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. CONSOL of Kentucky, Inc.

[Docket No. M-94-60-C]

CONSOL of Kentucky, Inc., 1800 Washington Road, Pittsburgh,

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

of 30 CFR 75.1101-8 (water sprinkler system; arrangement of sprinklers)

to its Jones Fork Mine (I.D. No. 15-17496) located in Knott County,

Kentucky. The petitioner proposes to use a single overhead pipe system

with \1/2\ inch orifice automatic sprinklers located on 10 feet centers

to cover 50 feet of fire-resistant belt or 150 feet of non-fire-

resistant belt with actuation temperatures between 200 and 230 degrees

fahrenheit with water pressure equal to or greater than 10 psi. The

petitioner states that the sprinklers would be located 10 feet apart so

that the discharge of water will extend over the belt drive, belt take-

up, electrical control, and gear reducing unit. The petitioner asserts

that the proposed alternate method would provide at least the same

measure of protection as would the mandatory standard.

2. Cyprus Emerald Resources Corporation

[Docket No. M-94-61-C]

Cyprus Emerald Resources Corporation, 9100 East Mineral Circle,

Englewood, Colorado 80112 has filed a petition to modify the

application of 30 CFR 75.507 (power connection points) to its Emerald

Mine No. 1 (I.D. No. 36-05466) located in Greene County, Pennsylvania.

The petitioner proposes to use a non-permissible submersible pump in

the longwall bleeder sump near the No. 2 bleeder shaft for dewatering

the sump and to provide unrestricted airflow into the return shaft. The

petitioner states that task training will be provided for all selected

mine electricians who will perform electrical work on these pumps; and

that the surface pump control and power circuits will be examined

monthly. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternate method

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

mandatory standard.

3. Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.

[Docket No. M-94-62-C]

Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., 600 Grant Street, Pittsburgh,

Pennsylvania 15219 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30

CFR 77.213 (draw-off tunnel escapeways) to its Cambria Cogeneration

Facility (I.D. No. 36-08276) located in Cambria County, Pennsylvania.

The petitioner proposes to have an escapeway not less than 30 inches in

diameter from the tunnel within 24 feet of the tail roller at the

closed end of the tunnel; to install a cable type heat detection system

set at 140 degrees fahrenheit in the enclosed portion of the tunnel; to

install heat activated sprinklers in the tunnel; to install a CO

monitoring sensor in the tunnel near the tail roller to activate a

visual alarm in the tail roller area and in the Main and Fuel Handling

Control rooms when a level of 30 ppm is reached; and to install a pull

cord throughout the tunnel to stop the belt. The petitioner asserts

that the proposed alternate method would provide at least the same

measure of protection as would the mandatory standard.

4. Misty Mountain Mining, Inc.

[Docket No. M-94-63-C]

Misty Mountain Mining, Inc., P.O. Box 517, Barbourville, Kentucky

40906 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.342

(methane monitors) to its Mine No. 2 (I.D. No. 15-17314) located in

Knox County, Kentucky. The petitioner proposes to monitor continuously

with a hand-held deck-mounted methane and oxygen detector instead of

using a methane monitoring system on permissible three-wheel tractors

with drag bottom buckets. The petitioner asserts that the proposed

alternative method would provide at least the same measure of

protection as would the mandatory standard.

5. Bell County Coal Corporation

[Docket No. M-94-64-C]

Bell County Coal Corporation, P.O. Box 758, Middlesboro, Kentucky

40965 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR

75.360(b)(6) (preshift examination) to its Stone Mine No. 2 (I.D. No.

15-09568) located in Bell County, Kentucky. The petitioner proposes to

establish evaluation points to monitor the air in areas that were mined

prior to the date new ventilation regulations went into effect. The

petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method would not

jeopardize the safety of the miners at Stone Mine.

6. Tilden Magnetite Partnership

[Docket No. M-94-29-M]

Tilden Magnetite Partnership, P.O. Box 2000, Ishpeming, Michigan

49849 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 56/

57.18010 (first aid training) to its Tilden Mine (I.D. No. 20-00422)

located in Marquette County, Michigan. The petitioner requests that the

standard be modified to include Michigan State Certified Emergency

Medical Technicians and First Responders as equivalent to ``selected

supervisors'' for the purpose of determining adequate coverage of

trained first aid personnel. The petitioner states that modification of

the standard would allow for the inclusion of those employees that have

had advanced training and are currently licensed as Emergency Medical

Technicians or First Responders to be considered as part of the total

number of trained first aid personnel and is not meant to preclude the

necessity of training additional members of the work force in standard

first aid methods to assure adequate coverage on all shifts. The

petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide

at least the same measure of protection as would the mandatory

standard.

7. General Chemical Corporation

[Docket No. M-94-30-M]

General Chemical Corporation, Green River Soda Ash Operations, P.O.

Box 551, Green River, Wyoming 82935-0551 has filed a petition to modify

the application of 30 CFR 57.22305 (approved equipment III Mines) to

its General Chemical Mine (I.D. No. 48-00155) located in Sweetwater

County, Wyoming. The petitioner proposes to use Motorola Radio's P200,

Model #H43RFU7160BN, 2.5-5 watts for communication purposes while

riding the #5 shaft emergency escape hoist for inspection purposes or

when necessary to utilize this hoist in an emergency. The petitioner

states that the use of radios would allow personnel in the five-man

bullet type hoist to have direct communication with the hoistman or a

shaft hand that will bell signals to the hoistman; and that when using

the radios in the shaft, methane would be continuously monitored and

when 0.5 percent or more of methane is found, use of the radios would

be suspended until the methane level was below 0.5 percent. The

petitioner asserts that the proposed alternate method would provide at

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

8. Mitsubishi Cement Corporation

[Docket No. M-94-31-M]

Mitsubishi Cement Corporation, 5808 State Hwy. 18, Lucerne Valley,

California 92356 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30

CFR 57.13020 (use of compressed air) to its Cushenbury Plant (I.D. No.

04-00157) located in San Bernardino County, California. The petitioner

proposes to establish blow-off stations at various places in the plant

where employees can clean their clothes with compressed air. This

compressed air would have an OSHA-approved nozzle with pressure no

greater than 2-6 psi at normal average line pressure. The petitioner

proposes to install tamper-proof airline regulators at each station to

ensure that primary operating air pressure is consistent; and to post

rules for employees to follow when using compressed air to clean their

clothes. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternate method

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

mandatory standard.

9. Cominco Alaska Incorporated

[Docket No. M-94-32-M]

Cominco Alaska Incorporated, P.O. Box 1230, Kotzebue, Alaska 99752

has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 56.6306(b)

(loading and blasting) to its Red Dog Mine (I.D. No. 50-01545) located

in Northwest Arctic, Alaska. The petitioner proposes to charge blast

holes immediately after the drill has completed drilling a blasthole

and has moved to the next hole location. The petitioner asserts that

the proposed alternate method would enhance the safety of the miners at

Red Dog Mine.

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 July 6, 1994. Copies

of these petitions are available for inspection at that address.

Dated: June 1, 1994.

Patricia W. Silvey,

Director, Office of Standards, Regulations and Variances.

[FR Doc. 94-13685 Filed 6-3-94; 8:45 am]

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