Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 108 / Monday, June 6, 2022 / Notices 34307 

population group. Without the 

collection of these data, an accurate 

longitudinal data set could not be 

provided to researchers and 

policymakers, thus adversely affecting 

the DOL’s ability to perform its policyand report-making activities. For 

additional substantive information 

about this ICR, see the related notice 

published in the Federal Register on 

March 1, 2022 (87 FR 11484). 

Agency: DOL–BLS. 

Title of Collection: National 

Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979. 

OMB Control Number: 1220–0109. 

Affected Public: Individuals or 

households. 

Total Estimated Number of 

Respondents: 6,355. 

Total Estimated Number of 

Responses: 6,455. 

Total Estimated Annual Time Burden: 

7,318 hours. 

Total Estimated Annual Other Costs 

Burden: $0. 

(Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3507(a)(1)(D)) 

Nicole Bouchet, 

Senior PRA Analyst. 

[FR Doc. 2022–12038 Filed 6–3–22; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4510–24–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 the party 

listed below. 

DATES: All comments on the petition 

must be received by MSHA’s Office of 

Standards, Regulations, and Variances 

on or before July 6, 2022. 

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments 

identified by Docket No. MSHA–2022– 

0029 by any of the following methods: 

1. Federal eRulemaking Portal: 

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

instructions for submitting comments 

for MSHA–2022–0029. 

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 in Suite 4E401. 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, in 

keeping with the Department of Labor’s 

COVID–19 policy. Special health 

precautions may be required. 

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–2022–008–C. 

Petitioner: Panther Creek Mining LLC, 

250 West Main Street, Suite 2000, 

Lexington, Kentucky 40507. 

Mine: Sycamore Surface Mine, MSHA 

ID No. 43–07058, located in Fayette 

County, West Virginia. 

Regulation Affected: 30 CFR 75.1700, 

Oil and gas wells. 

Modification Request: The petitioner 

requests a modification of 30 CFR 

75.1700 to permit plugging a gas well. 

The petitioner states that: 

(a) The mine is located at Tom’s 

Branch/Sycamore Creek of the Cabin 

Creek District. 

(b) The Lower Chilton seam will be 

the last seam mined on the ridge, and 

the mining is projected to extend west 

towards the end of the ridge of the mine 

permit. Well # 70 is in the middle of the 

ridge and will impede the mining on the 

ridge if it is not plugged and mined 

through. 

(c) The gas well depth extends 

approximately 3,800 feet below the 

Lower Chilton seam. 

The petitioner proposes the following 

alternative method: 

(a) Prior to plugging an oil or gas well, 

the following procedure for cleaning out 

and preparing oil and gas wells shall be 

followed: 

(1) A diligent effort shall be made to 

clean the borehole to the original total 

depth. If this depth cannot be reached, 

the borehole shall be cleaned out to a 

depth which would permit the 

placement of at least 400 feet of 

expanding cement below the base of the 

lowest minable coalbed. 

(2) When cleaning the borehole, a 

diligent effort shall be made to remove 

all the casing in the borehole. If it is not 

possible to remove all casing, the casing 

which remains shall be perforated, or 

ripped, at intervals spaced close enough 

to permit expanding cement slurry to 

infiltrate the annulus between the 

casing and the borehole wall for a 

distance of at least 200 feet below the 

base of the lowest minable coalbed. 

(3) If the cleaned-out borehole 

produces gas, a mechanical bridge plug 

shall be placed in the borehole in a 

competent stratum at least 200 feet 

below the base of the lowest minable 

coalbed, but above the top of the 

uppermost hydrocarbon producing 

stratum. If it is not possible to set a 

mechanical bridge plug, a substantial 

brush plug may be used in place of the 

mechanical bridge plug. 

(4) A suite of logs shall be made 

consisting of: a caliper survey 

directional deviation survey; and log(s) 

suitable for determining the top and 

bottom of the lowest minable coalbed 

and potential hydrocarbon producing 

strata and the location for the bridge 

plug. 

(5) If the uppermost hydrocarbonproducing stratum is within 200 feet of 

the base of the lowest minable coalbed, 

properly placed mechanical bridge 

plugs or a suitable brush plug described 

in section (a)(3) shall be used to isolate 

the hydrocarbon producing stratum 

from the expanding cement plug. 

Nevertheless, a minimum of 200 feet of 

expanding cement shall be placed below 

the lowest minable coalbed. 

