14438 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 47 / Friday, March 9, 2012 / Notices 

Modification Request: The petitioner 

requests a modification of the existing 

standard to permit an alternative 

method of compliance to permit the use 

of battery-powered non-permissible 

surveying equipment within 150 feet of 

pillar workings, including, but not 

limited to, portable battery operated 

mine transits, total station surveying 

equipment, distance meters, and data 

loggers. The petitioner states that: 

(1) In order to comply with 

requirements of 30 CFR 75.372, 

75.1002(a), and 75.1200, use of the most 

practical and accurate surveying 

equipment is necessary. In order to 

ensure the safety of the miners in active 

mines and to protect miners in future 

mines which may mine in close 

proximity to these same active mines it 

is necessary to determine the exact 

location and extents of the mine 

workings. 

(2) Application of the existing 

standard would result in a diminution 

of safety to the miners. Underground 

mining by its nature, size, and 

complexity of mine plans requires that 

accurate and precise measurements be 

completed in a prompt and efficient 

manner. The petitioner proposes the 

following as an alternative to the 

existing standard: 

(a) Non-permissible electronic 

surveying equipment will be used when 

equivalent permissible electronic 

surveying equipment is not available. 

Such non-permissible surveying 

equipment includes portable battery 

operated total station surveying 

equipment, mine transits, distance 

meters, and data loggers. 

(b) All non-permissible electronic 

surveying equipment to be used within 

150 feet of pillar workings will be 

examined by surveying personnel prior 

to use to ensure the equipment is being 

maintained in a safe operating 

condition. These examinations will 

include the following steps: 

(i) Checking the instrument for any 

physical damage and the integrity of the 

case. 

(ii) Removing the battery and inspect 

for corrosion. 

(iii) Inspecting the contact points to 

ensure a secure connection to the 

battery. 

(iv) Reinserting the battery and power 

up and shut down to ensure proper 

connections. 

(v) Checking the battery compartment 

cover to ensure that it is securely 

fastened. 

(c) The results of such examinations 

will be recorded and retained for one 

year and made available to MSHA upon 

request. 

(d) A qualified person as defined in 

30 CFR 75.151 will continuously 

monitor for methane immediately before 

and during the use of non-permissible 

surveying equipment within 150 feet of 

pillar workings. 

(e) Non-permissible surveying 

equipment will not be used if methane 

is detected in concentrations at or above 

one percent for the area being surveyed. 

When methane is detected at such levels 

while the non-permissible surveying 

equipment is being used, the equipment 

will be deenergized immediately and 

the non-permissible electronic 

equipment withdrawn further than 150 

feet from pillar workings. 

(f) All hand-held methane detectors 

will be MSHA-approved and 

maintained in permissible and proper 

operating condition as defined in 30 

CFR 75.320. 

(g) Batteries contained in the 

surveying equipment must be changed 

out or charged in fresh air more than 

150 feet from pillar workings. 

(h) Qualified personnel engaged in the 

use of surveying equipment will be 

properly trained to recognize the 

hazards and limitations associated with 

the use of non-permissible surveying 

equipment in areas where methane 

could be present. 

(i) The non-permissible surveying 

equipment will not be put into service 

until MSHA has initially inspected the 

equipment and determined that it is in 

compliance with all the terms and 

conditions in this petition. 

(j) Within 60 days after the Proposed 

Decision and Order becomes final, the 

petitioner will submit proposed 

revisions for its approved 30 CFR part 

48 training plan to the District Manager. 

The revisions will specify initial and 

refresher training regarding the terms 

and conditions in the Proposed Decision 

and Order. 

The petitioner asserts that the 

proposed alternative method will at all 

times guarantee no less than the same 

measure of protection as that afforded 

by the existing standard. 

Dated: March 5, 2012. 

Patricia W. Silvey, 

Certifying Officer. 

[FR Doc. 2012–5713 Filed 3–8–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4510–43–P 

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR 

Mine Safety and Health Administration 

Petitions for Modification of 

Application of Existing Mandatory 

Safety Standards 

AGENCY: Mine Safety and Health 

Administration, Labor. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: Section 101(c) of the Federal 

Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 and 

Title 30 of the Code of Federal 

Regulations (30 CFR), part 44 govern the 

application, processing, and disposition 

of petitions for modification. This notice 

is a summary of petitions for 

modification submitted to the Mine 

Safety and Health Administration 

(MSHA) by the parties listed below to 

modify the application of existing 

mandatory safety standards. 

DATES: All comments on the petitions 

must be received by the Office of 

Standards, Regulations, and Variances 

on or before April 9, 2012. 

ADDRESSES: You may submit your 

comments, identified by ‘‘docket 

number’’ on the subject line, by any of 

the following methods: 

1. Electronic Mail: zzMSHAcomments@dol.gov. Include the docket 

number of the petition in the subject 

line of the message. 

