[Federal Register: January 24, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 15)]
[Notices]
[Page 3889-3891]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Mine Safety and Health Administration
Petitions for Modification
The petition for modification notice published in the Federal
Register on
December 28, 2005 (70 FR 76892) for the R S & W Coal Company, Drift
Mine, docket number M-2005-079-C, had the wrong MSHA I.D. Number. The
correct MSHA I.D. Number is 36-01818.
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. Anthracite Underground Rescue, Inc.
[Docket No. M-2005-085-C]
Anthracite Underground Rescue, Inc., 44 Crescent Street, Tremont,
Pennsylvania 17981 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30
CFR 49.6(a)(1) & (5) (Equipment and maintenance requirements) for the
following Anthracite Underground Mines in District 1: Alfred Brown Coal
Company, 7 FT Slope Mine (MSHA I.D. No. 36-08893) located in Schuylkill
County, Pennsylvania; B & B Rockridge Slope, Rockridge No. 1 Slope Mine
(MSHA I.D. No. 36-07741) located in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania;
Chestnut Coal Company, No. 10 Slope Mine (MSHA I.D. No. 36-07059)
located in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania; D & D Coal Company,
Primrose Slope Mine (MSHA I.D. No. 36-08341) located in Schuylkill
County, Pennsylvania; F.K.Z Coal Company, No. 1 Slope Mine (MSHA I.D.
No. 36-08637) located in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania; Joliett
Coal Company,
3 Vein Slope Mine (MSHA I.D. No. 36-08702)
located in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania; Little Buck Coal Company,
No. 2 Slope Mine (MSHA I.D. No. 36-08299) located in Schuylkill County,
Pennsylvania; R & D Coal Company, R & D Coal Co., Inc. Mine (MSHA I.D.
No. 36-02053) located in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania; R S & W Coal
Co., Inc., R S & W Drift Mine (MSHA I.D. No. 36-01818) located in
Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania; Orchard Coal Company, Orchard Slope
Mine (MSHA I.D. No. 36-08346) located in Schuylkill County,
Pennsylvania; Snyder Coal Company, N & L Slope Mine (MSHA I.D. No. 36-
02203) located in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania; Snyder Coal
Company, Rock Slope 1 Mine (MSHA I.D. No. 36-09256) located in
Northumberland County, Pennsylvania; Tito Coal Company, Whites Vein
Slope Mine (MSHA I.D. No. 36-06815) located in Schuylkill County,
Pennsylvania; UAE Coalcorp Association, Harmony Mine (MSHA I.D. No. 36-
07838) located in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania; S & M Coal
Company, Buck Mountain Slope Mine (MSHA I.D. No. 36-02022) located in
Dauphin County, Pennsylvania; R & R Coal Company, R & R Coal Company
Mine (MSHA I.D. No. 36-08498) located in Schuylkill County,
Pennsylvania; Six M Coal Company, No. 1 Slope Mine (MSHA I.D. No. 36-
09138) located in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania; Bear Gap Coal Company,
Bear Gap Coal Company 6 Slope Mine (MSHA I.D. No. 36-09296)
located in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. The petitioner requests a
modification of the existing standard to permit the reduction of twelve
self-contained oxygen breathing apparatus to eight self-contained
breathing apparatus, and the reduction of twelve permissible cap lamps
and charging rack to eight permissible cap lamps and charging rack. The
petitioner states that reduction of two rescue teams with five members
and one alternate to two rescue teams of three members with one
alternative has been granted to all operating anthracite coal mines.
The petitioner asserts that eight self-contained breathing apparatus
and eight permissible cap lamps are sufficient to supply the seven
members of the rescue team, and that the proposed alternate method of
compliance will not alter, change, or reduce the ability,
effectiveness, or safety of the underground mine personnel.
