Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 222 / Monday, November 18, 2024 / Notices 90745 

is conducted on the terms and 

conditions in the PDO granted by 

MSHA, an MSHA Certificate of Training 

(Form 5000–23) shall be completed. 

Comments shall be included on the 

Certificate of Training indicating that 

the training received was for use of the 

3M Versaflo TR–800 or the CleanSpace 

EX PAPR. 

(r) All personnel who will be involved 

with or affected by the use of the 3M 

Versaflo TR–800 or CleanSpace EX 

PAPRs shall receive training in 

accordance with 30 CFR 48.7 on the 

requirements of the PDO granted by 

MSHA within 60 days of the date the 

PDO granted by MSHA becomes final. 

Such training shall be completed before 

any 3M Versaflo TR–800 or CleanSpace 

EX PAPR can be used within 150 feet of 

pillar workings or longwall faces. The 

operator shall keep a record of such 

training and provide such record to 

MSHA upon request. 

(s) The operator shall provide annual 

retraining to all personnel who will be 

involved with or affected by the use of 

the 3M Versaflo TR–800 or CleanSpace 

EX PAPRs in accordance with 30 CFR 

48.8. The operator shall train new 

miners on the requirements of the PDO 

granted by MSHA in accordance with 30 

CFR 48.5, and shall train experienced 

miners on the requirements of the PDO 

granted by MSHA in accordance with 30 

CFR 48.6. The operator shall keep a 

record of such training and provide 

such record to MSHA upon request. 

(t) The operator shall post the PDO 

granted by MSHA in unobstructed 

locations on the bulletin boards and/or 

in other conspicuous places where 

notices to miners are ordinarily posted, 

for a period of not less than 60 

consecutive days. 

(u) There are no representatives of 

miners at Greenbrier Minerals LLC, 

Powellton #1 Mine, Lower War Eagle, 

Muddy Bridge, or Eagle No. 1 Mine. A 

copy of this petition has been posted on 

the bulletin board as of September 12, 

2024. 

The petitioner asserts that the 

alternative method will guarantee no 

less than the same measure of protection 

afforded the miners under the 

mandatory standard. 

Song-ae Aromie Noe, 

Director, Office of Standards, Regulations, 

and Variances. 

[FR Doc. 2024–26733 Filed 11–15–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4520–43–P 

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR 

Mine Safety and Health Administration 

Petition for Modification of Application 

of Existing Mandatory Safety 

Standards 

AGENCY: Mine Safety and Health 

Administration, Labor. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: This notice is a summary of 

a petition for modification submitted to 

the Mine Safety and Health 

Administration (MSHA) by Panther 

Creek Mining, LLC. 

DATES: All comments on the petition 

must be received by MSHA’s Office of 

Standards, Regulations, and Variances 

on or before December 18, 2024. 

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments 

identified by Docket No. MSHA–2024– 

0069 by any of the following methods: 

1. Federal eRulemaking Portal: 

https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for submitting comments 

for MSHA–2024–0069. 

2. Fax: 202–693–9441. 

3. Email: petitioncomments@dol.gov. 

4. Regular Mail or Hand Delivery: 

MSHA, Office of Standards, 

Regulations, and Variances, 201 12th 

Street South, Suite 4E401, Arlington, 

Virginia 22202–5452. 

Attention: S. Aromie Noe, Director, 

Office of Standards, Regulations, and 

Variances. Persons delivering 

documents are required to check in at 

the receptionist’s desk, 4th Floor West. 

Individuals may inspect copies of the 

petition and comments during normal 

business hours at the address listed 

above. Before visiting MSHA in person, 

call 202–693–9455 to make an 

appointment. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: S. 

Aromie Noe, Office of Standards, 

Regulations, and Variances at 202–693– 

9440 (voice), Petitionsformodification@

dol.gov (email), or 202–693–9441 (fax). 

[These are not toll-free numbers.] 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 

101(c) of the Federal Mine Safety and 

Health Act of 1977 and title 30 of the 

Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 

44 govern the application, processing, 

and disposition of petitions for 

modification. 