2. Facsimile: 202–693–9441. 

3. Regular Mail: MSHA, Office of 

Standards, Regulations, and Variances, 

1100 Wilson Boulevard, Room 2350, 

Arlington, Virginia 22209–3939, 

Attention: Roslyn B. Fontaine, Acting 

Director, Office of Standards, 

Regulations, and Variances. 

4. Hand-Delivery or Courier: MSHA, 

Office of Standards, Regulations, and 

Variances, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, 

Room 2350, Arlington, Virginia 22209– 

3939. Individuals who submit 

comments by hand-delivery are required 

to check in at the receptionist’s desk on 

the 21st floor. Individuals may inspect 

copies of the petitions and comments 

during normal business hours at the 

address listed above. 

MSHA will consider only comments 

postmarked by the U.S. Postal Service or 

proof of delivery from another delivery 

service such as UPS or Federal Express 

on or before the deadline for comments. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Barbara Barron, Office of Standards, 

Regulations, and Variances at (202) 693– 

9447 (Voice), barron.barbara@dol.gov 

(Email), or 202–693–9441 (Facsimile). 

[These are not toll-free numbers.] 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 


srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 47 / Friday, March 9, 2012 / Notices 14439 

I. Background 

Section 101(c) of the Federal Mine 

Safety and Health Act of 1977 (Mine 

Act) allows the mine operator or 

representative of miners to file a 

petition to modify the application of any 

mandatory safety standard to a coal or 

other mine. The petition may be granted 

if the Secretary of Labor determines 

that: 

(1) An alternative method of 

achieving the result of such standard 

exists which will at all times guarantee 

no less than the same measure of 

protection afforded the miners of such 

mine by such standard; or 

(2) That the application of such 

standard to such mine will result in a 

diminution of safety to the miners in 

such mine. 

In addition, the regulations at 30 CFR 

44.10 and 44.11 establish the 

requirements and procedures for filing 

petitions for modification. 

II. Petitions for Modification 

Docket Number: M–2012–004–C. 

Petitioner: Little Buck Coal Company, 

33 Pine Lane, Pine Grove, Pennsylvania 

17963. 

Mine: Little Buck Slope, MSHA I.D. 

No. 36–09958, 33 Pine Lane, Pine 

Grove, Pennsylvania 17963, located in 

Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. 

Regulation Affected: 30 CFR 

75.1200(d) & (i) Mine map). 

Modification Request: The petitioner 

requests a modification of the existing 

standard to permit the use of crosssections in lieu of contour lines on mine 

maps through the intake slope, at 

locations of rock tunnel connections 

between veins, and at 1,000 feet 

intervals of advance from the intake 

slope. In addition, the petitioner 

proposes to limit the required mapping 

of mine workings above and below to 

those present within 100 feet of the 

vein(s) being mined unless the veins are 

interconnected to other veins beyond 

the 100 feet limit through rock tunnels. 

The petitioner states that: 

(1) 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. 

(2) The use of cross-sections in lieu of 

contour lines has been practiced since 

the late 1800’s and provides critical 

information about spacing between 

veins and proximity to other mine 

workings, which fluctuate considerably. 

(3) The vast majority of current 

underground anthracite mining involves 

either second mining of remnant pillars 

from previous mining or the mining of 

veins of lower quality in proximity to 

inaccessible and frequently flooded 

abandoned mine workings that may or 

may not be mapped. 

(4) All mapping for mines above and 

below is researched by the petitioner’s 

contract engineer for the presence of 

interconnecting rock tunnels between 

veins in relation to the mine, and a 

hazard analysis is done when mapping 

indicates the presence of known or 

potentially flooded workings. 

(5) When no rock tunnel connections 

are found, mine workings that exist 

beyond 100 feet from our mine, are 

recognized as presenting no hazard to 

the mine due to the pitch of the vein 

and rock separation. 

(6) Additionally, the mine workings 

above and below are usually inactive 

and abandoned and, therefore, are not 

usually subject to changes during the 

life of the mine. 

(7) Where evidence indicates prior 

mining was conducted on a vein above 

or below and research exhausts the 

availability of mine mapping, the vein 

will be considered mined and flooded 

and appropriate precautions will be 

taken through § 75.388, which addresses 

drilling boreholes in advance of mining, 

where possible. 

(8) Where potential hazards exist and 

in-mine drilling capabilities limit 

penetration, surface boreholes may be 

used to intercept the workings and the 

results analyzed prior to beginning 

mining in the affected area. 

The petitioner asserts that the 

proposed alternative method will 

provide no less than the same measure 

of protection afforded the miners under 

the existing standard. 

Docket Number: M–2012–005–C. 

