May 20, 2020
In the matter of Petition for Modification
Hamilton County Coal, LLC
Mine No.1
I.D. No. 11-03203 Docket No. M-2018-005-C
PROPOSED DECISION AND ORDER
On March 22, 2018 a petition was filed seeking a modification of the application of 30 CFR § 75.503 to Petitioner’s Mine No. 1 located in Hamilton County, Illinois. The petitioner requested the modification to allow the use of trailing cables exceeding the length specified in 30 CFR § 18.35(a)(5)(i). The petitioner alleges that the alternative method proposed in the petition will at all times guarantee no less than the same measure of protection afforded by the standard. 30 CFR § 75.503 provides in part:
The operator of each coal mine shall maintain in permissible condition all electric face equipment required by §§75.500, 75.501, and 75.504 to be permissible which is taken into or used inby the last open crosscut of any such mine.
30 CFR § 18.35(a)(5)(i) provides in part:
(5) Ordinarily the length of a portable (trailing) cable shall not exceed 500 feet. Where the method of mining requires the length of a portable (trailing) cable to be more than 500 feet, such length of cable shall be permitted only under the following prescribed conditions:
(i) The lengths of portable (trailing) cables shall not exceed those specified in Table 9, Appendix 1, titled “Specifications for Portable Cables Longer than 500 Feet.”
MSHA personnel conducted an investigation for the petition and filed a report of their findings with the Administrator for Coal Mine Safety and Health on May 8, 2018. After a careful review of the entire record, including the petition and MSHA’s investigative report, this Proposed Decision and Order is issued.
Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law
MSHA’s investigation found that the mine is opened into the Herrin No.6 coal seam through one slope and four shafts. The mine operates three continuous mining machine units and one longwall unit, employing a total of 276 persons underground. The miners currently have a miners’ representative however the miners are not represented by a union.
The mine operates three shifts per day, 5 or 6 days per week, and produces an average of 55,000 raw tons per day. The continuous mining machine units utilize 600 VDC shuttle cars and battery coal haulers to transport coal from the face to the section feeder. Coal is transported from the working sections to the surface by conveyor belts.
The Hamilton County Coal, LLC Mine No. 1 is developing longwall panels as part of a continuing mining cycle. The development panels consist of a multiple entry system with cross cut centers not to exceed a maximum of 250 feet to improve roof and abutment pressure control during longwall mining. Ventilation is also improved by limiting the number of stoppings, which have a built-in ventilation pressure loss factor. The petitioner submitted mine layout drawings that demonstrate their request for extended length trailing cables, detailing the extended crosscuts up to 250 feet as part of its continuing mining cycle in developing longwall panels.
The alternative method proposed by the petitioner lists various terms, conditions, and safety precautions related to the use of extended length trailing cables supplying power continuous mining machines, roof bolting machines, section ventilating fans, and shuttle cars.
The petitioner submitted a short circuit analysis based on the current configuration of the mine power system using the proposed trailing cable sizes and lengths. The short circuit study indicates that the proposed circuit breaker settings will adequately protect the subject trailing cables. The petitioner performed an additional short circuit study, based on the maximum projected extent of the mine workings. This study was given to CMS&H District 8 investigators, and was included as part of their report. The supplemental short circuit study also indicates that the proposed circuit breaker settings will adequately protect the subject trailing cables.
In subsequent correspondence, the petitioner informed MSHA that it no longer intended to use extended length trailing cables on 480 VAC roof bolting machines at the mine. Therefore, the terms and conditions of the proposed decision and order will reflect this change.
The alternative method proposed by the petitioner (as amended by MSHA) will at all times guarantee no less than the same measure of protection afforded the miners under § 75.503.
