West Virginia Code of State Rules › Agency 56 - Miners' Health, Safety And Training › Title 56 - LEGISLATIVE RULE OFFICE OF MINERS' HEALTH, SAFETY AND TRAINING › Series 56-23 - Rules for Operating Diesel Equipment in Underground Mines in West Virginia › Section 56-23-7 - Exhaust Gas Monitoring and Control

Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 28, July 12, 2024
7.1. In monitoring and controlling exhaust
				gases, the ambient concentration of exhaust gases in the mine atmosphere shall
				not exceed 35 ppm ceiling for carbon monoxide (CO), 25 ppm ceiling for nitric
				oxide (NO) and 3 ppm ceiling for nitrogen dioxide (NO2). The concentration of
				these exhaust gases shall be measured at the equipment operator's or equipment
				attendant's position and in by the last piece of diesel-powered equipment
				operating in the same split of air. Measurements shall be made weekly or more
				often if necessary by a qualified person and shall be conducted pursuant to the
				requirements of this section.
7.2.
				Measurement of exhaust gases shall be made with a sampling instrument no less
				precise than detector tubes.
7.3.
				If the concentration of any of the gases listed in section 7.1 is seventy-five
				percent or more of its exposure limit, changes to the use of the diesel
				equipment, the mine ventilation or other modifications to the mining process
				shall be made.
7.4. If the
				concentration of any of the gases listed in section 7.1 exceeds the exposure
				limit, the diesel equipment operating in that split shall be removed from
				service immediately and corrective action taken. After corrective action has
				been taken by the mine operator, the diesel equipment may be returned to
				service in its regular operating mode for emissions testing purposes only, and
				emissions testing shall be conducted immediately to assure that the
				concentration does not exceed seventy-five per cent of the exposure limit.
				Corrective action must be taken until the concentration does not exceed
				seventy-five percent of the exposure limit before the diesel equipment can be
				returned to full operation.
7.5. In
				addition to the other maintenance requirements set forth in this rule, the mine
				operator shall comply with the following requirements:
7.5.1. Repair or adjustment of the fuel
				injection system, engine timing or exhaust omissions control and conditioning
				systems shall only be performed by qualified mechanics authorized by the engine
				manufacturer or ASE certified diesel mechanics.
7.5.2. Complete testing of the emissions
				system in accordance with section 20 of this rule shall be conducted prior to
				any piece of diesel-powered equipment being put into service, after any repair
				or adjustment to the fuel delivery system, engine timing or exhaust emissions
				control and conditioning system.
7.5.3. Service and maintenance of the intake
				air filter exhaust particulate filter and the exhaust system shall be performed
				at specific time intervals based on the component manufacturer's
				recommendation, compliance with the engine or emissions control operation
				specifications and, as needed, based on the on-board diagnostics and/or
				emissions test results. Accurate records shall be maintained of all such
				service and maintenance.