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 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. The application of such standard to 

such mine will result in a diminution of 

safety to the miners in such mine. 

In addition, sections 44.10 and 44.11 

of 30 CFR establish the requirements for 

filing petitions for modification. 

II. Petition for Modification 

Docket Number: M–2024–046–C. 

Petitioner: Panther Creek Mining, 

LLC, PO Box 99 Dawes, WV 25054. 

Mine: Speed Mine, MSHA ID No. 46– 

05437, located in Kanawha County, 

West Virginia, and Winchester 2 Mine, 

MSHA ID No. 46–09615, located in 

Kanawha County, West Virginia. 

Regulation Affected: 30 CFR 

75.1002(a), Permissible electric 

equipment. 

Modification Request: The petitioner 

requests a modification of 30 CFR 

75.1002(a) to allow the use of 

unapproved Powered Air Purifying 

Respirators (PAPRs) within 150 feet of 

pillar workings or longwall faces. 

Specifically, the petitioner is requesting 

to utilize the CleanSpace EX PAPR and 

sealed motor/blower/battery power pack 

assembly, and the 3M Versaflo TR–800 

Intrinsically Safe PAPR motor/blower 

and battery with battery pack. 

The petitioner states that: 

(a) The 3M Versaflo TR–800 PAPR 

with motor/blower and battery qualifies 

as intrinsically safe. 

(b) The CleanSpace EX PAPR also 

qualifies as intrinsically safe. 

(c) Both the CleanSpace EX and the 

3M Versaflo TR–800 PAPRs provide a 

constant flow of air inside the mask or 

helmet. This airflow provides 

respiratory protection and comfort in 

hot working conditions. 

(d) Neither the 3M Versaflo TR–800 

nor the CleanSpace EX PAPR is MSHAapproved as permissible. 

(e) Neither the 3M nor the CleanSpace 

is pursuing MSHA approval. 

(f) Speed Mine and Winchester 2 

Mine currently make available to all 

miners NIOSH-approved high efficiency 

l00 series respirators to protect the 

miners against potential exposure to 

respirable coal mine dust, including 

crystalline silica, during normal mining 

conditions. Speed Mine and Winchester 

2 Mine desire to expand the miners’ 

option in choosing a respirator that 

provides the greatest degree of 

protection as well as comfort while 

being worn. Powered PAPRs provide a 

constant flow of filtered air and serve 

that purpose. 


lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
90746 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 222 / Monday, November 18, 2024 / Notices 

(g) On June 17, 2024, a final rule 

entitled Lowering Miners’ Exposure to 

Respirable Crystalline Silica and 

Improving Respiratory Protection took 

effect. The rule requires the mine 

operator to have a written respiratory 

protection program in place when 

miners are required to use respirators. 

Adding the CleanSpace EX and the 3M 

TR–800 Versaflo PAPRs to the 

respiratory protection program as 

additional options will provide the 

miners with alternatives to the series 

100 high efficiency respirators already 

in use at the mine. The PAPRs will also 

serve as a respirator option to protect 

the miners with facial hair who may not 

be able to pass the ‘‘fit test’’ requirement 

of the program. In addition, the positive 

flow of filtered air provided by the 

PAPRs will provide a solution for the 

miners who are unable to wear a tightfitting respirator. 

(h) Since the 3M Airstream HeadgearMounted PAPR System has been 

discontinued by the manufacturer, there 

are no other MSHA-approved units 

available that can be used within 150 

feet of pillar workings or longwall faces. 

(i) The alternative method in the 

petition will at all times guarantee no 

less than the same measure of protection 

afforded to the miners by the standard. 

The petitioner proposes the following 

alternative method: 

(a) All miners who will be involved 

with or affected by the use of the 3M 

Versaflo TR–800 or CleanSpace EX 

PAPRs shall receive training in 

accordance with 30 CFR 48.7 on the 

requirements of the Proposed Decision 

and Order (PDO) granted by MSHA and 

manufacturer guidelines. Such training 

shall be completed before any 3M 

Versaflo TR–800 or CleanSpace EX 

PAPR can be used within 150 feet of 

pillar workings or longwall faces. The 

operator shall keep a record of such 

training and provide such record to 

MSHA upon request. 