Petitioner: Little Buck Coal Company, 

33 Pine Lane, Pine Grove, Pennsylvania 

17963. 

Mine: Little Buck Slope, MSHA I.D. 

No. 36–09958, 33 Pine Lane, Pine 

Grove, Pennsylvania 17963, located in 

Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. 

Regulation Affected: 30 CFR 75.1202 

and 75.1202–1(a) (Temporary notations, 

revisions and requirements). 

Modification Request: The petitioner 

requests a modification of the existing 

standard to permit the interval of survey 

to be established on an annual basis 

from the initial survey in lieu of every 

6 months as required. The petitioner 

proposes to continue to update the mine 

map by hand notations on a daily basis 

and conduct subsequent surveys prior to 

commencing retreat mining, and 

whenever either a drilling program 

under § 75.388 or plan for mining into 

inaccessible areas under § 75.389 is 

required. The petitioner states that: 

(1) The low production and slow rate 

of advance in anthracite mining make 

surveying on 6-month intervals 

impractical. In most cases annual 

development is frequently limited to 

less than 500 feet of gangway advance 

with associated up-pitch development. 

(2) The vast majority of small 

anthracite mines are non-mechanized 

and use hand-loading mining methods. 

(3) Development above the active 

gangway is designed to mine into the 

level above at designated intervals 

thereby maintaining sufficient control 

between both surveyed gangways. 

(4) The available engineering/ 

surveyor resources are limited in the 

anthracite coal fields and surveying on 

an annual basis is difficult to achieve 

with four individual contractors 

currently available. 

The petitioner asserts that the 

proposed alternative method will 

provide no less than the same measure 

of protection afforded the miners under 

the existing standard. 

Docket Number: M–2012–006–C. 

Petitioner: Little Buck Coal Company, 

33 Pine Lane, Pine Grove, Pennsylvania 

17963. 

Mine: Little Buck Slope, MSHA I.D. 

No. 36–09958, 33 Pine Lane, Pine 

Grove, Pennsylvania 17963, located in 

Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. 

Regulation Affected: 30 CFR 75.1400 

(Hoisting equipment; general). 

Modification Request: The petitioner 

requests a modification of the existing 

standard for cages, platforms, or other 

devices used to transport persons in 

shafts or slopes in underground coal 

mines. The petitioner seeks to permit 

the use of a slope conveyance (gunboat) 

to transport persons without installing 

safety catches or other no less effective 

devices but instead use an increased 

rope strength/safety factor and 

secondary safety rope connection in 

place of such devices. The petitioner 

states that: 

(1) The haulage slope of this 

anthracite mine is typical of those in the 

anthracite region, with a relatively high 

angle and frequently changing pitches. 

(2) A functional safety catch capable 

of working in slopes with knuckles and 

curves is not commercially available. A 

makeshift device would be activated on 

or by knuckles or curves when no 

emergency exists. Activation of a safety 

catch can or will damage the haulage 

system and subject persons being 

transported to hazards from dislodged 

timbering, roof material, or guide rails, 

and to being battered about within the 

conveyance. 

(3) A safer alternative is to provide 

secondary safety connections securely 

fastened around the gunboat and to the 

hoisting rope above the main 

termination and use a hoisting rope 


srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
14440 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 47 / Friday, March 9, 2012 / Notices 

having a safety factor greater than that 

recommended in the American 

Standards Specifications for the Use of 

Wire Rope in Mines or at least three 

times greater than the strength required 

under section § 75.1431(a). 

The petitioner asserts that the 

proposed alternative method will 

provide no less than the same measure 

of protection afforded the miners under 

the existing standard. 

Docket Number: M–2012–007–C. 

Petitioner: RoxCoal, Inc., 1576 

Stoystown Road, Friedens, 

Pennsylvania 15541. 

Mines: Agustus Mine, MSHA I.D. No. 

36–08636; Barbara #2 Mine, MSHA I.D. 

No. 36–08508; Horning Mine, MSHA 

I.D. No. 36–09666; Kimberly Run Mine, 

MSHA I.D. No. 36–09549; Quecreek #1 

Mine, MSHA I.D. No. 36–08746; 

Roytown Deep Mine, MSHA I.D. No. 

36–09260; Sarah Mine, MSHA I.D. No. 

36–08571; all located in Somerset 

County, Pennsylvania. 

Regulation Affected: 30 CFR 75.503 

(Permissible electric face equipment; 

maintenance) and 30 CFR 18.35(a)(2) 

(Portable (trailing) cables and cords). 

Modification Request: The petitioner 

requests a modification of the existing 

standard to permit an alternative 

method of compliance with the 10 

American Wire Gauge (AWG) Cable. 

