Petitions for Modification

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration

Petitions for Modification

The following parties have filed petitions to modify the

application of mandatory safety standards under section 101(c) of the

Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977.

1. Little Rock Coal Company

[Docket No. M-94-43-C]

Little Rock Coal Company, RD #2, Box 40, Hegins, Pennsylvania 17938

has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.364(b)(1),

(4) and (5) (weekly examination) to its Lykens Valley #1 Vein Slope

(I.D. No. 36-08320) located in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. Due to

hazardous conditions, daily or weekly traveling of the intake air

course significantly increases the fall potential. The petitioner

proposes to examine the intake haulage slope and primary escapeway from

the gunboat/slope car with an alternative air quality evaluation at the

section's intake level, and to travel and thoroughly examine these

areas for hazardous conditions once a month. The petitioner asserts

that the proposed alternate method would provide at least the same

measure of protection as would the mandatory standard.

2. K & L Coal Company

[Docket No. M-94-44-C]

K & L Coal Company, RD #1, Box 266, Shamokin, Pennsylvania 17872

has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1200(i)

(mine map) to its No. 1 Slope (I.D. No. 36-06649) located in

Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. The petitioner proposes to limit

the mapping of mine workings above and below to those present within

100 feet of the vein being mined except when veins are interconnected

to other veins beyond the 100 feet limit through rock tunnels. The

petitioner asserts that the proposed alternate method would provide at

least the same measure of protection as would the mandatory standard.

3. K & L Coal Company

[Docket No. M-94-45-C]

K & L Coal Company, RD #1, Box 266, Shamokin, Pennsylvania 17872

has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1100-2(a)

(quantity and location of firefighting equipment) to its No. 1 Slope

(I.D. No. 36-06649) located in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. The

petitioner proposes to use only portable fire extinguishers to replace

existing requirements where rock dust, water cars, and other water

storage are not practical. The petitioner asserts that the proposed

alternative method would provide at least the same measure of

protection as would the mandatory standard.

4. K & L Coal Company

[Docket No. M-94-46-C]

K & L Coal Company, RD #1, Box 266, Shamokin, Pennsylvania 17872

has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1202-1(a)

(temporary notations, revisions, and supplements) to its No. 1 Slope

(I.D. No. 36-06649) located in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. The

petitioner proposes to revise and supplement mine maps on an annual

basis instead of the required 6 month interval and to update maps daily

by hand notations. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternate

method would provide at least the same measure of protection as would

the mandatory standard.

5. K & L Coal Company

[Docket No. M-94-47-C]

K & L Coal Company, RD #1, Box 266, Shamokin, Pennsylvania 17872

has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.360

(preshift examination) to its No. 1 Slope (I.D. No. 36-06649) located

in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. The petitioner proposes to

examine each seal for physical damage from the slope gunboat during the

pre-shift examination after an air quantity reading is taken inby the

intake portal and to test for the quantity and quality of air at the

intake air split locations off the slope in the gangway portion of the

working section. The petitioner proposes to physically examine the

entire length of the slope once a month. The petitioner asserts that

the proposed alternate method would provide at least the same measure

of protection as would the mandatory standard.

6. K & L Coal Company

[Docket No. M-94-48-C]

K & L Coal Company, RD #1, Box 266, Shamokin, Pennsylvania 17872

has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.364(b)(1),

(4) and (5) (weekly examination) to its No. 1 Slope (I.D. No. 36-06649)

located in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. Due to hazardous

conditions, daily or weekly traveling of the intake air course

significantly increases the fall potential. The petitioner proposes to

examine the intake haulage slope and primary escapeway from the

gunboat/slope car with an alternative air quality evaluation at the

section's intake level, and to travel and thoroughly examine these

areas for hazardous conditions once a month. The petitioner asserts

that the proposed alternate method would provide at least the same

measure of protection as would the mandatory standard.

