Petition for Modification

In the matter of                                 

Canyon Fuel Company, LLC

Skyline Mine No. 3 Mine

I.D. No. 42-01566                      

Docket No. M-2002-118-C

30 CFR 75.507

PROPOSED DECISION AND ORDER 

On December 12, 2002, a petition was filed seeking a modification of the application of 30 CFR 75.507 to Petitioner's Skyline Mine No. 3 located in Carbon County, Utah.  Petitioner on January 6, 2003, submitted an amended petition of the application of 30 CFR 75.507.  The Petitioner alleges that the alternative method outlined in the petition will at all times guarantee no less than the same measure of protec­tion afforded by the standard.

MSHA personnel conducted an investigation of the petition and filed a report of their findings and recommendations with the Administrator for Coal Mine Safety and Health.  After a careful review of the entire record, including the petition, comments and MSHA's investigative report and recommendation, this Proposed Decision and Order is issued. 

Finding of Fact and Conclusion of Law 

The alternative method proposed by the Petitioner (as amended by the recommendations of MSHA investigators) will at all times guarantee no less than the same measure of protection afforded the miners under 30 CFR 75.507. 

On the basis of the petition and the findings of MSHA's investigation, Canyon Fuel Company, LLC, is granted a modifi­cation of the application of 30 CFR 75.507 to its Skyline Mine No. 3.

ORDER 

Wherefore, pursuant to the authority delegated by the Secretary of Labor to the Administrator for Coal Mine Safety and Health, and pursuant to Section 101(c) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, 30 U.S.C., sec. 811(c), it is ordered that Canyon Fuel Company, LLC's Petition for Modification of the applica­tion of 30 CFR 75.507 in the Skyline Mine No. 3 is hereby: 

GRANTED, for the use of 4,160-volt, three phase, alternating  current submersible pumps installed

                      in boreholes in the   Skyline Mine No. 3, conditioned upon compliance with the following

                      terms and conditions: 

1.   The 4,160-volt, three phase, alternating-cur­rent elec­tric power circuit for the pump

      must be designed and installed to:

(a)   Contain either a direct or derived neu­tral which must be grounded

        through a suitable resistor at the source trans­former or power center,

        and a grounding circuit originat­ing at the grounded side of the

        grounding resistor, must extend along with the power conductors and

        serve as the grounding conductor for the frame of the pump­­.  No other

        electri­c equip­ment shall be sup­plied power from this circuit.

(b)   Contain a grounding resistor which limits the ground-fault current to not

        more than 3.75 amperes.  The grounding resistor must be rated for the

        maximum fault current available and must be insulated from ground for

        a volt­age equal to the phase-to-phase volt­age of the system.

(2)   The following protections for the 4,160 volt pump circuit must be provided by a

        suitable circuit interrupting device of adequate inter­rupting capacity with devices to

        provide pro­tection against under­voltage, grounded phase, short-cir­cuit, and

        overload.

(1)              The undervoltage protection device must operate on a loss of voltage to prevent

            automatic restarting of the equipment. 

(2)               The grounded phase protection device must be set not to exceed 40 percent of the current rating of the neutral grounding resistor.

(3)                The pump power circuit must be provided witha "Look Ahead" circuit device to prevent closing the circuit breaker when a phase to ground fault condition exists on the system.

(4)             The short circuit protection device must be set to not exceed the required short circuit protection for the 4,160 volt pump motor, or 75 percent of the minimum available phase to phase short circuit current.  Whichever is the smallest.

(e)        Contain a disconnecting device lo­cated on the surface and in­stalled in conjunction with the cir­cuit breaker to provide visual evi­dence that the power is disconnected.

(5)              The disconnecting device must include a means to visually determine the 4,160-volt pump power cir­cuit is disconnected, and provided with a means to lock, tag-out and ground the system.

(6)              The disconnecting device must be designed to pre­vent entry unless the disconnect handle is in the off position and the circuit is grounded.