(6) The wellbore shall be filled and 

circulated with a gel that inhibits any 

flow of gas, supports the walls of the 

borehole, and densities the expanding 

cement. This gel shall be pumped 

through open end tubing run to a point 


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34308 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 108 / Monday, June 6, 2022 / Notices 

approximately 20 feet above the bottom 

of the cleaned-out area of the borehole 

or bridge plug. 

(b) While gas or oil wells to the 

surface are plugged, the following 

procedures shall be utilized: 

(1) A cement plug shall be set in the 

wellbore by pumping an expanding 

cement slurry down the tubing to 

displace the gel and fill the borehole to 

the surface. (As an alternative, the 

cement slurry may be pumped down the 

tubing so that the borehole is filled with 

Portland cement or a Portland cement/ 

fly ash mixture from a point 

approximately 100 feet above the top of 

the lowest minable coalbed to the 

surface with an expanding cement plug 

extending from at least 200 feet below 

the lowest minable coalbed to the 

bottom of the Portland cement.) There 

shall be at least 200 feet of expanding 

cement below the base of the lowest 

mineable coalbed. 

(2) A small quantity of steel turnings, 

or other small magnetic particles, shall 

be embedded in the top of the cement 

near the surface to serve as a permanent 

magnetic monument of the borehole. 

(c) When the vent pipe method is 

used for plugging oil and gas wells, the 

following procedures shall be utilized: 

(1) A 41⁄2 inch or larger vent pipe shall 

be run into the wellbore to a depth of 

100 feet below the lowest minable 

coalbed and be wedged to a smaller 

diameter pipe, if desired, which will 

extend to a point approximately 20 feet 

above the bottom of the cleaned-out area 

of the borehole or bridge plug. 

(2) A cement plug shall be set in the 

wellbore by pumping an expanding 

cement slurry, Portland cement, or a 

Portland cement fly ash mixture down 

the tubing to displace the gel so that the 

borehole is filled with cement. The 

borehole and the vent pipe shall be 

filled with expanding cement for a 

minimum of 200 feet below the base of 

the lowest minable coalbed. The top of 

the expanding cement shall extend 

upward to a point approximately 100 

feet above the top of the lowest minable 

coalbed. 

(3) All fluid shall be evacuated from 

the vent pipe to facilitate testing for 

gases. During the evacuation of fluid, 

the expanding cement shall not be 

disturbed. 

(4) The top of the vent pipe shall be 

protected to prevent liquids or solids 

from entering the wellbore but shall 

permit ready access to the full internal 

diameter of the vent pipe when 

necessary. 

(d) The following procedures shall be 

utilized when oil or gas wells are 

plugged for subsequent use as 

degasification boreholes: 

(1) A cement plug shall be set in the 

wellbore by pumping an expanding 

cement slurry down the tubing to 

displace the gel and provide at least 200 

feet of expanding cement below the 

lowest minable coalbed. The top of the 

expanding cement shall extend upward 

to a point above the top of the coalbed 

being mined. This distance shall be 

based on the average height of the roof 

strata breakage for the mine. 

(2) To facilitate methane drainage, 

degasification casing of suitable 

diameter, slotted or perforated 

throughout its lower 150 to 200 feet, 

shall be set in the borehole to a point 

10 to 30 feet above the top of the 

expanding cement. 

(3) The annulus between the 

degasification casing and the borehole 

wall shall be cemented from a point 

immediately above the slots or 

perforations to the surface. 

(4) The degasification casing shall be 

cleaned out for its total length. 

(5) The top of the degasification 

casing shall be fitted with a wellhead 

equipped as required by the District 

Manager. Such equipment may include 

check valves, shut in valves, sampling 

ports, flame arrestor equipment, and 

security fencing. 

(e) The well-plugging procedures 

described in previous sections and the 

following cut through procedures apply 

whenever the petitioner reduces the 

safety barrier diameter to a distance less 

than the District Manager would 

approve, pursuant to 30 CFR 75.1700, or 

whenever the petitioner proceeds with 

an intent to cut through a plugged well: 

(1) Prior to reducing the safety barrier 

to a distance less than the District 

Manager would approve pursuant to 30 

CFR 75.1700 or proceeding with an 

intent to cut through a plugged well, the 

operator shall notify the District 

Manager or his designee. 

(2) The MSHA District Manager or 

designee shall conduct a conference 

prior to mining through any plugged 

well to review and approve the specific 

procedures for mining through the well. 

Representatives of the operator, the 

representative of the miners, and the 

appropriate State agency shall be 

informed, within a reasonable time prior 

to the conference, and be given an 

opportunity to attend and participate. 