ORDER
Wherefore, pursuant to the authority delegated by the Secretary of Labor to the Administrator for Mine Safety and Health Enforcement, 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 Hamilton County Coal LLC’s Petition for Modification of the application of 30 CFR § 75.503 is hereby:
GRANTED, for trailing cables supplying power to 995 VAC continuous mining machines, 995 VAC roof bolting machines, 995 VAC section ventilating fans; and 600 VDC shuttle cars. The petition is granted for the maximum lengths of 1,200 feet of trailing cable supplying power to the working section equipment only when necessary to mine three-entry system longwall panels when larger coal pillars with cross cut centers not to exceed a maximum of 250 feet are used in Mine No. 1, conditioned upon compliance with the following terms and conditions:
1. This petition shall apply only to #3/0 AWG trailing cables supplying power to 995 VAC continuous mining machines; #2 AWG trailing cables supplying power to 995 VAC roof bolting machines and 995 VAC section ventilating fans; and #2/0 AWG trailing cables supplying power to 600 VDC shuttle cars.
2. The maximum length of trailing cables listed in Item No. 1 shall be 1200 feet.
3. Cables supplying power to 995 VAC continuous mining machines shall not be smaller than #3/0 AWG.
4. Cables supplying power to 995 VAC roof bolting machines shall not be smaller than #2 AWG.
5. Cables supplying power to 995 VAC section ventilating fans shall not be smaller than #2 AWG.
6. Cables supplying power to 600 VDC shuttle cars shall not be smaller than #2/0 AWG.
7. Circuit breakers used to protect #2 AWG cables exceeding 700 feet in length supplying power to 995 VAC machines shall have instantaneous trip units calibrated to trip at 800 amps. The trip setting of these circuit breakers shall be sealed to ensure that the settings cannot be changed. These circuit breakers shall have permanent legible labels identifying the circuit breaker as being suitable for protecting #2 AWG cables supplying power to the specified machines.
8. Circuit breakers used to protect #3/0 AWG cables exceeding 900 feet in length supplying power to 995 VAC machines shall have instantaneous trip units calibrated to trip at 1830 amps. The trip setting of these circuit breakers shall be sealed to ensure that the settings cannot be changed. These circuit breakers shall have permanent legible labels identifying the circuit breaker as being suitable for protecting #3/0 AWG cables supplying power to the specified machines.
9. Circuit breakers used to protect #2/0 AWG cables exceeding 850 feet in length supplying power to 600 VDC machines shall have instantaneous trip units calibrated to trip at 900 amps. The trip setting of these circuit breakers shall be sealed to ensure that the settings cannot be changed. These circuit breakers shall have permanent legible labels identifying the circuit breaker as being suitable for protecting #2/0 AWG cables supplying power to the specified machines.
10. Replacement circuit breakers and instantaneous trip units used to protect trailing cables covered by this petition shall be calibrated, sealed, and labeled as specified in this Proposed Decision and Order.
11. All components that provide short-circuit protection shall have a sufficient interruption rating in accordance with the maximum calculated fault currents available. All circuit breakers used to protect trailing cables exceeding the maximum length specified in 30 CFR § 18.35(a)(5)(i) shall have instantaneous trip units properly calibrated and adjusted to trip at no more than smallest of the following values:
a. the setting specified in 30 CFR § 75.601-1;
b. the setting specified in the approval documentation for the machine; or
c. 70% of the minimum phase to phase short circuit current available at the end of the trailing cable.
The short circuit analysis shall be updated whenever changes are made to the mine power system that affect the fault current available at the end of the affected trailing cables and the specified settings used to protect these trailing cables. An updated short circuit analysis which accurately determines the minimum phase to phase short circuit current available at the end of the affected trailing cables shall be made available to MSHA personnel upon request.
12. At the beginning of each production shift, persons designated by the mine operator shall visually examine the trailing cables to ensure that they are in safe operating condition. The instantaneous settings of the specially calibrated circuit breakers shall also be visually examined to ensure that the seals or locks have not been removed and that they do not exceed the settings specified in this Proposed Decision and Order.
