Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 124 / Wednesday, June 26, 1996 / Notices 33141

(escapeways; bituminous and lignite

mines) to its No. 1 Mine (I.D. No. 11–

00726) located in Macoupin County,

Illinois. The petitioner requests a

modification of the standard to allow

the width of the escapeway to be 5 feet

instead of 6 feet when using the belt

conveyor as an alternate escapeway. The

petitioner asserts that the proposed

alternative method would provide at

least the same measure of protection as

would the mandatory standard.

3. Tennessee Energy Corporation

[Docket No. M–96–38–C]

Tennessee Energy Corporation, 1000

Pocket Road, Whitewell, Tennessee

37397 has filed a petition to modify the

application of 30 CFR 75.1405

(automatic couplers) to its Mine No. 41

(I.D. No. 40–02875) located in

Sequatche County, Tennessee. The

petitioner proposed to use flatcars

instead of regular supply cars to haul

supplies into the mine due to mining

heights. The petitioner proposes to

connect the motor and the flatcar with

a steel tongue that would be aligned and

secured with a pin instead of using

automatic couplers. The petitioner

asserts that the proposed alternative

method would provide at least the same

measure of protection as would the

mandatory standard.

4. R B Coal Company, Inc.

[Docket No. M–96–39–C]

R B Coal Company, Inc., 8174 East

Highway 72, Pathfork, Kentucky 40863

has filed a petition to modify the

application of 30 CFR 75.1710–1

(canopies or cabs; self-propelled electric

face equipment; installation

requirements) to its R B No. 5 Mine (I.D.

No. 15–17077) located in Harlan

County, Kentucky. The petitioner

requests a variance from the use of

canopies to the area of the tram leavers

used to tram the two Eimco, Model No.

350–43, roof bolting machines from

place to place. The petitioner states that

at no time would the area pass in by

unsupported roof; and asserts that

modification of the standard would not

pose any type of additional hazard to

the miners.

5. Pontiki Coal Corporation

[Docket No. M–96–40–C and M–96–41–C]

Pontiki Coal Corporation, P.O. Box

801, Route 1401, Lovely, Kentucky

41231 has filed a petition to modify the

application of 30 CFR 75.388 (boreholes

in advance of mining) to its Pontiki No.

1 Mine (I.D. No. 15–08413), and its

Pontiki No. 2 Mine (I.D. No. 15–09571)

both located in Martin County,

Kentucky. The petitioner proposes to

drill boreholds when working places

advance to within 30 feet of certain

surveyed areas in the mine unless those

areas have been preshift examined. The

petitioner has outlined specific

procedures for its alternative method in

the petition for modification. The

petitioner assets that the proposed

alternative method would provide at

least the same measure of protection as

would the mandatory standard.

6. Beech Fork Processing, Inc.

[Docket No. M–96–42–C]

Beech Fork Processing, Inc., P.O. Box

190, Lovely, Kentucky 41231 has filed a

petition to modify the application of 30

CFR 75.388 (boreholes in advance of

mining) to its Mine No. 1 (I.D. No. 15–

16162) located in Johnson County,

Kentucky. The petitioner requests a

variance to mine adjacent to old works,

leaving a 50 foot unmined barrier

without boring test holes, within 200

feet of old works. The petitioner asserts

that the proposed alternative method

would not pose any breach in safety

procedures.

7. New Warwick Mining Company

[Docket No. M–96–43–C]

New Warwick Mining Company, R. D.

1 Box 167A, Mount Morris,

Pennsylvania 15349 has filed a petition

to modify the application of 30 CFR

75.364(b)(2) (weekly examination) to its

Warwick Mine (I.D. No. 36–02374)

located in Greene County, Pennsylvania.

Due to hazardous conditions in certain

areas of the return air course, the area

cannot be traveled in its entirety. The

petitioner proposes to establish two

monitoring points to evaluate the

affected area. The petitioner states that

the area would be monitored on a

weekly basis. The petitioner asserts that

the proposed alternative method would

provide at least the same measure of

protection as would the mandatory

standard.