This meeting may be called by the 

operator. 

(3) Mining through a plugged well 

shall be done on a shift approved by the 

District Manager or designee. 

(4) The District Manager or designee, 

representative of the miners, and the 

appropriate State agency shall be 

notified by the operator in sufficient 

time prior to the mining through 

operation in order to have an 

opportunity to have representatives 

present. 

(5) When using continuous mining 

equipment, drivage sights shall be 

installed at the last open crosscut near 

the place to be mined to ensure 

intersection of the well. The drivage 

sites shall not be more than 50 feet from 

the well. When using longwall mining 

methods, drivage sights shall be 

installed on 10-foot centers for a 

distance of 50 feet in advance of the 

well bore. The drivage sights shall be 

installed in the headgate and tailgate. 

(6) Firefighting equipment, including 

the fire extinguishers, rock dust, and 

sufficient fire hoses that reach the 

working face area of the mining through 

shall be available when either the 

conventional or continuous mining 

method is used. The fire hoses shall be 

in the last open crosscut of the entry or 

room. All fire hoses shall be ready for 

operation during the mining through. 

(7) Sufficient supplies of roof support 

and ventilation materials shall be 

available and located at the last open 

crosscut. In addition, an emergency plug 

and/or plugs shall be available in the 

immediate area of the mine through. 

(8) At least the quantity of air required 

by the approved mine ventilation plan, 

but not less than 6,000 cubic feet of air 

per minute for scrubber equipped 

continuous miners or not less than 

9,000 cubic feet per minute for 

continuous miner sections using 

auxiliary fans or line brattice only, shall 

be used to ventilate the working face 

during the mining through operation. 

The quantity of air required by the 

ventilation plan, but not less than 

30,000 cfm, shall reach the working face 

of each longwall during the minethrough operation. 

(9) Equipment shall be checked for 

permissibility and serviced on the shift 

prior to mining through the well and the 

water line maintained to the tail piece 

with enough fire hose to reach the 

farthest point of penetration on the 

section. 

(10) The methane monitor on the 

continuous mining machine shall be 

calibrated on the shift prior to mining 

through the well. 

(11) When mining is in progress, tests 

for methane shall be made with a 

handheld methane detector at least 

every 10 minutes from the time when 

the mining with the continuous mining 

machine is within 30 feet of the well 

until the well is intersected and 

immediately prior to mining through. 

When mining with longwall mining 

equipment, the tests for methane shall 

be made at least every 10 minutes when 

the longwall face is withing 30 feet of 


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Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 108 / Monday, June 6, 2022 / Notices 34309 

the well. During the actual cutting 

through process, no individual shall be 

allowed on the return side until mining 

through has been completed and the 

area has been examined and declared 

safe. 

(12) When using continuous mining 

methods, the working place shall be free 

from accumulations of coal dust and 

coal spillages, and rock dust shall be 

placed on the roof, rib, and floor to 

within 20 feet of the face when mining 

through or near the well on the shift or 

shifts during which the cut through will 

occur. On longwall sections rock 

dusting shall be conducted and placed 

on the roof, rib, and floor up to both 

headgate and tailgate gob. 

(13) When the wellbore is intersected, 

all equipment shall be deenergized and 

the place thoroughly examined and 

determined safe before mining is 

resumed. Any well casing shall be 

removed, and no open flame shall be 

permitted in the area until adequate 

ventilation has been established around 

the wellbore. 

(14) After a well has been intersected 

and the working place determined safe, 

mining shall continue in-by the well a 

sufficient distance to permit adequate 

ventilation around the area of the 

wellbore. 

(15) No person shall be permitted in 

the area of the mining-through operation 

except those engaged in the operation, 

company personnel, representatives of 

the miners, personnel from MSHA, and 

personnel from the appropriate State 

agency. 

(16) The mining-through operation 

shall be under the direct supervision of 

a certified official. Instructions 

concerning the mining-through 

operation shall be issued only by the 

certified official in charge. 

(17) MSHA personnel may interrupt 

or halt the mining-through operation 

when it is necessary for the safety of the 

miners. 

(18) A copy of the petition shall be 

maintained at the mine and be available 

to the miners. 

(19) The Petitioner shall file a 

plugging affidavit setting forth the 

persons who participated in the work, a 

description of the plugging work, and a 

certification by the Petitioner that the 

well has been plugged as described. 