7. Harman Mining Corporation

[Docket No. M-94-49-C]

Harman Mining Corporation, P.O. Box 60, Harman, Virginia 24628 has

filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 77.215(j) (refuse

piles; construction requirements) to its Coal Preparation Plant (I.D.

No. 44-02714) located in Buchanan County, Virginia. The petitioner

proposes to continue monitoring the refuse pile, I.D. No. 1211-VA5-

0005.05 by subsurface investigation and thermal monitoring instead of

extinguishing the refuse pile fire. The petitioner states that

application of the standard would result in a diminution of safety for

the miners. In addition, the petitioner asserts that the proposed

alternate method would provide at least the same measure of protection

as would the mandatory standard.

8. Consolidation Coal Company

[Docket No. M-94-50-C]

Consolidation Coal Company, 1800 Washington Road, Pittsburgh,

Pennsylvania 15241-1421 has filed a petition to modify the application

of 30 CFR 75.364(b)(1)(weekly examination) to its Robinson Run No. 95

Mine (I.D. No. 46-01318) located in Harrison County, West Virginia. Due

to deteriorating roof and rib conditions, the Shaft Circle air course

located near the intersection of 94 block, Main North to Oakdale Shaft,

cannot be traveled safely. The petitioner proposes to establish check

points CP #1, CP #2, and CP #3 to monitor the quantity of air

ventilating the affected area; and to have a certified person test for

methane and the quantity of air on a weekly basis and record the

results in a record book kept on the surface and made available to all

interested persons. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternate

method would provide at least the same measure of protection as would

the mandatory standard.

9. Consolidation Coal Company

[Docket No. M-94-51-C]

Consolidation Coal Company, 1800 Washington Road, Pittsburgh,

Pennsylvania 15241-1421 has filed a petition to modify the application

of 30 CFR 75.364(b) (weekly examination) to its Loveridge No. 22 Mine

(I.D. No. 46-01433) located in Marion County, West Virginia. Due to

deteriorating roof and rib conditions in the air course along the West

Side of the Main North entries that flow south from 1 North (adjacent

to 3 North Crossover Seals) to the junction with the 1 West entries,

the entire area cannot be traveled safely. The petitioner proposes to

establish check points to monitor the quantity of air; and to have a

certified person test for methane and the quantity of air on a weekly

basis and record the results in a record book kept on the surface and

made available to all interested persons. The petitioner asserts that

the proposed alternate method would provide at least the same measure

of protection as would the mandatory standard.

10. Consolidation Coal Company

[Docket No. M-94-52-C]

Consolidation Coal Company, 1800 Washington Road, Pittsburgh,

Pennsylvania 15241-1421 has filed a petition to modify the application

of 30 CFR 75.364(b) (2), (4) and (c)(3) (weekly examination) to its

Ireland Mine (I.D. No. 46-01438) located in Marshall County, West

Virginia. Due to deteriorating roof and rib conditions in the 4 South

seals and certain air courses from the 4 South seals to the No. 2 Fan,

the area cannot be traveled safely. The petitioner proposes to change

the location of air measuring stations ``C'' and ``D'' and to continue

evaluating daily air measuring stations ``A'' and ``B'' that were

established in Decision and Order dated July 17, 1989, Docket No. M-88-

252-C; to post a sign in the adjacent travel entry designating the

location of these measuring stations in the adjacent travel entry; to

establish an air measuring station ``F'' on the surface at Ireland Mine

No. 2 Fan in lieu of air measuring stations ``C'' and ``D''; and to

have a certified person monitor each air measuring station daily and

record the results in a book that would be provided at each air

measuring station and on the surface and made available to all

interested persons. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternate

method would provide at least the same measure of protection as would

the mandatory standard.