8. Consolidation Coal Company

[Docket No. M–96–44–C]

Consolidation Coal Company, Consol,

Inc., Consol Plaza, 1800 Washington

Road, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15241–

1421 has filed a petition to modify the

application of 30 CFR 75.364(b)(1)

(weekly examination) to its Loveridge

No. Mine (I.D. No. 46–01433) located in

Monongalia County, West Virginia. Due

to deteriorating roof conditions in the

intake airway from the vent tubes at the

inside shop to the Sugar Run return air

shaft (one block West of Check Point

‘‘C’’), traveling the area to make weekly

examinations would be unsafe. The

petitioner proposes to establish two

check points, on inby and outby the

affected area; to maintain these check

points in a safe conditions at all times;

and to have a certified person test for

methane and the quantity of air on a

weekly basis at both check points. In

addition, the person making such

examinations would record the results

with their initials and date in a record

book kept on the surface and made

accessible to interested parties. The

petitioner asserts that the proposed

alternative method would provide at

least the same measure of protection as

would the mandatory standard.

9. Elk Run Coal Company

[Docket No. M–96–45–C]

Elk Run Coal Company, P.O. Box 497,

Sylvester, West Virginia 25193 has filed

a petition to modify the application of

30 CFR 75.503 (permissible electric face

equipment; maintenance) to its Castle

Mine (I.D. No. 46–07009), Bishop No. 2

Mine (I.D. No. 46–08181), Black King

No. 1/North Portal (I.D. No. 46–08553),

White Knight Mine (I.D. No. 46–08055),

and Black King No. 1 Mine all located

in Boone County, West Virginia; and its

Laurel Eagle Mine (I.D. No. 46–0883),

and Laurel Alma Mine (I.D. No. 46–

08457) located in Raleigh County, West

Virginia. The petitioner proposes to use

permanently installed spring-loaded

locking devices to secure battery plugs

on mobile equipment instead of

padlocks to maintain equipment in

permissible condition in accordance

with 30 CFR 18.41. The petitioner states

that application of the standard would

result in a diminution of safety to the

miners. In addition, 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 July

26, 1996. Copies of these petitions are

available for inspection at that address.

Dated: June 20, 1996.

Edward C. Hugler,

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Mine Safety

and Health.

[FR Doc. 96–16260 Filed 6–25–96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4510–43–M
33142 Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 124 / Wednesday, June 26, 1996 / Notices

MERIT SYSTEMS PROTECTION

BOARD

Opportunity to File Amicus Brief in

Forrest v. Department of Agriculture,

Docket Number SF–531D–95–0446–I–1

AGENCY: Merit Systems Protection

Board.

ACTION: The Merit Systems Protection

Board is providing an opportunity for

interested parties to submit amicus

briefs concerning the issue of whether

appellants in Board appeals can receive

an award of reimbursement for

‘‘reasonable’’ leave time expended to

pursue an appeal of an appealable

action that is ultimately determined to

be unwarranted, or is rescinded or

reversed.

SUMMARY: The Merit Systems Protection

Board currently has an appeal pending

in which it is considering the extent of

the relief it can award following the

reversal or rescission of a personnel

action. The appellant in the appeal

Forrest v. Department of Agriculture,

Docket No. SF–532D–95–0446–I–1, has

argued that he is entitled to an award of

reimbursement for ‘‘reasonable’’ leave

time he expended in pursuing his

appeal of a personnel action that was

ultimately rescinded by the agency. The

appellant argues that his agency should

be required to restore eight hours of

annual leave he used to consult with his

attorney about his case. The Board is

inviting interested parties to submit

amicus briefs addressing the question of

whether the Board has the authority to

award such relief.

DATES: All briefs in response to this

notice shall be filed with the Clerk of

the Board on or before July 29, 1996.

