[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 122 (Wednesday, June 25, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34311-34313]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-16665]
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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. Clark Elkhorn Mining Company
[Docket No. M-97-58-C]
Clark Elkhorn Mining Company, P.O. Box 2805, Pikeville, Kentucky
41502 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.900
(low- and medium-voltage circuits serving three-phase alternating
current equipment; circuit breakers) to its Sunset Mine No. 2 (I.D. No.
15-17849) located in Pike County, Kentucky. The petitioner proposes to
use contactors to obtain undervoltage protection instead of using
circuits breakers. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative
method would provide at least the same measure of protection as would
the mandatory standard.
2. B & B Anthracite Coal
[Docket No. M-97-59-C]
B & B Anthracite Coal, 225 Main Street, Joliett, Pennsylvania 17981
has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.360
(preshift examination) to its Rock Ridge Slope (I.D. No. 36-07741)
located in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania.
The petitioner proposes to visually 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.
3. B & B Anthracite Coal
[Docket No. M-97-60-C]
B & B Anthracite Coal, 225 Main Street, Joliett, Pennsylvania 17981
has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.364(b) (1),
(4), and (5) (weekly examination) to its Rock Ridge Slope (I.D. No. 36-
07741) located in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. Due to hazardous
conditions and roof falls, certain areas of the intake haulage slope
and primary escapeway cannot be traveled safely. The petitioner
proposes to examine these areas from the gunboat/slope car with an
alternative air quality evaluation at the section's intake level, and
to travel and thoroughly examine these areas for hazardous conditions
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.
4. B & B Anthracite Coal
[Docket No. M-97-61-C]
B & B Anthracite Coal, 225 Main Street, Joliett, Pennsylvania 17981
has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1100
(quantity and location of firefighting equipment) to its Rock Ridge
Slope (I.D. No. 36-07741) 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.
5. B & B Anthracite Coal
[Docket No. M-97-62-C]
B & B Anthracite Coal, 225 Main Street, Joliett, Pennsylvania 17981
has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1202-1(a)
(temporary notations, revisions, and supplements) to its Rock Ridge
Slope (I.D. No. 36-07741) located in Schuylkill 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.
6. Ambrose Branch Coal Company, Inc.
[Docket No. M-97-63-C]
Ambrose Branch Coal Company, Inc., P.O. Box 806, Pound, Virginia
24279 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 77.214
(refuse piles; general) to its Preparation Plant (I.D. No. 44-05265)
located in Wise County, Virginia. The petitioner requests a
modification of the standard to allow backfilling of the existing
highwall with refuse in an area containing abandoned mine openings. The
petitioner proposes to fill seven (7) drift openings with refuse
material at the abandoned Fleetwood Energy, Inc., Mine No. 2 (I.D. No.
44-06470). The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method
would provide at least the same measure of protection as would the
mandatory standard.
7. Consolidation Coal Company
[Docket No. M-97-64-C]
Consolidation Coal Company, Consol Plaza, 1800 Washington Road,
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15241-1421 has filed a petition to modify the
application of 30 CFR 75.364(b)(2)
[[Page 34312]]
(weekly examination) to its Shoemaker Mine (I.D. No. 46-01436) located
in Marshall County, West Virginia. Due to deteriorating roof
conditions, certain areas of the return air course cannot be traveled
safely. The petitioner proposes to establish evaluation points P and Q
that would be maintained in safe condition; and to have a certified
person test for methane and the quantity of air at both check points on
a weekly basis and place their initials, date, and time in a record
book kept on the surface and made available for inspection by
interested persons. The petitioner asserts that the proposed
alternative method would provide at least the same measure of
protection as would the mandatory standard.
8. Turris Coal Company
[Docket No. M-97-66-C]
Turris Coal Company, P.O. Box 21, Elkhart, Illinois 62634 has filed
a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1100-2(i)(1)
(quantity and location of firefighting equipment) to its Elkhart Mine
(I.D. No. 11-02664) located in Logan County, Illinois. The petitioner
proposes to use the following materials at its Elkhart Mine: 160
Kennedy Metal Stopping Panels with associated head sills and twist
clamps; 32 Kennedy Stopping Rib Angles; 3 rolls of tape; 3 twist tools;
2 rolls of brattice cloth; 3 stopping jacks; 3 dutch heads; 3 shovels;
12 buckets of Celtite 10-12 Airtite (or equivalent material for
stopping); 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.
9. Old Ben Coal Company
[Docket No. M-97-67-C]
Old Ben Coal Company, P.O. Box 397, 13101 Ziegler Road,
Coulterville, Illinois 62237 has filed a petition to modify the
application of 30 CFR 75.503 (permissible electric face equipment;
maintenance) to its Ziegler No. 11 Mine (I.D. No. 11-02408) located in
Randolph County, Illinois. The petitioner proposes, instead of using a
padlock, to use a Spring-Loaded Plug Interlock attached to the plug
receptacle and permanently attached to the battery case designed so
that when the battery-plugs are secured and the spring loaded interlock
is released, the threaded ring securing the battery plugs cannot become
loose. The petitioner asserts the proposed alternative method would
provide at least the same measure of protection as would the mandatory
standard.