The petitioner proposes to use MSHA 

approved five (5) conductor 10 AWG 

cable (SO cable) with a diameter of .77 

with a tolerance of +/¥0.03. The 

petitioner states that: 

(1) The cable will hang on insulated 

hangers for the entire length at all times. 

(2) Within 60 days after the Proposed 

Decision and Order becomes final, the 

petitioner will submit proposed 

revisions for its approved 30 CFR part 

48 training plan to the District Manager. 

In addition to the requirement specified 

in item 1, these proposed revisions will 

specify initial and refresher training 

regarding the terms and conditions 

stated in the Proposed Decision and 

Order. 

The petitioner asserts that the 

proposed alternative method will at all 

times guarantee no less than the same 

measure of protection afforded by the 

standard. 

Dated: March 5, 2012. 

Patricia W. Silvey, 

Certifying Officer. 

[FR Doc. 2012–5711 Filed 3–8–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4510–43–P 

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND 

SPACE ADMINISTRATION 

Notice of Information Collection 

AGENCY: National Aeronautics and 

Space Administration (NASA). 

NOTICE: (12–020). 

ACTION: Notice of information collection. 

SUMMARY: The National Aeronautics and 

Space Administration, as part of its 

continuing effort to reduce paperwork 

and respondent burden, invites the 

general public and other Federal 

agencies to take this opportunity to 

comment on proposed and/or 

continuing information collections, as 

required by the Paperwork Reduction 

Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104–13, 44 U.S.C. 

3506(c)(2)(A)). 

DATES: All comments should be 

submitted within 60 calendar days from 

the date of this publication. 

ADDRESSES: All comments should be 

addressed to Ms. Frances Teel, JF000, 

National Aeronautics and Space 

Administration, Washington, DC 20546– 

0001. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Requests for additional information or 

copies of the information collection 

instrument(s) and instructions should 

be directed to Frances Teel, NASA 

Clearance Officer, NASA Headquarters, 

300 E Street SW., JF0000, Washington, 

DC 20546, Frances.C.Teel@nasa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract 

To ensure accurate reporting of 

Government-owned, contractor-held 

property on the financial statements and 

to provide information necessary for 

effective property management, NASA 

obtains summary data annually from the 

official Government property records 

maintained by its contractors, on the 

NASA Form 1018, as of the end of the 

fiscal year. 

II. Method of Collection 

Electronic. 

III. Data 

Title: NASA Property in the Custody 

of Contractors. 

OMB Number: 2700–0017. 

Type of Review: Revision of currently 

approved collection. 

Affected Public: Business or other forprofit and not-for-profit institutions. 

Estimated Number of Respondents: 

1092. 

Estimated Time per Response: 

Variable. 

Estimated Total Annual Burden 

Hours: 9805 hours. 

Estimated Total Annual Cost: $0.00. 

IV. Request for Comments 

Comments are invited on: (1) Whether 

the proposed collection of information 

is necessary for the proper performance 

of the functions of NASA, including 

whether the information collected has 

practical utility; (2) the accuracy of 

NASA’s estimate of the burden 

(including hours and cost) of the 

proposed collection of information; (3) 

ways to enhance the quality, utility, and 

clarity of the information to be 

collected; and (4) ways to minimize the 

burden of the collection of information 

on respondents, including automated 

collection techniques or the use of other 

forms of information technology. 

Comments submitted in response to 

this notice will be summarized and 

included in the request for OMB 

approval of this information collection. 

They will also become a matter of 

public record. 

Frances Teel, 

NASA PRA Clearance Officer. 

[FR Doc. 2012–5681 Filed 3–8–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 7510–13–P 

NATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR THE 

ARTS AND THE HUMANITIES 

National Council on the Arts 175th 

Meeting 

AGENCY: National Endowment for the 

Arts, National Foundation on the Arts 

and Humanities. 

ACTION: Notice—Meeting. 

Pursuant to section 10(a)(2) of the 

Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. 

L. 92–463), as amended, notice is hereby 

given that a meeting of the National 

Council on the Arts will be held on 

March 30, 2012, in Room M–09 at the 

Nancy Hanks Center, 1100 Pennsylvania 

Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20506. 

This meeting, from 9 a.m. to 11:30 

a.m. on Friday, March 30th in Room M– 

09 (ending time is approximate), will be 

open to the public on a space available 

basis. The meeting will begin with 

opening remarks and voting on 

recommendations for funding and 

rejection and guidelines, followed by 

updates by the Chairman. From 10 a.m. 

to 11:30 a.m. there will be presentations 

on Operation Homecoming and the 

healing arts programs at Walter Reed 

National Military Medical Center, Arts 

and Achievement in At-Risk Youth: 

Findings From Four Longitudinal 

Studies, and an overview of NEA Arts 

and podcasts. The meeting will adjourn 

following concluding remarks and 

announcement of voting results. 


srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES