[Federal Register: October 26, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 208)]
[Notices]
[Page 64261-64262]
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Mine Safety and Health Administration
Petitions for Modification D&A Resources, Inc., etc.
The following parties have filed petitions to modify the
application of existing safety standards under section 101(c) of the
Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977.
1. D & A Resources, Inc.
[Docket No. M-2000-122-C]
D & A Resources, Inc., 915 Main Street, Rainelle, West Virginia
25962 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.503
(permissible electric face equipment; maintenance) to its No. 1 Mine
(I.D. No. 46-07781) located in Fayette County, West Virginia. The
petitioner proposes to use a threaded ring and a spring loaded device
on battery plug connectors on mobile battery-powered machines to
prevent the plug connector from accidently disengaging while under
load, instead of using a padlock. The petitioner asserts that
application of the existing standard would result in a diminution of
safety to the miners.
2. Dominion Coal Corporation
[Docket No. M-2000-123-C]
Dominion Coal Corporation, P.O. Box 70, Vansant, Virginia 24656 has
filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.204(a) (roof
bolting) to its No. 16 Mine (I.D. No. 44-06643), Mine No. 22 (I.D. No.
44-06645), No. 34 Mine (I.D. No. 44-06839), and No. 36 Mine (I.D. No.
44-06759) all located in Buchanan County, Virginia. The petitioner
proposes to use special purpose roof bolts that meet the requirements
of ASTM F432-83 and ASTM F432-88, instead of using ASTM F432-95 roof
bolts. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method
would not result in a diminution of safety to the miners and would
provide at least the same measure of protection as the existing
standard.
3. Parkwood Resources, Inc.
[Docket No. M-2000-124-C]
Parkwood Resources, Inc., 25 North Ridge Road, Shelocta,
Pennsylvania 15774 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30
CFR 75.1100-2(e)(2) (quantity and location of firefighting equipment)
to its Parkwood Mine (I.D. No 36-08785) located in Armstrong County,
Pennsylvania. The petitioner proposes to use two (2) fire extinguishers
or one fire extinguisher of twice the required capacity at all
temporary electrical installations instead of using 240 pounds of rock
dust. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method would
provide at least the same measure of protection as the existing
standard.
4. Snyder Coal Company
[Docket No. M-2000-125-C]
Snyder Coal Company, 66 Snyder Lane, Hegins, Pennsylvania 17938 has
filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1405 (automatic
couplers) to its Rattling Run Slope (I.D. No. 36-08713) located in
Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. The petitioner requests a modification
of the existing standard to allow bar and pin, or link and pin couplers
to be used on its underground haulage equipment. The petitioner asserts
that the proposed alternative method would provide at least the same
measure of protection as the existing standard.
5. Three W-M Coal Company
[Docket No. M-2000-126-C]
Three W-M Coal Company, P.O. Box 602, Valley View, Pennsylvania
17983 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1400
(hoisting equipment; general) to its Orchard Slope Mine (I.D. No. 36-
08806) located in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. The petitioner
proposes to use a slope conveyance (gunboat) in transporting persons
without installing safety catches or other no less effective devices
but instead use increased rope strength and secondary safety rope
connection in place of such devices. The petitioner asserts that the
proposed alternative method would provide at least the same measure of
protection as the existing standard.
6. Blue Mountain Energy, Inc.
[Docket No. M-2000-127-C]
Blue Mountain Energy, Inc., 3607 Co. Rd. 65, Rangely, Colorado
81648 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.350
(air courses and belt haulage entries) to its Deserado Mine (I.D. No.
05-03505) located in Rio Blanco County, Colorado. The petitioner
requests a modification of the standard to allow a carbon monoxide
monitoring system to be installed in the belt entry and primary
escapeway as an early warning fire detection system during two-entry
longwall development. The petitioner asserts that application of the
existing standard would result in a diminution of safety to the miners
and that the proposed alternative method would provide at least the
same measure of protection as the existing standard.
7. Girdner Mining Company, Inc.
[Docket No. M-2000-128-C]
Girdner Mining Company, Inc., P.O. Box 1328, Barbourville, Kentucky
40906 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR
75.380(f)(4) (escapeways; bituminous and lignite mines) to its Mine No.
1 (I.D. No. 15-17288) located in Knox County, Kentucky. The petitioner
proposes to use one twenty- or two ten-pound portable chemical fire
extinguishers on each Mescher Jeep. The fire extinguishers will be
readily accessible to the equipment operator. The petitioner proposes
to instruct the equipment operator to inspect each fire extinguisher
daily prior to entering the mine, replace all defective fire
extinguishers before entering the mine, and maintain records of all
inspections of the fire extinguishers. The petitioner asserts that
because of the low 24 inch heights of the coal seam, available fire
suppression systems will not fit on the equipment being used at the
mine. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method would
provide at least the same measure of protection as the existing
standard.