11. Kerr-McGee Coal Corporation

[Docket No. M-94-53-C]

Kerr-McGee Coal Corporation, P.O. Box 727, Harrisburg, Illinois

62946 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.503

(permissible electric face equipment; maintenance) to its Galatia Mine

(I.D. No. 11-02752) located in Saline County, Illinois. The petitioner

proposes to use electric motor-driven mine equipment in a longwall

recovery room. This equipment would serve as a power center

(transformer) in intake air to furnish power to roofbolters with a 1200

foot long, Number 2, G-GC, 2KV trail cable, protected for a short

circuit fault with an instantaneous circuit breaker set at not more

than 600 amperes at all points of the recovery room. The petitioner

asserts that the proposed alternate method would provide at least the

same measure of protection as would the mandatory standard.

12. Buck Mountain Coal Company No. 2

[Docket No. M-94-54-C]

Buck Mountain Coal Company No. 2, R.D. #2, Box 425-B2, Pine Grove,

Pennsylvania 17963 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30

CFR 75.332 (b)(1) and (b)(2) (working sections and working places) to

its Buck Mountain Slope (I.D. No. 36-02053) located in Schuylkill

County, Pennsylvania. The petitioner proposes to use air passing

through inaccessible abandoned workings and additional areas by mixing

with the air in the intake haulage slope to ventilate the only active

working section, to ensure air quality by sampling intake air during

pre-shift and on-shift examinations, and to suspend mine production

when air quality fails to meet specified criteria. The petitioner

asserts that the proposed alternate method would provide at least the

same measure of protection as would the mandatory standard.

13. Eighty-Four Mining Company

[Docket No. M-94-55-C]

Eighty-Four Mining Company, P.O. Box 729, Indiana, Pennsylvania

15701 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1101-

8(a) (water sprinkler systems; arrangement of sprinklers) to its Mine

84 (I.D. No. 36-00958) located in Washington County, Pennsylvania. The

petitioner proposes to install a thermostat device on the electrical

control side of the belt so that when it is activated it would de-

energize the belt control side of the Combination Box and trigger an

audible and visual alarm to miner's working in the immediate area; to

have a qualified person examine, test, and properly maintain on a

weekly basis each Combination Box to assure safe operating conditions;

and to record the results of each examination in a book. The petitioner

states that application of the standard would result in a diminution of

safety to the miners. In addition, the petitioner asserts that the

proposed alternate method would provide at least the same measure of

protection as would the mandatory standard.

14. Soldier Creek Coal Company

[Docket No. M-94-56-C]

Soldier Creek Coal Company, P.O. Box 1029, Wellington, Utah 84542

has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.380(d)(4)

(escapeways; bituminous and lignite mines) to its Soldier Canyon Mine

(I.D. No. 42-00077) located in Carbon County, Utah. The petitioner

requests a modification of the standard to allow the 4 foot wide

stairway at overcasts installed prior to November 16, 1992 to be used

as an underground escapeway instead of using a 6 foot wide escapeway.

The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternate method would provide

at least the same measure of protection as would the mandatory

standard.

15. Cyprus Sierrita Corporation

[Docket No. M-94-01-M]

Cyprus Sierrita Corporation, 9100 E. Mineral Circle, Englewood,

California 80112 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30

CFR 56.6309 (fuel oil requirements for ANFO) to its Sierrita Mine (I.D.

No. 02-00144) located in Pima County, Arizona. The petitioner proposes

to blend recycled oil with fuel oil to create a blasting agent. The

petitioner asserts that the proposed alternate method would provide at

least the same measure of protection as would the mandatory standard.

Request for Comments

Persons interested in these petitions may furnish written comments.

These comments must be filed with the Office of Standards, Regulations

and Variances, Mine Safety and Health Administration, room 627, 4015

Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia 22203. All comments must be

postmarked or received in that office on or before June 13, 1994.

Copies of these petitions are available for inspection at that address.

Dated: May 5, 1994.

Patricia W. Silvey,

Director, Office of Standards, Regulations and Variances.

[FR Doc. 94-11573 Filed 5-11-94; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4510-43-P