(b) The PAPRs, battery packs, and all 

associated wiring and connections shall 

be inspected before use to determine if 

there is any damage to the units that 

would negatively impact intrinsic 

safety. If any defects are found, the 

PAPR shall be removed from service. 

(c) A separate logbook shall be 

maintained for the 3M Versaflo TR–800 

and CleanSpace EX PAPRs that will be 

kept with the equipment, or in a 

location with other mine record books 

and shall be made available to MSHA 

upon request. The equipment shall be 

examined at least weekly by a qualified 

person as defined in 30 CFR 75.512–1 

and the examination results recorded in 

the logbook. Examination records shall 

be maintained for one year. 

(d) All 3M Versaflo TR–800 and 

CleanSpace EX PAPRs to be used within 

150 feet of pillar workings or longwall 

faces shall be physically examined prior 

to initial use and each unit shall be 

assigned a unique identification 

number. Each unit shall be examined by 

the person to operate the equipment 

prior to taking the equipment 

underground to ensure the equipment is 

used according to the original 

equipment manufacturer’s 

recommendations and maintained in a 

safe operating condition. The 

examinations for the 3M Versaflo TR– 

800 PAPRs shall include: 

(1) Check the equipment for any 

physical damage and the integrity of the 

case; 

(2) Remove the battery and inspect for 

corrosion; 

(3) Inspect the contact points to 

ensure a secure connection to the 

battery; 

(4) Reinsert the battery and power up 

and shut down to ensure proper 

connections; 

(5) Check the battery compartment 

cover or battery attachment to ensure 

that it is securely fastened; and 

(6) For equipment utilizing lithium 

type cells, ensure that lithium cells and/ 

or packs are not damaged or swelled in 

size. 

The CleanSpace EX PAPR does not 

have an accessible/removable battery. 

The internal battery and motor/blower 

assembly are both contained within the 

‘‘power unit’’ assembly and the battery 

cannot be removed, reinserted or 

fastened. Therefore, examination of the 

CleanSpace EX PAPR shall include any 

indications of physical damage. 

(e) All 3M Versaflo TR–800 and 

CleanSpace EX PAPR units shall be 

serviced according to the manufacturer’s 

recommendations. 

(f) Prior to energizing and during use 

of the 3M Versaflo TR–800 or the 

CleanSpace EX PAPR within 150 feet of 

pillar workings or longwall faces, 

procedures in accordance with 30 CFR 

75.323 shall be followed. 

(g) Only the 3M TR–830 Battery Pack, 

which meets lithium battery safety 

standard UL 1642 or IEC 62133, in the 

3M Versaflo TR–800 PAPR shall be 

used. Only the CleanSpace EX Power 

Unit, which meets lithium battery safety 

standard UL 1642 or IEC 62133, in the 

CleanSpace EX shall be used. 

(h) If battery packs for the 3M Versaflo 

TR–800 PAPR are provided, all battery 

‘‘change outs’’ shall occur in intake air 

outby the last open crosscut. 

(i) The following maintenance and 

use conditions shall apply to equipment 

containing lithium type batteries: 

(1) Neither the 3M TR–830 Battery 

Pack nor the CleanSpace EX Power Unit 

shall be disassembled nor modified by 

anyone other than permitted by the 

manufacturer of the equipment. 

(2) The 3M TR–830 Battery Pack shall 

be charged only in an area free of 

combustible material and in intake air 

outby the last open crosscut. The 3M 

TR–830 Battery Pack shall be charged 

only by a manufacturer’s recommended 

battery charger, such as: 

(i) 3M Battery Charger Kit TR–641N, 

which includes one 3M Charger Cradle 

TR–640 and one 3M Power Supply TR– 

941N, or, 

(ii) 3M 4-Station Battery Charger Kit 

TR–644N, which includes four 3M 

Charger Cradles TR–640 and one 3M 4- 

Station Battery Charger Base/Power 

Supply TR–944N. 

