[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 153 (Wednesday, August 10, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-19471]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: August 10, 1994]
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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. H. L. & W. Coal Company
[Docket No. M-94-100-C]
H. L. & W. Coal Company, 14 Maple Street, Pine Grove, Pennsylvania
17963 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.335
(construction of seals) to its H. L. & W. Slope No. 2 (I.D. No. 36-
07269) 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
alternate method would provide at least the same measure of protection
as would the mandatory standard.
2. H. L. & W. Coal Company
[Docket No. M-94-101-C]
H. L. & W. Coal Company, 14 Maple Street, Pine Grove, Pennsylvania
17963 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.340
(underground electrical installations) to its H. L. & W. Slope No. 2
(I.D. No. 36-07269) 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 alternate method would provide at least the same measure of
protection as would the mandatory standard.
3. H. L. & W. Coal Company
[Docket No. M-94-102-C]
H. L. & W. Coal Company, 14 Maple Street, Pine Grove, Pennsylvania
17963 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.360
(preshift examination) to its H. L. & W. Slope No. 2 (I.D. No. 36-
07269) 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 inby 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 alternate method would provide at
least the same measure of protection as would the mandatory standard.
4. H. L. & W. Coal Company
[Docket No. M-94-103-C]
H. L. & W. Coal Company, 14 Maple Street, Pine Grove, Pennsylvania
17963 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR
75.364(b)(1), (4), and (5) (weekly examination) to its H. L. & W. Slope
No. 2 (I.D. No. 36-07269) 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
alternate method would provide at least the same measure of protection
as would the mandatory standard.
5. H. L. & W. Coal Company
[Docket No. M-94-104-C]
H. L. & W. Coal Company, 14 Maple Street, Pine Grove, Pennsylvania
17963 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1100-
2(a)(2) (quantity and location of firefighting equipment) to its H. L.
& W. Slope No. 2 (I.D. No. 36-07269) 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 alternate method would provide at least the same
measure of protection as would the mandatory standard.
6. H. L. & W. Coal Company
[Docket No. M-94-105-C]
H. L. & W. Coal Company, 14 Maple Street, Pine Grove, Pennsylvania
17963 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR
75.1200(d) & (i) (mine map) to its H. L. & W. Slope No. 2 (I.D. No. 36-
07269) 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 alternate method
would provide at least the same measure of protection as would the
mandatory standard.
7. H. L. & W. Coal Company
[Docket No. M-94-106-C]
H. L. & W. Coal Company, 14 Maple Street, 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 H. L. &
W. Slope No. 2 (I.D. No. 36-07269) 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.
8. Energy West Mining Company
[Docket No. M-94-107-C]
Energy West Mining Company, P.O. Box 310, Huntington, Utah 84528
has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.804(a)
(underground high-voltage cables) to its Deer Creek Mine (I.D. No. 42-
00121) located in Emery County, Utah. The petitioner requests a
modification of the standard to allow the use of Anaconda Type SHD+GC,
Piralli Type SHD-Center-GC, or Tiger Brand Type SHD-CGC MSHA-approved
flame resistant cables with a flexible No. 16 A.W.G. ground check
conductor for the ground continuity check circuit, on high-voltage
longwall systems. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternate
method would provide at least same measure of protection as would the
mandatory standard.
9. Sky High Coal Company
[Docket No. M-94-108-C]
Sky High Coal Company, R.D. #4, Box 393A, Pine Grove, Pennsylvania
17963 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.335
(construction of seals) to its L. V. No. 3 Slope (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
alternate method would provide at least the same measure of protection
as would the mandatory standard.
10. Sky High Coal Company
[Docket No. M-94-109-C]
Sky High Coal Company, R.D. #4, Box 393A, Pine Grove, Pennsylvania
17963 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.360
(preshift examination) to its L. V. No. 3 Slope (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 alternate method would provide at least the same measure
of protection as would the mandatory standard.
11. Sky High Coal Company
[Docket No. M-94-110-C]
Sky High Coal Company, R.D. #4, Box 393A, Pine Grove, Pennsylvania
17963 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR
75.364(b) (1), (4), and (5) (weekly examination) to its L. V. No. 3
Slope (I.D. No. 36-08405) 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
alternate method would provide at least the same measure of protection
as would the mandatory standard.
12. Sky High Coal Company
[Docket No. M-94-111-C]
Sky High Coal Company, R.D. #4, Box 393A, Pine Grove, Pennsylvania
17963 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1100-
2(a)(2) (quantity and location of firefighting equipment) to its L. V.
No. 3 Slope (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 alternate method would provide at least the same
measure of protection as would the mandatory standard.
13. Sky High Coal Company
[Docket No. M-94-112-C]
Sky High Coal Company, R.D. #4, Box 393A, Pine Grove, Pennsylvania
17963 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1200
(d) & (i) (mine map) to its L. V. No. 3 Slope (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 alternate method would provide at
least the same measure of protection as would the mandatory standard.
14. Sky High Coal Company
[Docket No. M-94-113-C]
Sky High Coal Company, R.D. #4, Box 393A, 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 L. V. No.
3 Slope (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.
15. Consolidation Coal Company
[Docket No. M-94-114-C]
Consolidation Coal Company, 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 Dilworth Mine (I.D. No. 36-04281) located in Greene County,
Pennsylvania. The petitioner proposes to use 800 feet trailing cables
with three-phase 480 volt to supply power to loading machines, shuttle
cars, roof bolters and section ventilation fans while developing
longwall panels. The petitioner states that the cables would not be
smaller than No. 4 A.W.G. for the ventilation fans, center bolters, and
shuttle cars and not smaller than No. 2 A.W.G. for the loading
machines; and that adequate training would be provided to all miners
designated necessary by the operator. The petitioner asserts that the
proposed alternate method would provide at least the same measure of
protection as would the mandatory standard.
16. R & S Coal Company
[Docket No. M-94-115-C]
R & S Coal Company, 8 West Main Street, Goodspring, Pennsylvania
17981 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1400
(hoisting equipment; general) to its Primrose Slope (I.D. No. 36-08221)
located in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. Because of the steep,
frequently changing pitch and numerous curves and knuckles in the main
haulage slope, the petitioner proposes to use the gunboat without
safety catches in transporting persons. As an alternative, when using
the gunboat to transport persons, the petitioner proposes to use an
increased rope strength safety factor and secondary safety connections
which are securely fastened around the gunboat and to the hoisting rope
above the main connecting device. The petitioner asserts that the
proposed alternate method would provide at least the same measure of
protection as would the mandatory standard.
17. Genwal Coal Company
[Docket No. M-94-116-C]
Genwal Coal Company, P.O. Box 1420, Huntington, Utah 84528 has
filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.350 (air
courses and belt haulage entries) to its Crandall Canyon Mine (I.D. No.
40-01715) located in Emery County, Utah. The petitioner proposes to use
belt air to ventilate the face area and to install a low-level carbon
monoxide detection system that would provide both visual and audible
alarm signals as an early warning device in belt entries used as intake
air courses, which would provide two separate and distinct intake air
escapeways to the miners working in the development sections. 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 September 9, 1994.
Copies of these petitions are available for inspection at that address.
Dated: August 1, 1994.
Patricia W. Silvey,
Director, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances.
[FR Doc. 94-19471 Filed 8-9-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P