96690 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 234 / Thursday, December 5, 2024 / Notices 

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 or 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 Kanawha Eagle 

Mining, LLC, North Eagle 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 

Kanawha Eagle Mining, LLC, North 

Eagle Mine, on November 5, 2024. 

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. 2024–28419 Filed 12–4–24; 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 Kanawha 

Eagle Mining, LLC. 

DATES: All comments on the petition 

must be received by MSHA’s Office of 

Standards, Regulations, and Variances 

on or before January 6, 2025. 

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments 

identified by Docket No. MSHA–2024– 

0093 by any of the following methods: 

1. Federal eRulemaking Portal: 

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

instructions for submitting comments 

for MSHA–2024–0093. 

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–2024–067–C. 

Petitioner: Kanawha Eagle Mining, 

LLC, P.O. Box 189, Comfort, WV 25049. 

Mine: Winchester Peerless Rachel 

Mine, MSHA ID No. 46–09258, located 

in Boone County, West Virginia. 

Regulation Affected: 30 CFR 75.507– 

1(a), Permissible electric equipment. 

Modification Request: The petitioner 

requests a modification of 30 CFR 

75.507–1(a) to allow the use of 

unapproved Powered Air Purifying 

Respirators (PAPRs) taken into or used 

inby the last open crosscut or used in 

the return air outby the last open 

crosscut. 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) The Winchester Peerless Rachel 

Mine currently makes available to all 

miners NIOSH-approved high efficiency 

100 series respirators to protect the 

miners against potential exposure to 

respirable coal mine dust, including 


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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 234 / Thursday, December 5, 2024 / Notices 96691 

crystalline silica, during normal mining 

conditions. The Winchester Peerless 

Rachel Mine desires 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. 

(g) On June 17, 2024, MSHA’s final 

rule 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 taken into or used 

inby the last open crosscut or used in 

return air outby the last open crosscut. 

(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 inby the last open 

crosscut or in the return air outby the 

last open crosscut. 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 inby 

the last open crosscut or in the return 

air outby the last open crosscut 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. 

(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 inby the last open 

crosscut or in the return air outby the 

last open crosscut, 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 or 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 or 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 


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96692 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 234 / Thursday, December 5, 2024 / Notices 

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 Kanawha Eagle 

Mining, LLC, Winchester Peerless 

Rachel 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 Kanawha Eagle 

Mining, LLC, Winchester Peerless 

Rachel Mine, on November 5, 2024. 

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. 2024–28421 Filed 12–4–24; 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 Standard 

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 South32 

Hermosa Inc. 

DATES: All comments on the petition 

must be received by MSHA’s Office of 

Standards, Regulations, and Variances 

on or before January 6, 2025. 

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments 

identified by Docket No. MSHA–2024– 

0088 by any of the following methods: 

1. Federal eRulemaking Portal: 

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

instructions for submitting comments 

for MSHA–2024–0088. 

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, 4th Floor West, 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–2024–003–M. 

Petitioner: South32 Hermosa, Inc., 749 

Harshaw Rd., Patagonia, AZ 85624. 

Mine: Hermosa Mine, MSHA ID No. 

02–03398, located in Santa Cruz 

County, Arizona. 

Regulation Affected: 30 CFR 

57.11052(d) (Refuge areas). 

Modification Request: The petitioner 

is seeking a modification for 30 CFR 

57.11052(d), Refuge areas. Specifically, 

the petitioner is seeking the use of 

compressed air in lieu of compressed 

airlines and bottled water in lieu of 

waterlines. 

The petitioner states that: 

(a) South32 Hermosa Inc. (Mine ID 

No. 02–03398) is a green field project 

located in Santa Cruz County, Arizona. 

The mine will be an underground open 

stoping mining method, and the ore 

zones will be accessed through both a 

surface decline and a 25 feet diameter 

vertical shaft. The mine plans to operate 

24 hours per day, 7 days per week with 

plans to employ between 400 and 500 

miners across 4 rotations working on 4- 

to 10-person crews. The mine is located 

approximately 10 miles southeast of 

Patagonia, Arizona. 

(b) South32 Hermosa Inc. requests 

approval to use portable MineARC 

Refuge Chambers with occupancies of 4, 

8, 12, 16 and 20 miners. As the 

MineARC Refuge Chamber is equipped 

with a minimum of 72-hours of onboard 

breathable air supply and 2.25 quarts of 

water per person per day as required by 

30 CFR 75.1507(d)(1), South32 Hermosa 

Inc. seeks relief from having to provide 

an external compressed air and 

waterline as required by 30 CFR 

57.11052(d). 

(c) In support of the Petition, South32 

Hermosa Inc. ensures that the proposed 

alternative is as safe as 30 CFR 

57.11052(d) by the following means: 

(1) The reliability of the refuge is 

enhanced by making it self-contained as 

the source of water and air would not 

be dependent on the installation of 

external airlines or waterlines that 

would be susceptible to rock fall, fire, or 

mechanical damage in an emergency. 

(2) Waterlines in the mine would not 

be potable and therefore not drinkable. 

Supplying onboard water ensures refuge 

occupants do not succumb to 

dehydration. 

(3) The compressor feeding the 

compressed air lines shall be located on 

the surface, which is more than 2,500 

vertical feet to the refuge. Over this 

distance there is substantial pressure 

loss making it difficult to provide 12.5 

cubic feet per minute (cfm) of breathable 

air for each person as required by 30 

CFR 7.506(c). Supplying onboard 

breathable air for a minimum of 72 

hours guarantees oxygen and carbon 

dioxide levels remain within requisite 

limits respectively. 

(4) The portable refuge chambers are 

designed to be moved regularly to be as 

close as possible to the miners’ work 

locations. This ensures that miners have 

quicker access to a refuge chamber in 

the event of an emergency. 

(5) Internal/external gas monitoring 

ensures occupants can maintain 

breathable air inside of the refuge and 

monitor the conditions outside in case 

of a need to exit the refuge. 

(6) A split-system air conditioning 

system ensures that the internal 

apparent temperature remains below 

95 °F regardless of the mine 

temperature. 

(7) An airlock significantly reduces 

the risk of carbon monoxide entering the 

refuge and ensures mine rescue crews 

do not need to barricade into a 

potentially unknown atmosphere. 

(8) A carbon monoxide scrubbing 

system removes any carbon monoxide 

brought inside during the entry process 

from the occupants. 

(9) Permitting the use of compressed 

oxygen and carbon dioxide scrubbing 


khammond on DSK9W7S144PROD with NOTICES