(20) The Petitioner shall submit 

proposed revisions for its approved 30 

CFR 48 training plan to the Coal Mine 

Safety and Health District Manager. 

These proposed revisions shall include 

initial and refresher training. 

(f) This petition for modification 

applies to all types of mining such as 

continuous miner sections continuous 

mining utilizing mobile bridge, and 

longwall. 

The petitioner asserts that the 

alternative method proposed will at all 

times 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. 2022–12040 Filed 6–3–22; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4520–43–P 

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR 

Occupational Safety and Health 

Administration 

[Docket No. OSHA–2022–0002] 

National Advisory Committee on 

Occupational Safety and Health 

(NACOSH): Notice of Meeting 

AGENCY: Occupational Safety and Health 

Administration (OSHA), Labor. 

ACTION: Notice of NACOSH meeting. 

SUMMARY: The National Advisory 

Committee on Occupational Safety and 

Health (NACOSH) will meet June 30, 

2022, by WebEx. In conjunction with 

the committee meeting, the NACOSH 

Heat Injury and Illness Prevention Work 

Group will meet separately on June 30, 

2022. 

DATES: 

NACOSH Work Group meeting: The 

NACOSH Heat Injury and Illness 

Prevention Work Group (Heat Work 

Group) will meet from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 

p.m., ET, Thursday, June 30, 2022. 

NACOSH meeting: NACOSH will 

meet from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., ET, 

Thursday, June 30, 2022. 

ADDRESSES: 

Submission of comments and requests 

to speak: Submit comments and 

requests to speak at the NACOSH 

meeting by June 23, 2022, identified by 

the docket number for this Federal 

Register notice (Docket No. OSHA– 

2022–0002), using the following 

method: 

Electronically: Comments and request 

to speak, including attachments, must 

be submitted electronically at 

www.regulations.gov, the Federal 

eRulemaking Portal. Follow the online 

instructions for submitting comments. 

Requests for special accommodations: 

Submit requests for special 

accommodations for this NACOSH 

meeting by June 23, 2022, to Ms. Carla 

Marcellus, Directorate of Standards and 

Guidance, OSHA, U.S. Department of 

Labor; telephone: (202) 693–1865; 

email: marcellus.carla@dol.gov. 

Instructions: All submissions must 

include the agency name and the OSHA 

docket number for this Federal Register 

notice (Docket No. OSHA–2022–0002). 

OSHA will place comments and 

requests to speak, including personal 

information, in the public docket, which 

may be available online. Therefore, 

OSHA cautions interested parties about 

submitting personal information such as 

Social Security numbers and birthdates. 

Docket: To read or download 

documents in the public docket for this 

NACOSH meeting, go to 

www.regulations.gov. All documents in 

the public docket are listed in the index; 

however, some documents (e.g., 

copyrighted material) are not publicly 

available to read or download through 

www.regulations.gov. All submissions, 

including copyrighted material, are 

available for inspection through the 

OSHA Docket Office. Contact the OSHA 

Docket Office at (202) 693–2350 (TTY 

(877) 889–5627) for assistance in 

locating docket submissions. 

Participation in the NACOSH Heat 

Work Group meeting: Members of the 

public may attend the NACOSH Heat 

Work Group meeting. However, any 

participation by the public will be in 

listen-only mode. OSHA is not receiving 

public comments or requests to speak at 

the Heat Work Group meeting. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

For press inquiries: Mr. Frank 

Meilinger, Director, OSHA Office of 

Communications, U.S. Department of 

Labor; telephone: (202) 693–1999; 

email: meilinger.francis2@dol.gov. 

For general information about 

NACOSH: Ms. Lisa Long, Acting Deputy 

Director, Directorate of Standards and 

Guidance, OSHA, U.S. Department of 

Labor; telephone: (202) 693–2409; 

email: long.lisa@dol.gov. 

Telecommunication requirements: For 

additional information about the 

telecommunication requirements for the 

meeting, please contact Ms. Carla 

Marcellus, Directorate of Standards and 

Guidance, OSHA, U.S. Department of 

Labor; telephone: (202) 693–1865; 

email: marcellus.carla@dol.gov. 

For copies of this Federal Register 

Notice: Electronic copies of this Federal 

Register notice are available at 

www.regulations.gov. This notice, as 

well as news releases and other relevant 

information, are also available at 

OSHA’s web page at www.osha.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background 

NACOSH was established by Section 

7(a) of the Occupational Safety and 

Health Act of 1970 (OSH Act) (29 U.S.C. 

651, 656) to advise, consult with, and 


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