8. Girdner Mining Company, Inc.
[Docket No. M-2000-129-C]
Girdner Mining Company, Inc., P.O. Box 1238, Barbourville, Kentucky
40906 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.342
(methane monitors) to its Mine No. 1 (I.D. No. 15-17288) located in
Knox County, Kentucky. The petitioner proposes to use hand-held
continuous-duty methane and oxygen indicators on three-wheel tractors
with drag bottom buckets instead of using machine mounted monitors. The
petitioner asserts that application of the standard would reduce the
safety of the miners and that the proposed alternative method would
provide at least the same measure of protection as the existing
standard.
[[Page 64262]]
9. Magic Coal Company
[Docket No. M-2000-130-C]
Magic Coal Company, P.O. Box 1352, Madisonville, Kentucky 42431 has
filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.503
(Permissible electric face equipment; maintenance) to its Magic Mine
(I.D. No. 15-17071) located in Hopkins County, Kentucky. The petitioner
proposes to use a spring-loaded device with specific fastening
characteristics instead of a padlock to secure plugs and electrical
type connectors to batteries and permissible mobile powered equipment
to prevent accidental separation of the battery plugs from their
receptacles during normal operation of the battery equipment. The
petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide
at least the same measure of protection as the existing standard.
10. Mountain Coal Company, L.L.C.
[Docket No. M-2000-131-C]
Mountain Coal Company, P.O. Box 591, Somerset, Colorado 81434 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 West Elk Mine (I.D. No. 05-03672) located in
Gunnison County, Colorado. The petitioner proposes to use high-voltage
(2,400 volt) cables within 150 feet of pillar workings for continuous
miners. The petitioner has listed specific terms and conditions in this
petition for using high-voltage cables. The petitioner asserts that the
proposed alternative method would provide at least the same measure of
protection as the existing standard.
11. Blue Mountain Energy, Inc.
[Docket No. M-2000-132-C]
Blue Mountain Energy, Inc., 3607 Co. Rd. 65, Rangely, Colorado
81648 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.352
(return air courses) to its Deserado Mine (I.D. No. 05-03505) located
in Rio Blanco County, Colorado. The petitioner requests a modification
of the standard to allow a carbon monoxide monitoring system to be
installed in the belt entry and primary escapeway as an early warning
fire detection system during two-entry longwall development. The
petitioner asserts that application of the existing standard would
result in a diminution of safety to the miners and that the proposed
alternative method would provide at least the same measure of
protection as the existing standard.
12. Peabody Coal Company
[Docket No. M-2000-133-C]
Peabody Coal Company, 1951 Barrett Court, P.O. Box 1990, Henderson,
Kentucky 42420 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR
75.503 (permissible electric face equipment; maintenance) to its Camp
#11 Mine (I.D. No. 15-08357) located in Union County, Kentucky. The
petitioners proposes to use a spring-loaded metal locking device to
secure battery connecting plugs to machine-mounted batter receptacles
on permissible mobile battery-powered scoop cars and tractors to
prevent the cable plug from inadvertently disengaging from the
receptacle, instead of using padlocks. The petitioner asserts that the
proposed alternative method would provide at least the same measure of
protection as the existing standard.
13. Aracoma Coal Company
[Docket No. M-2000-134-C]
Aracoma Coal Company, P.O. Box 470, Stollings, West Virginia 25646
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 Aracoma Alma Mine No. 1 (I.D. No. 46-08801)
located in Logan County, West Virginia. The petitioner proposes to use
a 4,160 volt high-voltage longwall mining system. The petitioner
asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide at least the
same measure of protection as the existing standard.
14. Echo Bay Minerals Company, Kettle River Operations
[Docket No. M-2000-009-M]
Echo Bay Minerals Company, Kettle River Operations, 363 Fish
Hatchery Road, Republic, Washington 99166 has filed a petition to
modify the application of 30 CFR 49.8 (training for mine rescue teams)
to its Lamefoot Mine (I.D. No. 45-03265) and K-2 Mine (I.D. No. 45-
03336) located in Ferry County, Washington. The petitioner requests a
modification of the existing standard to allow the company to
participate in the Central Mine Rescue (CMR) of Wallace, Idaho, which
consists of four training sessions per year, once per quarter, for the
team in addition to Annual Refresher and Competition training. The
petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide
at least the same measure of protection as the existing standard.
Request for Comments
Persons interested in these petitioners are encouraged to submit
comments via e-mail to "zzMSHA-Comments@dol.gov,'' or on a computer disk
along with an original hard copy to the Office of Standards,
Regulations, and Variances, Mine Safety and Health Administration, 4015
Wilson Boulevard, Room 627, Arlington, Virginia 22203. All comments
must be postmarked or received in that office on or before November 27,
2000. Copies of these petitioners are available for inspection at that
address.
Dated: October 18, 2000.
Carol J. Jones,
Director, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances.
[FR Doc. 00-27535 Filed 10-25-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-U
