[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 60 (Wednesday, March 29, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16164-16167]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-7647]



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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. Topper Coal Company

[Docket No. M-95-21-C]

    Topper Coal Company, Inc., 266 Rocky Road, Pikeville, Kentucky 
41501 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1710-
1 (canopies or cabs; self-propelled electric face equipment; 
installation [[Page 16165]] requirements) to its No. 10 Mine (I.D. No. 
15-17516) located in Pike County, Kentucky. The petitioner proposes to 
use specific electric face equipment without canopies which would 
include one 16RB Joy Cutting Machine; two 21 SC Joy Shuttle Cars; two 
CX-2 S & S Scoops; one Fletcher Roof Bolter; and one Long Airdox Roof 
Bolter. The petitioner states that the use of canopies would limit the 
visibility of the equipment operator, and could be a contributing 
factor in any accidents which may arise.

2. Helvetia Coal Company

[Docket No. M-95-22-C]

    Helvatia Coal Company, Box 729, Indiana, Pennsylvania 15701 has 
filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1100-2(e)(2) 
(quantity and location of firefighting equipment) to its Marshall Run 
Mine (I.D. No. 36-08435) located in Indiana County, Pennsylvania. The 
petitioner proposes to use two portable fire extinguishers, or one 
portable fire extinguisher with twice the required capacity at each 
temporary electrical installation. The petitioner asserts that the 
proposed alternative method would provide at least the same measure of 
protection as would the mandatory standard.

3. U.S. Steel Mining Company, Inc.

[Docket No. M-95-23-C]

    U.S. Steel Mining Company, Inc., 600 Grant Street, Room 1580, 
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219 has filed a petition to modify the 
application of 30 CFR 75. 1101-1(b) (deluge-type water spray systems) 
to its Gary No. 50 Mine (I.D. No. 46-01816) located in Wyoming County, 
Pennsylvania. The petitioner proposes to continue its weekly 
inspections and functional testing of the complete deluge-type water 
spray system and to remove blow-off dust covers from the nozzles. The 
petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide 
at least the same measure of protection as would the mandatory 
standard.

4. Green Coal Company, Inc.

[Docket No. M-95-24-C]

    Green Coal Company, Inc., P.O. Box 908, Owensboro, Kentucky 42302 
has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 77.1605(d) 
(loading and haulage equipment; installations) to its K-9 Panther Mine 
(I.D. No. 15-01982) located in Daviess County, Kentucky and its 
Henderson County Mine No. 1 (I.D. No. 15-16454) located in Henderson 
County, Kentucky. Instead of using tail lights on mobile equipment, the 
petitioner proposes to build a metal rack across the complete width of 
the rear of the mobile equipment; to paint the rack with fluorescent 
paint, strip with fluorescent tape, and add reflectors; and to have the 
rear end of the equipment so that it can be seen on the longest section 
of any part of the mine property haulage roads. The petitioner asserts 
that the proposed alternative method would not result in a diminution 
of safety to the miners.

5. Southern Utah Fuel Company

[Docket No. M-95-25-C]

    Southern Utah Fuel Company, 397 South 800 West, Salina, Utah 84654 
has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.380(d)(3) 
and (4) (escapeways; bituminous and lignite mines) to its SUFCo Mine 
(I.D. No. 42-00089) located in Sevier County, Utah. As an alternate 
escapeway from the 2 East workings to the surface, the petitioner 
proposes to use the main return to #3 crosscut where the escapeway will 
then enter the #1 beltline entry. At this point the escapeway would 
cross over the #1 belt (height 4 feet) to the walkway side of the belt 
and then proceed along this side of the belt to the surface at a 
distance of approximately 450 feet. The petitioner states that because 
of conventional supports and a barring wall for the tunnel liner in the 
belt opening, the escapeway width is less that 6 feet; that the 
narrowest point in this escapeway is the last 17 feet of the drift 
opening where the width between the roof supports is 2 feet; that 
because of the cement barring wall and the belt structure, this width 
cannot be increased; and that an airlock with 3 feet by 7 feet doors is 
installed inby the drift opening with one side of the airlock 85 feet 
inby the opening and the other side 140 feet inby. The petitioner 
asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide at least the 
same measure of protection as would the mandatory standard.

6. McElroy Coal Company

[Docket No. M-95-26-C]

    McElroy Coal Company, Consol Plaza, 1800 Washington Road, 
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15241 has filed a petition to modify the 
application of 30 CFR 75.503 (permissible electric face equipment; 
maintenance) to its McElroy Mine (I.D. No. 46-01437) located in 
Marshall County, West Virginia. The petitioner proposes to increase the 
maximum length of its trailing cables to 800 feet to supply three-
phase, 480-volt power to loading machines, shuttle cars, roof bolters, 
and section ventilation fans during development of longwall panels. The 
petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide 
at least the same measure of protection as would the mandatory 
standard.

7. Monterey Coal Company

[Docket No. M-95-27-C]

    Monterey Coal Company, P.O. Box 94, Albers, Illinois 62215 has 
filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1100-2(i)(1) 
(quantity and location of firefighting equipment) to its No. 2 Mine 
(I.D. No. 11-02371) located in Clinton County, Illinois. Instead of 
using the emergency materials required in the mandatory standard, the 
petitioner proposes to use the following materials: 112 Kennedy Metal 
Stopping Panels with associated head sills and twist clamps, 24 Kennedy 
Stopping Rib Angles, 2 rolls of tape, 2 twist tools, 2 rolls of 
brattice cloth, 2 stopping jacks, 2 picks, 2 shovels, 6 buckets of 
Celtite 10-12 Airtite (or equivalent material for stoppings), and 5 
tons of rock dust. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative 
method would provide at least the same measure of protection as would 
the mandatory standard.

