Federal Register: December 31, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 250)
DOCID: FR Doc 01-32036
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Mine Safety and Health Administration
NOTICE: NOTICES
SUBJECT CATEGORY:
Petitions for Modification
DOCUMENT SUMMARY:
The following parties have filed petitions to modify the
application of existing safety standards under section 101(c) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977.
1. Elk Run Coal Company, Inc.
[Docket No. M2001109C]
Elk Run Coal Company, Inc., P.O. Box 497, Sylvester, West Virginia
25193 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR
75.364(b)(2) (weekly examination) to its Black King I North Portal Mine
(I.D. No. 4608553) located in Boone County, West Virginia. The
petitioner proposes to establish weekly evaluations at three monitoring
stations using handheld gas detection devices and anemometers. The
petitioner states that these monitoring stations will be immediately
outby survey station 2915 and designated S1, at the punchout
designated as S2, and at the punchout designated S3; that the
evaluations points will be evaluated weekly by a certified person and
the results of the examination will be recorded in the examination
books. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method
would provide at least the same measure of protection as the existing standard.
2. Apollo Coal Company
[Docket No. M2001110C]
Apollo Coal Company, P.O. Box 503, Staffordsville, Kentucky 41256
has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.503
(permissible electric face equipment; maintenance) and 30 CFR 18.41(f)
(plug and receptacletype connectors) to its Mine #3 (I.D. No. 15
18075) located in Knott County, Kentucky. The petitioner proposes to use permanently installed, spring
[[Page 67551]]
loaded locking device on mobile batterypowered machines instead of
using padlocks to prevent unintentional loosening of battery plugs from
battery receptacles to eliminate the hazards associated with difficult
removal of padlocks during emergency situations. The petitioner asserts
that application of the existing standard would result in a diminution
of safety to the miners and that the proposed alternative method would
provide at least the same measure of protection as the existing standard.
3. Straight Fork Mining, Inc.
[Docket No. M2001111C]
Straight Fork Mining, Inc., P.O. Box 249, Stanville, Kentucky 41659
has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.503
(permissible electric face equipment; maintenance) and 30 CFR 18.41(f)
(plug and receptacletype connectors) to its No. 3 Mine (I.D. No. 15
18441) located in Knott County, Kentucky. The petitioner proposes to
use permanently installed, springloaded locking device on mobile
batterypowered machines instead of using padlocks to prevent
unintentional loosening of battery plugs from battery receptacles to
eliminate the hazards associated with difficult removal of padlocks
during emergency situations. The petitioner asserts that the proposed
alternative method would provide at least the same measure of protection as the existing standard.
4. Clas Coal Company, Inc.
[Docket No. M2001112C]
Clas Coal Company, Inc., P.O. Box 35, Deane, Kentucky 41812 has
filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.503
(permissible electric face equipment; maintenance) and 30 CFR 18.41(f)
(plug and receptacletype connectors) to its E3 Mine (I.D. No. 15
18392) located in Knott County, Kentucky. The petitioner proposes to
use permanently installed, springloaded locking device on mobile
batterypowered machines instead of using padlocks to prevent
unintentional loosening of battery plugs from battery receptacles to
eliminate the hazards associated with difficult removal of padlocks
during emergency situations. The petitioner asserts that application of
the existing standard would result in a diminution of safety to the
miners and that the proposed alternative method would provide at least the same measure of protection as the existing standard.
5. Centralia Mining
[Docket No. M2001113C]
Centralia Mining, RD #2 Box 665, Shamokin, Pennsylvania 17872 has
filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 49.2(b) (mine
rescue teams) to its Skidmore Slope (I.D. No. 3609001) located in
Columbia County, Pennsylvania. The petitioner requests a modification
of the standard to permit the reduction of two mine rescue teams with
five members and one alternate each, to two mine rescue teams of three
members with one alternate for either team. The petitioner asserts that
the proposed alternative method would provide at least the same measure of protection as the existing standard.
6. Centralia Mining
[Docket No. M2001114C]
Centralia Mining, RD #2 Box 665, Shamokin, Pennsylvania 17872 has
filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.11002(a)
(quantity and location of firefighting equipment) to its Skidmore Slope
(I.D. No. 3609001) located in Columbia County, Pennsylvania. The
petitioner requests a modification of the standard to permit use of
portable fire extinguishers only to replace existing requirements where
rock dust, water cars, and other water storage equipped with three, ten
quart pails is not practical. The petitioner proposes to use two (2)
fire extinguishers near the slope bottom and an additional portable
fire extinguisher within 500 feet of the working face for equivalent
fire protection for the mine. The petitioner asserts that the proposed
alternative method would provide at least the same measure of protection as the existing standard.
7. Centralia Mining
[Docket No. M2001115C]
Centralia Mining, RD #2 Box 665, Shamokin, Pennsylvania 17872 has
filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1200(d) and (i)
(mine maps) to its Skidmore Slope (I.D. No. 3609001) located in
Columbia 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 foot
intervals of advance from the intake slope; and to limit the required
mapping of the 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 100foot limit through rock tunnels. The
petitioner asserts that due to the steep pitch encountered in mining
anthracite coal veins, contours provide no useful information and their
presence would make portions of the map illegible. The petitioner
further asserts that use of crosssections in lieu of contour lines has
been practiced since the late 1800's thereby providing critical
information relative to the spacing between veins and proximity to
other mine workings which fluctuate considerably. The petitioner
asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide at least the same measure of protection as the existing standard.
8. Centralia Mining
[Docket No. M2001116C]
Centralia Mining, RD #2 Box 665, Shamokin, Pennsylvania 17872 has
filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 1202 and 30 CFR
75.12021(a) (temporary notations, revisions, and supplements) to its
Skidmore Slope (I.D. No. 3609001) located in Columbia 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 also proposes to conduct
surveys prior to commencing retreat mining and whenever either a
drilling program under 30 CFR 75.388 or plan for mining into
inaccessible areas under 30 CFR 75.389 is required. The petitioner
asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide at least the same measure of protection as the existing standard.
9. Centralia Mining
[Docket No. M2001117C]
Centralia Mining, RD #2 Box 665, Shamokin, Pennsylvania 17872 has
filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1400 (hoisting
equipment; general) to its Skidmore Slope (I.D. No. 3609001) located
in Columbia County, Pennsylvania. The petitioner proposes to use a
slope conveyance (gunboat) in transporting persons without installing
safety catches or other no less effective devices but instead use
increased rope strength and secondary safety rope connection in place
of such devices. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative
method would provide at least the same measure of protection as the existing standard.
10. Blue Diamond Coal Company
[Docket No. M2001118C]
Blue Diamond Coal Company, P.O. Box 47, Slemp, Kentucky 417630047
has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.350 (air
courses and belt haulage entries) to its Mine #77 (I.D. No. 1509636) located in Perry County, Kentucky. The petitioner
[[Page 67552]]
proposes to use air coursed through conveyor belt entries to ventilate
working places. The petitioner proposes to install and maintain a
carbon monoxide monitoring system as an early warning fire detection
system in all belt entries used to course intake air to a working
place. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method
would provide at least the same measure of protection as the existing standard.
11. BSE Mining, Inc.
[Docket No. M2001119C]
BSE Mining, Inc., P.O. Box 267, Hager Hill, Kentucky 41222 has
filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.800 (high
voltage circuits; circuit breakers) to its No. 1 Mine (I.D. No. 15
18343) located in Morgan County, Kentucky. The petitioner proposes to
use a contactor on highvoltage systems instead of using circuit
breakers. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method
would provide at least the same measure of protection as the existing standard.
12. White County Coal, LLC
[Docket No. M2001120C]
White County Coal, LLC, 1343 County Road 1450E, Carmi, Illinois
62821 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.901
(protection of low and mediumvoltage threephase circuits used
underground) to its Pattiki II Mine (I.D. No. 1103058) located in
White County, Illinois. The petitioner proposes to use a 200KW, 480
volt, diesel powered generator set with an approved diesel drive engine
to power electrical equipment that will only move equipment in, out,
and around the mine and to perform work in areas outby section loading
points where equipment is not required to be maintained as permissible.
The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method would
provide at least the same measure of protection as the existing standard.
13. New South Resources, d.b.a. Black Hawk Mining
[Docket No. M2001121C]
New South Resources, d.b.a. Black Hawk Mining, P.O. Box 2594, Beckley, West Virginia 258022594 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1102 (slippage and sequence switches) to its Mine No. 1 (I.D. No. 4608809) located in Raleigh County, West Virginia. The petitioner proposes to install and maintain an electrical switch that stops the belt when the coal in the bin reaches a predetermined level near the top of the bin. The petitioner states that activation of the electrical switch by the rising coal level will prevent coal from overflowing the bins and spilling or being carried back on the conveyor belt; and that the No. 2 Belt will stop until the bin begins to empty and the coal level drops below the predetermined level previously mentioned and the feeders which feed coal from the bins onto the No. 1 Belt are sequenced so that the feeders are stopped automatically whenever the No. 1 Belt stops operating. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide at least the same measure of protection as the existing standard.
Request for Comments
Persons interested in these petitions are encouraged to submit comments via email 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 January 30, 2002. Copies of these petitions are available for inspection at that address.
Dated at Arlington, Virginia, this 21st day of December, 2001. David L. Meyer,
Director, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances.
[FR Doc. 0132036 Filed 122801; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 451043P
SUMMARY:
Petitions for safety standard modifications; summary of affirmative decisions,
DOCUMENT BODY 2:
The following parties have filed petitions to modify the
application of existing safety standards under section 101(c) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977.
1. Elk Run Coal Company, Inc.
[Docket No. M2001109C]
Elk Run Coal Company, Inc., P.O. Box 497, Sylvester, West Virginia
25193 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR
75.364(b)(2) (weekly examination) to its Black King I North Portal Mine
(I.D. No. 4608553) located in Boone County, West Virginia. The
petitioner proposes to establish weekly evaluations at three monitoring
stations using handheld gas detection devices and anemometers. The
petitioner states that these monitoring stations will be immediately
outby survey station 2915 and designated S1, at the punchout
designated as S2, and at the punchout designated S3; that the
evaluations points will be evaluated weekly by a certified person and
the results of the examination will be recorded in the examination
books. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method
would provide at least the same measure of protection as the existing standard.
2. Apollo Coal Company
[Docket No. M2001110C]
Apollo Coal Company, P.O. Box 503, Staffordsville, Kentucky 41256
has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.503
(permissible electric face equipment; maintenance) and 30 CFR 18.41(f)
(plug and receptacletype connectors) to its Mine #3 (I.D. No. 15
18075) located in Knott County, Kentucky. The petitioner proposes to use permanently installed, spring
[[Page 67551]]
loaded locking device on mobile batterypowered machines instead of
using padlocks to prevent unintentional loosening of battery plugs from
battery receptacles to eliminate the hazards associated with difficult
removal of padlocks during emergency situations. The petitioner asserts
that application of the existing standard would result in a diminution
of safety to the miners and that the proposed alternative method would
provide at least the same measure of protection as the existing standard.
3. Straight Fork Mining, Inc.
[Docket No. M2001111C]
Straight Fork Mining, Inc., P.O. Box 249, Stanville, Kentucky 41659
has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.503
(permissible electric face equipment; maintenance) and 30 CFR 18.41(f)
(plug and receptacletype connectors) to its No. 3 Mine (I.D. No. 15
18441) located in Knott County, Kentucky. The petitioner proposes to
use permanently installed, springloaded locking device on mobile
batterypowered machines instead of using padlocks to prevent
unintentional loosening of battery plugs from battery receptacles to
eliminate the hazards associated with difficult removal of padlocks
during emergency situations. The petitioner asserts that the proposed
alternative method would provide at least the same measure of protection as the existing standard.
4. Clas Coal Company, Inc.
[Docket No. M2001112C]
Clas Coal Company, Inc., P.O. Box 35, Deane, Kentucky 41812 has
filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.503
(permissible electric face equipment; maintenance) and 30 CFR 18.41(f)
(plug and receptacletype connectors) to its E3 Mine (I.D. No. 15
18392) located in Knott County, Kentucky. The petitioner proposes to
use permanently installed, springloaded locking device on mobile
batterypowered machines instead of using padlocks to prevent
unintentional loosening of battery plugs from battery receptacles to
eliminate the hazards associated with difficult removal of padlocks
during emergency situations. The petitioner asserts that application of
the existing standard would result in a diminution of safety to the
miners and that the proposed alternative method would provide at least the same measure of protection as the existing standard.
5. Centralia Mining
[Docket No. M2001113C]
Centralia Mining, RD #2 Box 665, Shamokin, Pennsylvania 17872 has
filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 49.2(b) (mine
rescue teams) to its Skidmore Slope (I.D. No. 3609001) located in
Columbia County, Pennsylvania. The petitioner requests a modification
of the standard to permit the reduction of two mine rescue teams with
five members and one alternate each, to two mine rescue teams of three
members with one alternate for either team. The petitioner asserts that
the proposed alternative method would provide at least the same measure of protection as the existing standard.
6. Centralia Mining
[Docket No. M2001114C]
Centralia Mining, RD #2 Box 665, Shamokin, Pennsylvania 17872 has
filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.11002(a)
(quantity and location of firefighting equipment) to its Skidmore Slope
(I.D. No. 3609001) located in Columbia County, Pennsylvania. The
petitioner requests a modification of the standard to permit use of
portable fire extinguishers only to replace existing requirements where
rock dust, water cars, and other water storage equipped with three, ten
quart pails is not practical. The petitioner proposes to use two (2)
fire extinguishers near the slope bottom and an additional portable
fire extinguisher within 500 feet of the working face for equivalent
fire protection for the mine. The petitioner asserts that the proposed
alternative method would provide at least the same measure of protection as the existing standard.
