July 7, 2005
In the matter of: Petition for Modification
Consolidation Coal Company
Loveridge No. 22 Mine
I.D. No. 46-01433 Docket No. M-2004-049-C
PROPOSED DECISION AND ORDER
On November15, 2004, a petition was filed seeking a modification of the application of 30 CFR
75.507 toPetitioner's Loveridge No. 22 Mine, locatedin Monongalia County,West Virginia. The Petitioner alleges that the alternative method outlined in the petitionwill at alltimes guarantee no less than the same measure of protection affordedby the standard.
MSHA personnel conducted an investigation of the petitionwith attached electrical diagrams for the pump installations at the abovemines and filed a report of their findingsand recommendations with the Administrator for Coal Mine Safety and Health. After a careful review of the entire record,including the petitionand electrical diagrams, comments, and MSHA's investigative report and recommendation, this Proposed Decision and Orderis 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.
MSHA is requiring, for this petitiononly, that the surface pump control and powercircuits be examined in accordance with 30 CFR 77.502requirements since the control and power circuits enteringthe underground portionsof the mine cannot be examined in theirentirety to satisfythe requirements of 30 CFR 75.512 or 30 CFR 75.364(b)(7).
On the basis of the petition and the findings of MSHA's investigation, Consolidation Coal Company is granted a modification of the application of 30 CFR 75.507 to its Loveridge No. 22 Mine.
ORDER
Wherefore, pursuantto 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 Consolidation Coal Company’s Petition for Modification of the application of 30 CFR 75.507 in the Loveridge No. 22 Mine is hereby:
GRANTED, for the use of low- and medium-voltage, three phase, alternating-current submersible pump(s) installed in returnand bleeder entries and sealed areas in the Loveridge No. 22 Mine, conditioned upon compliance with the following terms and conditions:
1. The low- and medium-voltage, three phase, alternating-current electric power circuit(s) for the pump(s) shall be designed and installed to:
a. Contain either a direct or derived neutral wire, which must be grounded througha suitable resistorat the source transformer or power centerand through a grounding circuit originating at the grounded side of the grounding resistor, which must extend along with the power conductors and serveas the grounding conductor for the frame of the pump and all associated electric equipment that may be supplied power from this circuit. The borehole casingshall be bonded to the systemgrounding medium.
b. Contain a grounding resistor that limits the ground-fault current to not more than 25amperes. The grounding resistor must be rated for the maximum fault current available and must be insulated from ground for a voltageequal to thephase-to-phase voltage of the system.
2. The following protections for the low- and medium-voltage pump circuit(s) shallbe provided by a suitablecircuit interrupting device of adequate interrupting capacitywith devices to provide protection against undervoltage, groundedphase, short-circuit, and overload.
a. The under-voltage protection device shall operate on a loss of voltageto prevent automatic re-starting of the equipment.
b. The grounded phase protection device shall be set not to exceed40 percent of the current rating of the neutral grounding resistor.
c. The short circuit protection device shall not be set to exceedthe required short circuitprotection for the powercable or 75 percent of the minimumavailable phase-to-phase short circuit current, whichever is less.
d. The circuit(s) shall include disconnecting device(s) located on the surface and installed in conjunction with the circuit breaker(s) to provide visual evidencethat the poweris disconnected.
e. Pump circuit(s) shallinclude a fail-safe ground check circuit or other no less effective device approved bythe Secretary as required by 30 CFR 75.902, whichshall cause the circuit breakerto open when either the ground or pilot wire is broken.
f. When the pump motor, pump, and discharge pipe are connected to a common metal frame, the ground-wire monitor may be terminated on the discharge pipe at the top of the borehole.
3. The electric control circuit(s) for thepumps presently installed at the mine shall contain a monitoring circuit that detects a drop in the normal operating current when air enters the pump inlet so that the pump(s) cannot run in either the manual or automatic mode.
4. The electric control circuit(s) for the submersible pumps presently installed in return and bleeder entriesand sealed areas of the mine shall be modified to meet the following requirements when a pump or motor must be repaired or replaced:
a. The pump motor shall remain underwater at all times.
b. If the water level is not abovethe pump motor, the pump shall be unable to start in either the manual or the automatic mode.
c. When the waterlevel is belowthe low-water indicating system (bubbler or probe), the pump(s) shall cease operation.
d. The low-water indicating systems must consist of sensors or transducers that are suitable for submersible pump control application.
e. All probe circuits that are extended into the borehole shall be protected by MSHA-approved, intrinsically safe barriers.
f. It shall be possible to test the grounded-phase protective circuit by injecting a test currentthrough the grounded-phase current transformer.
g. A remote control and monitoring system may be used with the pump systemfor the purposeof condition monitoring and for remote startupand shutdown controlof the pumps. This systemshall not allowthe circuits to be remotely reset if grounded phase, short circuit, or overloadfault conditions exist on the system.
h. Splices and connections made in submersible pump cables shall be made in a workmanlike manner and shall meet the requirements of
30 CFR 75.604.
5. Any new submersible pumps installed in return and bleeder entriesor in sealed areas of the mine after the effective date ofthis petition shall comply with all the otherterms and conditions listedin this Proposed Decision and Order, including items 4 (a) through (h).
6. The surface pump control and power circuit(s) shall be examined as required by 30 CFR 77.502.
7. The borehole cableto the submersible pump motor(s) must be suitable for this application and have a current carrying capacity not less than125 percent of the full load motor current of the submersible pump motor and an outer jacket accepted by MSHA as flame-resistant. The power cable must be supported at the entrance to the boreholeand throughout its length by securingit with clampsspaced approximately 25 feet apart, affixed to the discharge pipe casing.
8. The pump installations must comply with all other applicable 30 CFR requirements.
9. No other electric equipment shall be supplied power from this circuit.
10. After this petition is granted, the District Manager shallbe notified when any submersible pump is installed in return and bleeder entriesand sealed areas of the Loveridge No. 22Mine. The Districtshall have the opportunity to inspect the installation before the pump is put into operation.
11. Within 60 daysafter 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 task training for all qualified mine electricians who perform electric work and monthly electric examinations as requiredby 30 CFR 77.502 and refresher training regarding the alternative method outlinedin the petition and the terms and conditions statedin 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 partyto this actiondesiring a hearing on this matter must 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 shallcontain a concisesummary of positionon 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 otherthan Petitioner who hasrequested a hearing shallalso comment upon all issuesof fact or law presented in the petition, and any partyto this action requesting a hearing may indicate a desired hearing site. If no request for ahearing is filedwithin 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 themine.
John F. Langton
Deputy Administrator
For Coal Mine Safety and Health