(7)              The disconnecting device must be clearly identified and provided with warning signs, stating "Danger do not enter unless the circuit is opened, locked, tagged-out, and grounded."

(3)   The 4,160 volt pump power system must include a fail-safe ground check circuit or

        other no less effective device approved by the Secretary which shall cause the

        circuit breaker to open when either the ground or pilot wire is bro­ken.  A manually

        operated test switch must be pro­vided to verify the operation of the ground check

        device. 

(4)  The incoming high voltage three-phase alternating cur­rent system must be provided with a low

       resistance grounding medium for the grounding of the lightning/surge arresters for the high-

       voltage pump power circuits that is separated from the mine neutral grounding medium by a

        distance of not less than 25 feet.

(5)   The pump electric control circuit must be designed and installed so that:

(a)   The pump cannot start in either the manual or automatic mode if the

        water is below the low water probe level.

(b)   When the water level is lower than the low water probe, the pump will

        cease operation.

(c)   When the water level reaches the high water probe, the pump will start

        operation.

(d)   The low water probe must be located above the motor and electrical

        con­nections of the pump.  The low water probe must be located not

        less than three (3) feet above the water pump.

(5)       The high and low water probes must consistof redundant electronic

        pressure transducers that are suitable for submersible pump control

        application. 

(6)       All probe circuits are protected by an MSHAapproved intrinsically safe barriers.

(7)       The grounded-phase protective cir­cuitcan be tested by injecting a test current

        through the grounded-phase current transformer.

(8)        A soft-start motor controller must be providedand used for pump startup and shutdown. 

        The controller must include automatic controls forphase loss, over current, and locked

        rotor/short circuit protection.

(1)       A radio remote telemetry system can be usedto monitor motor current.  The telemetry

        system can include the capability for manual startup andshutdown of the pump.  The

        telemetry system must preclude the capability to reset the system when any fault condition

         exists on the system. 

7.             The surface pump control and power circuits must be examined as required by 30 CFR 77.502.

8.  The armored power cable to the submersible pump motor must be suitable for this application

      and have a current carrying capacity not less than 125 percent of the full load motor current of the

      submersible pump motor and an outer jacket suitable for a "wet location".

      The armored power cable must be supported at the en­trance to the borehole and throughout its

      length by securing it with clamps, spaced approximately 20 feet apart, affixed to the discharge

       pipe casing.

1.             The pump installations must comply with all other appli­cable 30 CFR requirements.

2.             Any 30 CFR 75.507 pumps installed at the Skyline Mine No. 3 after this petition is granted must be approved by the District Manager before they are put in operation.   

11.   Within 60 days after this Petition for Modifi­cation is granted, the Petitioner shall submit proposed revisions for their approved 30 CFR Part 48 train­ing plan to the Coal Mine Safety and Health Dis­trict Manager.  These pro­posed revisions shall speci­fy initial and refresher training regarding the alternative method out­lined in the petition and the terms and condi­tions stated in the Proposed Decision and Order.

The procedures of 30 CFR 48.3 for approval of pro­posed revisions to already approved training plans shall apply.

Any party to this action desiring a hearing on this mattermust file in accordance with 30 CFR 44.14, within 30 days, a request with the Administrator for Coal Mine Safety and Health, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia 22209-3939. 

If a hearing is requested, the request shall contain a concise summary of position on the issues of fact or law desired to be raised by the party requesting the hearing, including specific objections to the proposed decision.  A party other than Peti­tioner who has requested a hearing shall also comment upon all issues of fact or law presented in the petition, and any party to

this action requesting a hearing may indicate a desired hearing site.  If no request for a hearing is filed within 30 days after service thereof, the Decision and Order will become final and must be posted by the operator on the mine bulletin board at the mine. 

                                                                                  _____________________________

                                                                                  John F. Langton

                                                                                  Acting Deputy Administrator

                                                                                    for Coal Mine Safety and Health