8. Sky High Coal Company

[Docket No. M-95-28-C]

    Sky High Coal Company, R.D. #4, P.O. Box 340M, Pine Grove, 
Pennsylvania 17963 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 
CFR 75.1400 (hoisting equipment; general) to its LV No. 3 Mine (I.D. 
No. 36-08405) located in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. Because of 
steep, frequently changing pitch and numerous curves and knuckles in 
the main haulage slope, the petitioner proposes to use a gunboat 
without safety catches in transporting persons. As an alternate, when 
using the gunboat to transport persons, the petitioner proposes to use 
hoisting rope with a safety factor at least 3 times greater than 
required and secondary safety connections which are securely fastened 
around the gunboat and to the hoisting rope above the main connection 
device. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method 
would provide at least the same measure of protection as would the 
mandatory standard.

9. U.S. Steel Mining Co., Inc.

[Docket No. M-95-29-C]

    U.S. Steel Mining Co., Inc., 67 Seal Road, Eighty Four, 
Pennsylvania 15330 has filed a petition to modify the application of 
75.1002 (location of trolley wires, trolley feeder wires, high-voltage 
cables and transformers) to its Maple Creek Mine (I.D. No. 36-00970) 
located in Washington County, [[Page 16166]] Pennsylvania. The 
petitioner proposes to use high-voltage (4,160 volts) cables to power 
longwall mining equipment. The Petitioner states that all electrical 
personnel would receive training before the alternate method is 
implemented. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative 
method would provide at least the same measure of protection as would 
the mandatory standard.

10. Sky High Coal Company

[Docket No. M-95-30-C]

    Sky High Coal Company, R.D. #4, P.O. Box 340M, Pine Grove, 
Pennsylvania 17963 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 
CFR 75.335 (construction of seals) to its LV No. 3 Mine (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 
alternative method would provide at least the same measure of 
protection as would the mandatory standard.

11. Sky High Coal Company

[Docket No. M-95-31-C]

    Sky High Coal Company, R.D. #4, P.O. Box 340M, Pine Grove, 
Pennsylvania 17963 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 
CFR 75.340 (underground electrical installations) to its LV No. 3 Mine 
(I.D. No. 36-08405) 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 alternative method would provide at least the same measure of 
protection as would the mandatory standard.

12. Sky High Coal Company

[Docket No. M-95-32-C]

    Sky High Coal Company, R.D. #4, P.O. Box 340M, Pine Grove, 
Pennsylvania 17963 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 
CFR 75.360 (preshift examination) to its LV No. 3 Mine (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 alternative method would provide 
at least the same measure of protection as would the mandatory 
standard.

13. Sky High Coal Company

[Docket No. M-95-33-C]

    Sky High Coal Company, R.D. #4, P.O. Box 340M, Pine Grove, 
Pennsylvania 17963 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 
CFR 75.1100-2(a) (quantity and location of firefighting equipment) to 
its LV No. 3 Mine (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 alternative method would provide at least the same 
measure of protection as would the mandatory standard.

14. Sky High Coal Company

[Docket No. M-95-34-C]

    Sky High Coal Company, R.D. #4, P.O. Box 340M, Pine Grove, 
Pennsylvania 17963 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 
CFR 75.1200(d) & (i) (mine map) to its LV No. 3 Mine (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 alternative method 
would provide at least the same measure of protection as would the 
mandatory standard.

15. Sky High Coal Company

[Docket No. M-95-35-C]

    Sky High Coal Company, R.D. #4, P.O. Box 340M, 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 LV No. 3 Mine (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.

16. Consolidation Coal Company

[Docket No. M-95-36-C]

    Consolidation Coal Company, Consol Plaza, 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 Shoemaker Mine (I.D. No. 46-01436) located in 
Marshall County, West Virginia. The petitioner proposes to increase the 
maximum length of its trailing cables to 800 feet to supply three-
phase, 480-volt power to loading machines, shuttle cars, roof bolters, 
and section ventilation fans during development of longwall panels. The 
petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide 
at least the same measure of protection as would the mandatory 
standard.

17. Cyprus Emerald Resources Corporation

[Docket No. M-95-37-C]

    Cyprus Emerald Resources Corporation, 600 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, 
Pennsylvania 15219-2887 has filed a petition to modify the application 
of 30 CFR 75.1002 (location of trolley wires, trolley feeder wires, 
high-voltage cables and transformers) to its Emerald Mine (I.D. No. 36-
05466) located in Greene County, Pennsylvania. The petitioner proposes 
to use high-voltage (4,160 volts) cables to power longwall mining 
equipment. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method 
would provide at least the same measure of protection as would the 
mandatory standard.

18. Twentymile Coal Company

[Docket No. M-95-38-C]

    Twentymile Coal Company, 600 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 
15219-2887 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 
75.1002 (location of trolley wires, trolley feeder wires, high-voltage 
cables and transformers) to its Foidel Creek Mine (I.D. No. 05-03836) 
located in Routt County, Colorado. The petitioner proposes to use 
[[Page 16167]] high-voltage (4,160 volts) cables to power longwall 
mining equipment. 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 April 28, 1995. 
Copies of these petitions are available for inspection at that address.

    Dated: March 22, 1995.
Patricia W. Silvey,
Director, Office of Standards, Regulations and Variances.
[FR Doc. 95-7647 Filed 3-28-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P