ADDRESSES: All briefs shall include the

case name and docket number noted

above (Forrest v. Department of

Agriculture, Docket No. SF–531D–95–

0446–I–1) and be entitled ‘‘Amicus

Brief.’’ Briefs should be filed with the

Office of the Clerk, Merit Systems

Protection Board, 1120 Vermont

Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20419.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Shannon McCarthy, Deputy Clerk of the

Board, or Matthew Shannon, Counsel to

the Clerk, (202) 653–7200.

Dated: June 21, 1996.

Robert E. Taylor,

Clerk of the Board.

[FR Doc. 96–16316 Filed 6–25–96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 7400–01–M

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND

SPACE ADMINISTRATION

Notice of Meeting

SUMMARY: NASA will conduct an open

forum to solicit questions, views, and

options of interested persons/firms

concerning NASA’s procurement

policies and practices. The purpose of

the meeting is to have an open

discussion between NASA’s Associate

Administrator for Procurement, industry

and the public.

DATES: August 22, 1996, from 2 p.m. to

4 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at

the Teague Auditorium, Building 2,

located at the NASA Johnson Space

Center, 2101 NASA Road 1, Houston,

Texas.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Barbara Kirkland, NASA Johnson Space

Center, Industry Assistance Office, Code

BD35, 2101 NASA Road 1, Houston, TX

77058, (713) 483–4512, e-mail:

bkirklan@bal.jsc.nasa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Format

There will be a presentation by the

Associate Administrator for

Procurement, followed by a question

and answer period. Procurement issues

will be discussed including NASA

policies used in the award and

administration of contracts.

Admittance

Doors will open at 1:30 p.m.

Admittance will be on a first-come, firstserved basis. Reservations will NOT be

accepted. Questions for the open forum

should be presented at the meeting and

should not be submitted in advance.

Position papers are not being solicited.

Initiatives

In addition to the general discussion

mentioned above, NASA invites

comments or questions relative to its

ongoing procurement initiatives, some

of which include the following:

Cost Control. NASA is developing this

initiative to increase the emphasis on

cost control with its contractors and

within the Agency.

Source Selection. NASA is working to

reduce the time and effort that

contractors and source selection

personnel spend on a contract.

Performance-Based Contracting:

NASA’s newest procurement initiative

is focused on structuring an acquisition

around the purpose of the work to be

performed instead of how the work is to

be performed, on broad and imprecise

statements of work.

Change Order Reduction and Process

Change. NASA is attempting to improve

overall change order management

through the use of better technical

direction, realistic cost estimates and

more effective and timely negotiations.

MidRange Procurement Procedures: A

test program for a third category of

procurements (between the simplified

acquisition threshold and $1,000,000

annually) has been implemented at all

NASA centers.

Thomas S. Luedtke,

Deputy Associate Administrator for

Procurement.

[FR Doc. 96–16262 Filed 6–25–96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 7510–01–M

NUCLEAR REGULATORY

COMMISSION

[Docket No. 50–443]

North Atlantic Energy Service

Company, et al., Notice of

Consideration of Issuance of

Amendment to Facility Operating

License, Proposed No Significant

Hazards Considering Determination,

and Opportunity for a Hearing

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory

Commission (the Commission) is

considering issuance of an amendment

to Facility Operating License No. NPF–

86 issued to North Atlantic Energy

Service Corporation (the licensee) for

operation of the Seabrook Station, Unit

No. 1 located in Rockingham County,

New Hampshire.

The proposed amendment would

modify the Appendix A Technical

Specifications (TSs) for the Electrical

Power Systems, Onsite Power

Distribution. Specifically, the proposed

amendment would change Seabrook

Station Appendix A Technical

Specification 3.8.3.1, Action a. to

increase from 8 hours to 7 days the

allowable time that 480-volt Emergency

Bus #E64 may be less than fully

energized.

Before issuance of the proposed

license amendment, the Commission

will have made findings required by the

Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended

(the Act) and the Commission’s

regulations.

The Commission has made a

proposed determination that the

amendment request involves no

significant hazards consideration. Under

the Commission’s regulations in 10 CFR

50.92, this means that operation of the

facility in accordance with the proposed

amendment would not (1) involve a

significant increase in the probability or

consequences of an accident previously