap to be
installed in the gangway seal and sampling tube in the monkey seal for
seals installed in pairs. The petitioner asserts that the proposed
alternative method would provide at least the same measure of
protection as would the mandatory standard.
11. Sky High Coal Company
[Docket No. M-95-31-C]
Sky High Coal Company, R.D. #4, P.O. Box 340M, Pine Grove,
Pennsylvania 17963 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30
CFR 75.340 (underground electrical installations) to its LV No. 3 Mine
(I.D. No. 36-08405) located in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. As an
alternative to removing the batteries and transporting them in the
gunboat to the surface for charging, the petitioner proposes to charge
batteries on the mine's locomotive when all miners are out of the mine
and to have the intake air which is used to ventilate the charging
station continue through its normal route to the last open crosscut and
into the monkey airway (return). The petitioner asserts that the
proposed alternative method would provide at least the same measure of
protection as would the mandatory standard.
12. Sky High Coal Company
[Docket No. M-95-32-C]
Sky High Coal Company, R.D. #4, P.O. Box 340M, Pine Grove,
Pennsylvania 17963 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30
CFR 75.360 (preshift examination) to its LV No. 3 Mine (I.D. No. 36-
08405) located in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. The petitioner
proposes to examine each seal for physical damage from the slope
gunboat during the preshift examination after an air quantity reading
is taken in by the intake portal and to test for the quantity and
quality of air at the intake air split locations off the slope in the
gangway portion of the working section. The petitioner proposes to
physically examine the entire length of the slope once a month. The
petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide
at least the same measure of protection as would the mandatory
standard.
13. Sky High Coal Company
[Docket No. M-95-33-C]
Sky High Coal Company, R.D. #4, P.O. Box 340M, Pine Grove,
Pennsylvania 17963 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30
CFR 75.1100-2(a) (quantity and location of firefighting equipment) to
its LV No. 3 Mine (I.D. No. 36-08405) 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.
14. Sky High Coal Company
[Docket No. M-95-34-C]
Sky High Coal Company, R.D. #4, P.O. Box 340M, Pine Grove,
Pennsylvania 17963 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30
CFR 75.1200(d) & (i) (mine map) to its LV No. 3 Mine (I.D. No. 36-
08405) located in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. The petitioner
proposes to use cross-sections instead of contour lines through the
intake slope, at locations of rock tunnel connections between veins,
and at 1,000 feet intervals of advance from the intake slope and to
limit the mapping of mine workings above and below to those present
within 100 feet of the vein being mined except when veins are
interconnected to other veins beyond the 100 feet limit through rock
tunnels. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method
would provide at least the same measure of protection as would the
mandatory standard.
15. Sky High Coal Company
[Docket No. M-95-35-C]
Sky High Coal Company, R.D. #4, P.O. Box 340M, Pine Grove,
Pennsylvania 17963 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30
CFR 75.1202-1(a) (temporary notations, revisions, and supplements) to
its LV No. 3 Mine (I.D. No. 36-08405) located in Schuylkill County,
Pennsylvania. The petitioner proposes to revise and supplement mine
maps on an annual basis instead of the required 6 month interval 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.
16. Consolidation Coal Company
[Docket No. M-95-36-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 Shoemaker Mine (I.D. No. 46-01436) located in
Marshall County, West Virginia. The petitioner proposes to increase the
maximum length of its trailing cables to 800 feet to supply three-
phase, 480-volt power to loading machines, shuttle cars, roof bolters,
and section ventilation fans during development of longwall panels. The
petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide
at least the same measure of protection as would the mandatory
standard.
17. Cyprus Emerald Resources Corporation
[Docket No. M-95-37-C]
Cyprus Emerald Resources Corporation, 600 Grant Street, Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania 15219-2887 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 Emerald Mine (I.D. No. 36-
05466) located in Greene County, Pennsylvania. The petitioner proposes
to use high-voltage (4,160 volts) cables to power longwall mining
equipment. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method
would provide at least the same measure of protection as would the
mandatory standard.
18. Twentymile Coal Company
[Docket No. M-95-38-C]
Twentymile Coal Company, 600 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
15219-2887 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 Foidel Creek Mine (I.D. No. 05-03836)
located in Routt County, Colorado. The petitioner proposes to use
[[Page 16167]] high-voltage (4,160 volts) cables to power longwall
mining equipment. 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 may furnish written comments.
These comments must be filed with the Office of Standards, Regulations,
and Variances, Mine Safety and Health Administration, Room 627, 4015
Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia 22203. All comments must be
postmarked or received in that office on or before April 28, 1995.
Copies of these petitions are available for inspection at that address.
Dated: March 22, 1995.
Patricia W. Silvey,
Director, Office of Standards, Regulations and Variances.
[FR Doc. 95-7647 Filed 3-28-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P