(3) The CleanSpace EX internal 

battery, which is contained within the 

power unit assembly, shall be charged 

in areas located outby the last open 

crosscut in intake air and only the 

manufacturer’s recommended battery 

chargers shall be used, such as the 

CleanSpace EX Battery Charger, Product 

Code PAF–0066. 

(4) Neither the 3M TR–830 Battery 

Pack nor the CleanSpace EX power unit 

which contains the internal battery, 

shall be exposed to water, allowed to get 

wet or immersed in liquid. This does 

not preclude incidental exposure of the 

3M TR–830 Battery Pack or the 

CleanSpace EX power unit assembly. 

(5) Neither the 3M Versaflo TR–800 

PAPR nor the CleanSpace EX PAPR, 

including the internal battery, shall be 

used, charged or stored in locations 

where the manufacturer’s recommended 

temperature limits are exceeded. 

Neither the 3M Versaflo TR–800 PAPR 

nor the CleanSpace EX PAPR shall be 

placed in direct sunlight nor stored near 

a source of heat. 

(j) Annual retraining shall be given to 

all miners who will be involved with or 

affected by the use of the 3M Versaflo 

TR–800 or CleanSpace EX PAPRs in 

accordance with 30 CFR 48.8. Training 

of new miners on the requirements of 

the PDO granted by MSHA in 

accordance with 30 CFR 48.5, and 

training of experienced miners on the 

requirements of the PDO granted by 

MSHA in accordance with 30 CFR 48.6 

shall be given. The operator shall keep 

a record of such training and provide 

such record to MSHA upon request. 

(k) The miners at Speed Mine and 

Winchester 2 Mine are not represented 

by a labor organization and there are no 

representatives of miners at the mine. A 

copy of this petition has been posted on 

the bulletin board at Speed Mine and 

Winchester 2 Mine, on October 4, 2024. 


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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 222 / Monday, November 18, 2024 / Notices 90747 

The petitioner asserts that the 

alternative method in the petition will 

at all times guarantee no less than the 

same measure of protection afforded to 

the miners by the standard. 

Song-ae Aromie Noe, 

Director, Office of Standards, Regulations, 

and Variances. 

[FR Doc. 2024–26720 Filed 11–15–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4520–43–P 

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR 

Mine Safety and Health Administration 

Petition for Modification of Application 

of Existing Mandatory Safety 

Standards 

AGENCY: Mine Safety and Health 

Administration, Labor. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: This notice is a summary of 

a petition for modification submitted to 

the Mine Safety and Health 

Administration (MSHA) by Kingston 

Mining, Inc. 

DATES: All comments on the petition 

must be received by MSHA’s Office of 

Standards, Regulations, and Variances 

on or before December 18, 2024. 

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments 

identified by Docket No. MSHA–2024– 

0066 by any of the following methods: 

1. Federal eRulemaking Portal: 

https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for submitting comments 

for MSHA–2024–0066. 

2. Fax: 202–693–9441. 

3. Email: petitioncomments@dol.gov. 

4. Regular Mail or Hand Delivery: 

MSHA, Office of Standards, 

Regulations, and Variances, 201 12th 

Street South, Suite 4E401, Arlington, 

Virginia 22202–5452. 

Attention: S. Aromie Noe, Director, 

Office of Standards, Regulations, and 

Variances. Persons delivering 

documents are required to check in at 

the receptionist’s desk, 4th Floor West. 

Individuals may inspect copies of the 

petition and comments during normal 

business hours at the address listed 

above. Before visiting MSHA in person, 

call 202–693–9455 to make an 

appointment. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: S. 

Aromie Noe, Office of Standards, 

Regulations, and Variances at 202–693– 

9440 (voice), Petitionsformodification@

dol.gov (email), or 202–693–9441 (fax). 

[These are not toll-free numbers.] 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 

101(c) of the Federal Mine Safety and 

Health Act of 1977 and title 30 of the 

Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 

44 govern the application, processing, 

and disposition of petitions for 

modification. 

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 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. The application of such standard to 

such mine will result in a diminution of 

safety to the miners in such mine. 

In addition, sections 44.10 and 44.11 

of 30 CFR establish the requirements for 

filing petitions for modification. 