13. Any trailing cable that is not in safe operating condition shall be removed from service immediately and repaired or replaced.
14. Each splice or repair in the trailing cables shall be made in a workmanlike manner and in accordance with the instructions of the manufacturer of the splice or repair materials. The outer jacket of each splice or repair shall be vulcanized with flame resistant material or made with material that has been accepted by MSHA as flame resistant. Splices shall comply with the requirements of 30 CFR §§ 75.603 and 75.604.
15. Permanent warning labels shall be installed and maintained on the cover(s) of the power center or distribution box identifying the location of each sealed or locked short-circuit protective device. These labels shall warn miners not to change or alter these sealed short-circuit settings, and any sign of tampering with the specially calibrated circuit breaker or trip unit will require the replacement of the circuit breaker with another calibrated, sealed and/or locked trip unit. All cable couplers for these cables shall be constructed or designed, for example keyed or sized, to permit only the proper type and length of cable to be plugged into the receptacle with the proper settings.
16. In the event the mining methods or operating procedures cause or contribute to the damage of any trailing cable, the cable shall be removed from service immediately and repaired or replaced. Also, additional precautions shall be taken to ensure that haulage roads and trailing cable storage areas are situated to minimize contact of the trailing cable with continuous miners, loading machines, shuttle cars, roof bolting machines, and section ventilation fans. Moreover, trailing cable anchors on cable reel equipment shall be of the permanent type that minimizes the tensile forces on the trailing cables.
17. Where the method of mining requires that trailing cables cross roadways or haulage ways, the cables shall be securely supported from the mine roof, or a substantial bridge for equipment to pass over the cables shall be provided and used.
18. Excessive cable shall be stored behind the anchor, on equipment that use cable reels, to prevent cables from overheating.
19. The Petitioner’s alternate method shall not be implemented until miners who have been designated to examine the integrity of seals or locks, to verify the short-circuit settings, and to examine trailing cables for defects and damage, have received the training specified in Item 20.
20. Within 60 days after this Proposed Decision and Order becomes final, the Petitioner shall submit proposed revisions for its approved 30 CFR Part 48 training plan to the District Manager for Mine Safety and Health Enforcement the area in which the mine is located. The proposed revisions shall specify task training, for persons who perform the examinations listed in Item 12, that includes the following elements:
(a) Training in the mining methods and operating procedures that will protect the trailing cables against damage;
(b) Training in proper procedures for examining the trailing cables to ensure that they are in safe condition;
(c) Training in the hazards of setting the short circuit interrupting device(s) too high to adequately protect the trailing cables; and
(d) Training in how to verify that the circuit interrupting device(s) protecting the trailing cable(s) are properly set and maintained.
(e) Training on how to protect trailing cables against damage caused by overheating when excessive cable is stored on the cable reel, and the importance of adjusting stored cable behind the cable anchor as tramming distances change.
The procedures, as specified in 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 matter must file in accordance with 30 CFR § 44.14, within 30 days. The request for hearing must be filed with the Administrator for Mine Safety and Health Enforcement, 201 12th Street South, Arlington, Virginia 22202-5452.
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 may 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.
/s/
Timothy R. Watkins
Administrator for
Mine Safety and Health Enforcement
Certificate of Service
I hereby certify that a copy of this proposed decision was served personally or mailed, postage prepaid, or provided by other electronic means this _20th May , 2020, to:
Gary Thweatt
General Manager of Operations
18033 County Road 500 East
Dahlgren, IL 62828
gary.thweatt@arlp.com
Michael D. Hathaway
Health and Safety Manager & Miner’s Representative
440 Peak Road
Harrisburg, IL 62946
Mike.Hathaway@arlp.com
/s/
Rodney Adamson
Mine Safety and Health Specialist May 20, 2020
cc: Tom Benner, Director, Office of Mines and Minerals, Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, IL 62702-1271; DNR.MMLRD@illinoia s.gov