2. Bear Gap Coal Company
[Docket No. M-2005-086-C]
Bear Gap Coal Company, Box 64 Kushwa Road, Spring Glen,
Pennsylvania 17978 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30
CFR 49.2(b) (Availability of mine rescue teams) to its Bear Gap Coal
Company 6 Slope Mine (MSHA I.D. No. 36-09296) located in
Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. The petitioner requests a modification of
the existing standard to permit the reduction of two mine rescue teams
with five members and one alternate each to two mine rescue teams of
three members with one alternate for either team. The petitioner
asserts that application of the existing standard will 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.
3. Oxbow Mining, LLC
[Docket No. M-2006-001-C]
Oxbow Mining, LLC, P.O. Box 535, 3737 Highway 133, Somerset,
Colorado 81434 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR
75.1726(a) (Performing work from a raised position; safeguards) to its
Elk Creek Mine (MSHA I.D. No. 05-04674) located in Gunnison County,
Colorado. The petitioner proposes to modify existing scoops for use as
mobile work platforms and implement operational restrictions to
safeguard miners working from the raised platform. The petitioner
states that this petition will apply only to Wagner ST3.5 Scoops,
Serial Nos. SA04C0228, Company ID No. 24-25 and SA 04P0292, Company ID
No. 24-26. The petitioner has listed in this petition specific terms
and conditions that will be used when the proposed alternative is
implemented. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative
method would provide at least the same measure of protection as the
existing standard.
4. Twentymile Coal Company
[Docket No. M-2006-002-C]
Twentymile Coal Company, 29515 Routt County Road 27, Oak
Creek, Colorado 80467 has filed a petition to modify the application of
30 CFR 75.500(d) (Permissible electric equipment) to its Foidel Creek
Mine (MSHA I.D. No. 05-03836) located in Routt County, Colorado. The
petitioner requests a modification of the existing standard to permit
an alternative method of compliance to use battery-powered non-
permissible hand-held computers in or inby the last open crosscut,
including in the return airways, to allow supervisors and selected
miners to collect and record data pertinent to safety observations
during work processes. The petitioner states that the recorded data in
the hand-held computers will be downloaded at the end of the shift and
collated with other data to allow the petitioner to proactively correct
unsafe practices and to prevent accidents before they occur. The
petitioner has listed in this petition specific terms and conditions
that will be used when the proposed alternative method is implemented.
The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method would
provide at least the same measure of protection as the existing
standard.
5. Twentymile Coal Company
[Docket No. M-2006-003-C]
Twentymile Coal Company, 29515 Routt County Road 27, Oak
Creek, Colorado 80467 has filed a petition to modify the application of
30 CFR 75.1002(a) (Installation of electric equipment and conductors;
permissibility) to its Foidel Creek Mine (MSHA I.D. No. 05-03836)
located in Routt County, Colorado. The petitioner requests a
modification of the existing standard to permit an alternative method
of compliance to use battery-powered non-permissible hand-held
computers in or inby the last open crosscut, including in the return
airways, to allow supervisors and selected miners to collect and record
data pertinent to safety observations during work processes. The
petitioner states that the recorded data in the hand-held computers
will be downloaded at the end of the shift and collated with other data
to allow the petitioner to proactively correct unsafe practices and to
prevent accidents before they occur. The petitioner has listed in this
petition specific terms and conditions that will be used when the
proposed alternative method is implemented. 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 petitions are encouraged to submit
comments via E-mail: zzMSHA-Comments@dol.gov; Fax: (202) 693-9441; or
Regular Mail/Hand Delivery/Courier: Mine Safety and Health
Administration, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances, 1100
Wilson Boulevard, Room 2350, Arlington, Virginia 22209. All comments
must be postmarked or received in that office on or before February 23,
2006. Copies of these petitions are available for inspection at that
address.
Dated at Arlington, Virginia this 18th day of January 2006.
Robert F. Stone,
Acting Director, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances.
[FR Doc. E6-828 Filed 1-23-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P