II. Petition for Modification 

Docket Number: M–2024–043–C. 

Petitioner: Kingston Mining, Inc., 300 

Running Right Way, Julian, WV 25529. 

Mine: Kingston No. 2 Mine, MSHA ID 

No. 46–08932, located in Fayette 

County, West Virginia. 

Regulation Affected: 30 CFR 

75.1002(a), Permissible electric 

equipment. 

Modification Request: The petitioner 

requests a modification of 30 CFR 

75.1002(a) to permit alternative methods 

of compliance to allow the use of 

additional respirable dust protection. 

Specifically, the petitioner is requesting 

to permit the use of the 3M Versaflo TR– 

800–HIK Intrinsically Safe Powered Air 

Purifying Respirator motor/blower and 

battery. 

The petitioner states that: 

(a) Kingston Mining, Inc., does not 

currently use a battery powered 

respirator unit but would like to add a 

Powered Air Purifying Respirator 

(‘‘PAPR’’) to the units available to 

miners in certain situations. 

(b) Currently there are no battery 

powered respirators that meet 

applicable U.S. Mine Safety and Health 

Administration (MSHA) standards for 

permissibility. Electronic equipment 

used in underground mines in 

potentially explosive atmospheres is 

required to be approved by MSHA per 

30 CFR. 3M and other competitor 

manufacturers do offer alternative 

products for many other environments 

and applications. 

(c) One of the main benefits of a PAPR 

is that they provide a constant flow of 

air inside the headtop or helmet. This 

constant airflow helps to provide both 

respiratory protection and comfort in 

warm working environments. 

(d) A strict application of the standard 

(i.e., objecting to the use of the 

requested PAPR) results in a diminution 

of safety at the mine. 

(e) Kingston Mining, Inc., petitions to 

permit the use of the 3M Versaflo TR– 

800–HIK Intrinsically Safe Powered Air 

Purifying Respirator motor/blower and 

battery. 

(f) The Versaflo TR–800–HIK motor/ 

blower and battery qualifies as 

intrinsically safe in the U.S., Canada, 

and any other countries accepting IECEx 

reports. (IECEx is the International 

Electrotechnical Commissions System 

for Certification to Standards Relating to 

Equipment for Use in Explosive 

Atmospheres). The TR–800–HIK PAPR 

has a blower that is UL-certified with an 

intrinsically safe (IS) rating of Division 

I: IS Class I, II, III; Division I (includes 

Division 2) Groups C, D, E, F, G; T4, 

under the most current standard (UL 

60079, 6th Edition, 2013), and ATEXcertified with an intrinsically safe (IS) 

rating of ‘‘ia’’. The TR–800 is rated and 

marked with Exia I Ma, Exia IIB T4 Ga, 

Ex ia IIIC 135°C Da, ¥20 °C ≤ Ta ≤ +55 

°C, under the current standard (IEC 

60079). 

(g) The 3M Versaflo TR–800 

Intrinsically Safe Powered Air Purifying 

Respirator is not MSHA approved as 

permissible, and 3M is not pursuing 

approval to our knowledge. 

(h) The standards for approval of 

these respirators are an acceptable 

alternative to MSHA’s standards and 

provide an equivalent level of 

protection. 

(i) The alternative method in the 

petition will at all times guarantee no 

less than the same measure of protection 

afforded to the miners by the standard. 

The petitioner proposes the following 

alternative method: 

(a) Affected mine employees shall be 

trained in the proper use and 

maintenance of the Versaflo TR–800 

PAPR in accordance with established 

manufacturer guidelines. This training 

shall alert the affected employee that the 

Versaflo TR–800 PAPR is approved 

under 30 CFR part 18 and shall be deenergized when 1.0 percent or more 

percent methane is detected. The 

training shall also include the proper 

method to de-energize the PAPR. In 

addition to manufacturer guidelines, 

Kingston Mining, Inc. shall require that 

mine employees be trained to inspect 

the units before use to determine if there 

is any damage to the units that would 

negatively impact intrinsic safety as 

well as all stipulations in this petition. 

(b) The PAPR, battery pack, and all 

associated wiring and any connections 


lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1