Federal Register: October 7, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 194)
DOCID: FR Doc 03-25410
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Mine Safety and Health Administration
NOTICE: NOTICES
ACTION: Safety standard petitions:
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. Tito Coal
[Docket No. M2003062C]
Tito Coal, 118 Fairview Lane, Williamstown, Pennsylvania 17098 has
filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.10021 (now
75.1002) (Installation of electric equipment and conductors;
permissibility) to its White Vein Slope (MSHA I.D. No. 3606815)
located in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. The petitioner requests a
modification in the application of the existing standard to permit the
use of nonpermissible electric equipment within 150 feet of the pillar
line. The petitioner states that the nonpermissible equipment would
include drags and battery locomotives due in part to the method of
mining used in pitching anthracite mines and the alternative evaluation
of the mine air quality for methane on an hourly basis during
operation. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method
would provide at least the same measure of protection as the existing standard.
2. Canyon Fuel Company, LLC
[Docket No. M2003063C]
Canyon Fuel Company, LLC, P.O. Box 1029, Wellington, Utah 84542 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.350 (Air courses and belt haulage entries) to its Dugout Canyon Mine (MSHA I.D. No. 4201890) located in Carbon County, Utah. The petitioner requests that its previous petition for modification, docket number M2000171 C, be amended to remove the following language in Paragraph V.(C): ``must include a means, maintained in operating condition, to maintain the surface temperature of the exhaust system of diesel equipment below 302 degrees Fahrenheit'', and to replace Paragraph V.(C) as follows: ``In addition to the requirements of V.(B), dieselpowered equipment classified as heavyduty under 30 CFR 751908(a), must include a means, maintained in operating condition, to prevent the spray from ruptured diesel fuel, hydraulic oil, and lubricating oil lines from being ignited by contact with engine exhaust system component surfaces such as shielding, conduit, nonabsorbent insulating materials, or other similar means.'' The petitioner asserts that covering the exhaust systems would present a diminution of safety to the miners due to the possibility that combustible material can accumulate under the insulating material often creating a potential fire hazard. 3. Eastern Associated Coal Corp.
[Docket No. M2003064C]
Eastern Associated Coal Corp., 1970 Barrett Court, P.O. Box 1990,
Henderson, Kentucky 424191990 has filed a petition to modify the
application of 30 CFR 75.1108(Flameresistant conveyor belts) to its
Matewan Tunnel Mine (MSHA I.D. No. 4608610) located in Boone County,
West Virginia. The petitioner proposes to use approximately 10,000 feet
of the total 26,000 feet of belt in a specific location and application
with safeguards in place that would guarantee and provide no less than
the same degree of safety as the existing standard, in lieu of using
underground belting that meets the requirements for flameresistant
conveyor belts. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative
method would provide at least the same measure of protection as the existing standard.
4. D & D Coal Co.
[Docket No. M2003065C)
D & D Coal Co., 320 East Main Street, Hegins, Pennsylvania 17938 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR
75.333(e)(1)(ii) (Ventilation controls) to its Primrose Slope Mine
(MSHA I.D. No. 3608341) located in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. The
[[Page 57933]]
petitioner requests a modification of the existing standard to permit
the use of a 2 x 3 foot diameter fiberglass overcast in the intake
slope that is 20 feet in length. The petitioner asserts that the
proposed alternative method would provide at least the same measure of protection as the existing standard.
5. Little Eagle Coal Company
[Docket No. M2003066C]
Little Eagle Coal Company, Route 16 Fola Road, Bickmore, West
Virginia 25019 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.900 (Low and mediumvoltage circuits serving threephase
alternating current equipment; circuit breakers) to its Little Eagle
Mine (MSHA I.D. No. 4608560) located in Clay County, West Virginia.
The petitioner proposes to use a vacuum contactor in series with the
circuit breaker to perform tripping tasks normally associated with the
circuit breaker. The petitioner has listed in this petition for
modification specific procedures that would be followed when using
vacuum contactors. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative
method would provide at least the same measure of protection as the existing standard.
6. Canyon Fuel Company, LLC
[Docket No. M2003067C]
Canyon Fuel Company, LLC, P.O. Box 1029, Wellington, Utah 84542 has
filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.350 (Air
courses and belt haulage entries) to its Dugout Canyon Mine (MSHA I.D.
No. 4201890) located in Carbon County, Utah. The petitioner requests
that its previous petition for modification, docket number M2000171
C, be amended, as it relates to twoentry longwall retreat mining, to
add the following paragraph: ``In the event hydrogen sulfide is
encountered during the development phase of a longwall panel, the
petitioner shall have the option of utilizing the conveyor belt entry
as a neutral split of air during retreat mining operations. The belt
air shall be coursed away from the longwall section, in lieu of `point
feeding' the intake air at the mouth of the section.'' The petitioner
asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide at least the same measure of protection as the existing standard.
7. Dynatec Mining Corporation
[Docket No. M2003004M]
Dynatec Mining Corporation, 2200 South 4000 West, Salt Lake City, Utah 84120 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 57.22606(a) and (c) (Explosive materials and blasting units (III mines)) to its FMC No. 9 Ventilation Shaft Project (MSHA I.D. No 48 00152) located in Sweetwater County, Wyoming. The petitioner proposes to use electric detonators to initiate blasts but requests a modification of the existing standard to allow the use of nonel detonators to detonate the explosives in the blast holes. 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, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, Room 2350, Arlington, Virginia 22209. All comments must be postmarked or received in that office on or before November 6, 2003. Copies of these petitions are available for inspection at that address.
Dated at Arlington, Virginia, this 29th day of September, 2003. Marvin W. Nichols, Jr.,
Director, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances.
[FR Doc. 0325410 Filed 10603; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 451043P
SUMMARY:
Tito Coal et al.,
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. Tito Coal
[Docket No. M2003062C]
Tito Coal, 118 Fairview Lane, Williamstown, Pennsylvania 17098 has
filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.10021 (now
75.1002) (Installation of electric equipment and conductors;
permissibility) to its White Vein Slope (MSHA I.D. No. 3606815)
located in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. The petitioner requests a
modification in the application of the existing standard to permit the
use of nonpermissible electric equipment within 150 feet of the pillar
line. The petitioner states that the nonpermissible equipment would
include drags and battery locomotives due in part to the method of
mining used in pitching anthracite mines and the alternative evaluation
of the mine air quality for methane on an hourly basis during
operation. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method
would provide at least the same measure of protection as the existing standard.
2. Canyon Fuel Company, LLC
[Docket No. M2003063C]
Canyon Fuel Company, LLC, P.O. Box 1029, Wellington, Utah 84542 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.350 (Air courses and belt haulage entries) to its Dugout Canyon Mine (MSHA I.D. No. 4201890) located in Carbon County, Utah. The petitioner requests that its previous petition for modification, docket number M2000171 C, be amended to remove the following language in Paragraph V.(C): ``must include a means, maintained in operating condition, to maintain the surface temperature of the exhaust system of diesel equipment below 302 degrees Fahrenheit'', and to replace Paragraph V.(C) as follows: ``In addition to the requirements of V.(B), dieselpowered equipment classified as heavyduty under 30 CFR 751908(a), must include a means, maintained in operating condition, to prevent the spray from ruptured diesel fuel, hydraulic oil, and lubricating oil lines from being ignited by contact with engine exhaust system component surfaces such as shielding, conduit, nonabsorbent insulating materials, or other similar means.'' The petitioner asserts that covering the exhaust systems would present a diminution of safety to the miners due to the possibility that combustible material can accumulate under the insulating material often creating a potential fire hazard. 3. Eastern Associated Coal Corp.
[Docket No. M2003064C]
Eastern Associated Coal Corp., 1970 Barrett Court, P.O. Box 1990,
Henderson, Kentucky 424191990 has filed a petition to modify the
application of 30 CFR 75.1108(Flameresistant conveyor belts) to its
Matewan Tunnel Mine (MSHA I.D. No. 4608610) located in Boone County,
West Virginia. The petitioner proposes to use approximately 10,000 feet
of the total 26,000 feet of belt in a specific location and application
with safeguards in place that would guarantee and provide no less than
the same degree of safety as the existing standard, in lieu of using
underground belting that meets the requirements for flameresistant
conveyor belts. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative
method would provide at least the same measure of protection as the existing standard.
4. D & D Coal Co.
[Docket No. M2003065C)
D & D Coal Co., 320 East Main Street, Hegins, Pennsylvania 17938 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR
75.333(e)(1)(ii) (Ventilation controls) to its Primrose Slope Mine
(MSHA I.D. No. 3608341) located in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. The
[[Page 57933]]
petitioner requests a modification of the existing standard to permit
the use of a 2 x 3 foot diameter fiberglass overcast in the intake
slope that is 20 feet in length. The petitioner asserts that the
proposed alternative method would provide at least the same measure of protection as the existing standard.
5. Little Eagle Coal Company
[Docket No. M2003066C]
Little Eagle Coal Company, Route 16 Fola Road, Bickmore, West
Virginia 25019 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.900 (Low and mediumvoltage circuits serving threephase
alternating current equipment; circuit breakers) to its Little Eagle
Mine (MSHA I.D. No. 4608560) located in Clay County, West Virginia.
The petitioner proposes to use a vacuum contactor in series with the
circuit breaker to perform tripping tasks normally associated with the
circuit breaker. The petitioner has listed in this petition for
modification specific procedures that would be followed when using
vacuum contactors. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative
method would provide at least the same measure of protection as the existing standard.
6. Canyon Fuel Company, LLC
[Docket No. M2003067C]
Canyon Fuel Company, LLC, P.O. Box 1029, Wellington, Utah 84542 has
filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.350 (Air
courses and belt haulage entries) to its Dugout Canyon Mine (MSHA I.D.
No. 4201890) located in Carbon County, Utah. The petitioner requests
that its previous petition for modification, docket number M2000171
C, be amended, as it relates to twoentry longwall retreat mining, to
add the following paragraph: ``In the event hydrogen sulfide is
encountered during the development phase of a longwall panel, the
petitioner shall have the option of utilizing the conveyor belt entry
as a neutral split of air during retreat mining operations. The belt
air shall be coursed away from the longwall section, in lieu of `point
feeding' the intake air at the mouth of the section.'' The petitioner
asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide at least the same measure of protection as the existing standard.
7. Dynatec Mining Corporation
[Docket No. M2003004M]
Dynatec Mining Corporation, 2200 South 4000 West, Salt Lake City, Utah 84120 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 57.22606(a) and (c) (Explosive materials and blasting units (III mines)) to its FMC No. 9 Ventilation Shaft Project (MSHA I.D. No 48 00152) located in Sweetwater County, Wyoming. The petitioner proposes to use electric detonators to initiate blasts but requests a modification of the existing standard to allow the use of nonel detonators to detonate the explosives in the blast holes. 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, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, Room 2350, Arlington, Virginia 22209. All comments must be postmarked or received in that office on or before November 6, 2003. Copies of these petitions are available for inspection at that address.
Dated at Arlington, Virginia, this 29th day of September, 2003. Marvin W. Nichols, Jr.,
Director, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances.
[FR Doc. 0325410 Filed 10603; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 451043P