7. Centralia Mining
[Docket No. M2001115C]
Centralia Mining, RD #2 Box 665, Shamokin, Pennsylvania 17872 has
filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1200(d) and (i)
(mine maps) to its Skidmore Slope (I.D. No. 3609001) located in
Columbia 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 foot
intervals of advance from the intake slope; and to limit the required
mapping of the 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 100foot limit through rock tunnels. The
petitioner asserts that due to the steep pitch encountered in mining
anthracite coal veins, contours provide no useful information and their
presence would make portions of the map illegible. The petitioner
further asserts that use of crosssections in lieu of contour lines has
been practiced since the late 1800's thereby providing critical
information relative to the spacing between veins and proximity to
other mine workings which fluctuate considerably. The petitioner
asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide at least the same measure of protection as the existing standard.
8. Centralia Mining
[Docket No. M2001116C]
Centralia Mining, RD #2 Box 665, Shamokin, Pennsylvania 17872 has
filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 1202 and 30 CFR
75.12021(a) (temporary notations, revisions, and supplements) to its
Skidmore Slope (I.D. No. 3609001) located in Columbia 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 also proposes to conduct
surveys prior to commencing retreat mining and whenever either a
drilling program under 30 CFR 75.388 or plan for mining into
inaccessible areas under 30 CFR 75.389 is required. The petitioner
asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide at least the same measure of protection as the existing standard.
9. Centralia Mining
[Docket No. M2001117C]
Centralia Mining, RD #2 Box 665, Shamokin, Pennsylvania 17872 has
filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1400 (hoisting
equipment; general) to its Skidmore Slope (I.D. No. 3609001) located
in Columbia County, Pennsylvania. The petitioner proposes to use a
slope conveyance (gunboat) in transporting persons without installing
safety catches or other no less effective devices but instead use
increased rope strength and secondary safety rope connection in place
of such devices. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative
method would provide at least the same measure of protection as the existing standard.
10. Blue Diamond Coal Company
[Docket No. M2001118C]
Blue Diamond Coal Company, P.O. Box 47, Slemp, Kentucky 417630047
has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.350 (air
courses and belt haulage entries) to its Mine #77 (I.D. No. 1509636) located in Perry County, Kentucky. The petitioner
[[Page 67552]]
proposes to use air coursed through conveyor belt entries to ventilate
working places. The petitioner proposes to install and maintain a
carbon monoxide monitoring system as an early warning fire detection
system in all belt entries used to course intake air to a working
place. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method
would provide at least the same measure of protection as the existing standard.
11. BSE Mining, Inc.
[Docket No. M2001119C]
BSE Mining, Inc., P.O. Box 267, Hager Hill, Kentucky 41222 has
filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.800 (high
voltage circuits; circuit breakers) to its No. 1 Mine (I.D. No. 15
18343) located in Morgan County, Kentucky. The petitioner proposes to
use a contactor on highvoltage systems instead of using circuit
breakers. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method
would provide at least the same measure of protection as the existing standard.
12. White County Coal, LLC
[Docket No. M2001120C]
White County Coal, LLC, 1343 County Road 1450E, Carmi, Illinois
62821 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.901
(protection of low and mediumvoltage threephase circuits used
underground) to its Pattiki II Mine (I.D. No. 1103058) located in
White County, Illinois. The petitioner proposes to use a 200KW, 480
volt, diesel powered generator set with an approved diesel drive engine
to power electrical equipment that will only move equipment in, out,
and around the mine and to perform work in areas outby section loading
points where equipment is not required to be maintained as permissible.
The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method would
provide at least the same measure of protection as the existing standard.
13. New South Resources, d.b.a. Black Hawk Mining
[Docket No. M2001121C]
New South Resources, d.b.a. Black Hawk Mining, P.O. Box 2594, Beckley, West Virginia 258022594 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1102 (slippage and sequence switches) to its Mine No. 1 (I.D. No. 4608809) located in Raleigh County, West Virginia. The petitioner proposes to install and maintain an electrical switch that stops the belt when the coal in the bin reaches a predetermined level near the top of the bin. The petitioner states that activation of the electrical switch by the rising coal level will prevent coal from overflowing the bins and spilling or being carried back on the conveyor belt; and that the No. 2 Belt will stop until the bin begins to empty and the coal level drops below the predetermined level previously mentioned and the feeders which feed coal from the bins onto the No. 1 Belt are sequenced so that the feeders are stopped automatically whenever the No. 1 Belt stops operating. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide at least the same measure of protection as the existing standard.
Request for Comments
Persons interested in these petitions are encouraged to submit comments via email 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 January 30, 2002. Copies of these petitions are available for inspection at that address.
Dated at Arlington, Virginia, this 21st day of December, 2001. David L. Meyer,
Director, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances.
[FR Doc. 0132036 Filed 122801; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 451043P