10. Drummond Company, Inc.
[Docket No. M-97-68-C]
Drummond Company, Inc., P.O. Box 10246, Birmingham, Alabama 35202-
0246 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.350
(air courses and belt haulage entries) to its Shoal Creek Mine (I.D.
No. 01-02901) located in Jefferson County, Alabama. The petitioner
requests that the final Decision and Order dated April 1, 1995, be
amended. The petitioner asserts that the amended alternative method
would provide at least the same measure of protection as would the
mandatory standard.
11. Kerr-McGee Coal Corporation
[Docket No. M-97-69-C]
Kerr-McGee Coal Corporation, 123 Robert S. Kerr Avenue, Oklahoma
City, Oklahoma 73102 has filed a petition to modify the application of
30 CFR 75.352 (return air courses) to its Galatia Mine (I.D. No. 11-
02752) located in Saline County, Illinois. The petitioner requests a
modification of the standard to permit two-entry development of the
headgate entries for the 5th East Longwall panel. The petitioner
proposes to install low-level carbon monoxide sensors as an early
warning fire-detection system in the intake escapeway entry and in the
belt entry. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method
would provide at least the same measure of protection as would the
mandatory standard.
12. Kerr-McGee Coal Corporation
[Docket No. M-97-70-C]
Kerr-McGee Coal Corporation, 123 Robert S. Kerr Avenue, Oklahoma
City, Oklahoma 73102 has filed a petition to modify the application of
30 CFR 75.350 (air courses and belt haulage entries) to its Galatia
Mine (I.D. No. 11-02752) located in Saline County, Illinois. The
petitioner requests a modification of the standards to permit two-entry
development and retreat mining in the 5th East Longwall panel. The
petitioner proposes to install low-level carbon monoxide sensors as an
early warning fire detection system in the intake escapeway entry and
in the belt entry. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative
method would provide at least the same measure of protection as would
the mandatory standard.
13. Tri-State Terminals, Inc.
[Docket No. M-97-71-C]
Tri-State Terminals, Inc., P.O. Box 6100, Huntington, West Virginia
25770 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 77.503-1
(electric conductors) to its Lockwood Dock (I.D. No.15-10358) located
in Boyd County, Kentucky. The petitioner proposes to install current
limiting devices on the electrical conductors provided for the crusher
motors listed as C2A-300HP, C2B-300HP, CIA-200HP, and CIB-200HP, and
the BC-3 conveyor belt drive electrical installations to ensure
deenergization of the circuit before a rise in temperature from normal
operation damages the insulating materials of electrical conductors.
The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method would
provide at least the same measure of protection as would the mandatory
standard.
14. Island Creek Coal Company
[Docket No. M-97-72-C]
Island Creek Coal Company, Consol Plaza, 1800 Washington Road,
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15241-1421 has filed a petition to modify the
application of 30 CFR 75.364 (weekly examination) to its Ohio No. 11
Mine (I.D. No. 15-03173) located in Union County, Kentucky. Due to an
accumulation of water in the 3rd North Old No. 1 Unit and cut through
sealed area of the intake air course, persons traveling the affected
area to make weekly examinations would be exposed to hazardous
conditions. The petitioner proposes to amend its ventilation plan to
remove evaluation points EP-1, EP-2, and EP-3 and establish evaluation
points C, D, and E maintained in safe condition at all times; to have a
certified person conduct tests for methane and the quantity of air at
all check points on a weekly basis and place their initials, date, and
time in a record book kept on the surface and made available for
inspection by interested parties. The petitioner asserts that the
proposed alternative method would provide at least the same measure of
protection as would the mandatory standard.
15. Homestake Mining Company
[Docket No. M-97-04-M]
Homestake Mining Company, 630 E. Summit, Lead, South Dakota 57754
has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 56.6202(a)(5)
(vehicles) to its Lead, S.D. Mine (I.D. No. 39-00055) located in
Lawrence County, South Dakota. The petitioner proposes to substitute a
flashing amber light in place of signs on rubber-tired mobile equipment
used in the ramp systems and to have the light readily visible from all
directions. The petitioner states that the flashing amber light would
be a natural extension of the amber light currently used at the
Homestake Mine to delineate explosive storage facilities. The
petitioner asserts
[[Page 34313]]
that application of the standard would diminish the safety of the
miners. In addition, the petitioner asserts that the proposed
alternative method would provide at least the same 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 July 25, 1997.
Copies of these petitions are available for inspection at that address.
Dated: June 17, 1997.
Patricia W. Silvey,
Director, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances.
[FR Doc. 97-16665 Filed 6-24-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P
