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. H. L. & W. Coal Company

[Docket No. M-94-100-C]

H. L. & W. Coal Company, 14 Maple Street, Pine Grove, Pennsylvania

17963 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.335

(construction of seals) to its H. L. & W. Slope No. 2 (I.D. No. 36-

07269) located in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. The petitioner

requests a modification of the standard to permit alternative methods

of seal construction using wooden materials of moderate size and weight

due to the difficulty in accessing previously driven headings and

breasts containing inaccessible abandoned workings; to accept a design

criterion in the 10 psi range; and to permit the water trap to be

installed in the gangway seal and sampling tube in the monkey seal for

seals installed in pairs. The petitioner asserts that the proposed

alternate method would provide at least the same measure of protection

as would the mandatory standard.

2. H. L. & W. Coal Company

[Docket No. M-94-101-C]

H. L. & W. Coal Company, 14 Maple Street, Pine Grove, Pennsylvania

17963 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.340

(underground electrical installations) to its H. L. & W. Slope No. 2

(I.D. No. 36-07269) located in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. As an

alternative to removing the batteries and transporting them in the

gunboat to the surface for charging, the petitioner proposes to charge

batteries on the mine's locomotive when all miners are out of the mine

and to have the intake air which is used to ventilate the charging

station continue through its normal route to the last open crosscut and

into the monkey airway (return). The petitioner asserts that the

proposed alternate method would provide at least the same measure of

protection as would the mandatory standard.

3. H. L. & W. Coal Company

[Docket No. M-94-102-C]

H. L. & W. Coal Company, 14 Maple Street, Pine Grove, Pennsylvania

17963 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.360

(preshift examination) to its H. L. & W. Slope No. 2 (I.D. No. 36-

07269) located in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. The petitioner

proposes to examine each seal for physical damage from the slope

gunboat during the preshift 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.

4. H. L. & W. Coal Company

[Docket No. M-94-103-C]

H. L. & W. Coal Company, 14 Maple Street, Pine Grove, Pennsylvania

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

75.364(b)(1), (4), and (5) (weekly examination) to its H. L. & W. Slope

No. 2 (I.D. No. 36-07269) located in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania.

Due to hazardous conditions and roof falls, certain areas of the intake

haulage slope and primary escapeway cannot be traveled safely. The

petitioner proposes to examine these areas 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.

5. H. L. & W. Coal Company

[Docket No. M-94-104-C]

H. L. & W. Coal Company, 14 Maple Street, Pine Grove, Pennsylvania

17963 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1100-

2(a)(2) (quantity and location of firefighting equipment) to its H. L.

& W. Slope No. 2 (I.D. No. 36-07269) located in Schuylkill 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 alternate method would provide at least the same

measure of protection as would the mandatory standard.

6. H. L. & W. Coal Company

[Docket No. M-94-105-C]

H. L. & W. Coal Company, 14 Maple Street, Pine Grove, Pennsylvania

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

75.1200(d) & (i) (mine map) to its H. L. & W. Slope No. 2 (I.D. No. 36-

07269) located in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. The petitioner

proposes to use cross-sections instead of contour lines through the

intake slope, at locations of rock tunnel connections between veins,

and at 1,000 feet intervals of advance from the intake slope and 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.

7. H. L. & W. Coal Company

[Docket No. M-94-106-C]

H. L. & W. Coal Company, 14 Maple Street, Pine Grove, Pennsylvania

17963 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1202-

1(a) (temporary notations, revisions, and supplements) to its H. L. &

W. Slope No. 2 (I.D. No. 36-07269) located in Schuylkill 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 alternative method would provide at least the same measure of

protection as would the mandatory standard.

8. Energy West Mining Company

[Docket No. M-94-107-C]

Energy West Mining Company, P.O. Box 310, Huntington, Utah 84528

has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.804(a)

(underground high-voltage cables) to its Deer Creek Mine (I.D. No. 42-

00121) located in Emery County, Utah. The petitioner requests a

modification of the standard to allow the use of Anaconda Type SHD+GC,

Piralli Type SHD-Center-GC, or Tiger Brand Type SHD-CGC MSHA-approved

flame resistant cables with a flexible No. 16 A.W.G. ground check

conductor for the ground continuity check circuit, on high-voltage

longwall systems. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternate

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

mandatory standard.

9. Sky High Coal Company

[Docket No. M-94-108-C]

Sky High Coal Company, R.D. #4, Box 393A, Pine Grove, Pennsylvania

17963 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.335

(construction of seals) to its L. V. No. 3 Slope (I.D. No. 36-08405)

located in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. The petitioner requests a

modification of the standard to permit alternative methods of seal

construction using wooden materials of moderate size and weight due to

the difficulty in accessing previously driven headings and breasts

containing inaccessible abandoned workings; to accept a design

criterion in the 10 psi range; and to permit the water trap to be

installed in the gangway seal and sampling tube in the monkey seal for

seals installed in pairs. The petitioner asserts that the proposed

alternate method would provide at least the same measure of protection

as would the mandatory standard.

10. Sky High Coal Company

[Docket No. M-94-109-C]

Sky High Coal Company, R.D. #4, Box 393A, Pine Grove, Pennsylvania

17963 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.360

(preshift examination) to its L. V. No. 3 Slope (I.D. No. 36-08405)

located in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. The petitioner proposes to

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

preshift examination after an air quantity reading is taken in by 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.

11. Sky High Coal Company

[Docket No. M-94-110-C]

Sky High Coal Company, R.D. #4, Box 393A, Pine Grove, Pennsylvania

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

75.364(b) (1), (4), and (5) (weekly examination) to its L. V. No. 3

Slope (I.D. No. 36-08405) located in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania.

Due to hazardous conditions and roof falls, certain areas of the intake

haulage slope and primary escapeway cannot be traveled safely. The

petitioner proposes to examine these areas 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.

12. Sky High Coal Company

[Docket No. M-94-111-C]

Sky High Coal Company, R.D. #4, Box 393A, Pine Grove, Pennsylvania

17963 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1100-

2(a)(2) (quantity and location of firefighting equipment) to its L. V.

No. 3 Slope (I.D. No. 36-08405) located in Schuylkill 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 alternate method would provide at least the same

measure of protection as would the mandatory standard.

13. Sky High Coal Company

[Docket No. M-94-112-C]

Sky High Coal Company, R.D. #4, Box 393A, Pine Grove, Pennsylvania

17963 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1200

(d) & (i) (mine map) to its L. V. No. 3 Slope (I.D. No. 36-08405)

located in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. The petitioner proposes to

use cross-sections instead of contour lines through the intake slope,

at locations of rock tunnel connections between veins, and at 1,000

feet intervals of advance from the intake slope and 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.

14. Sky High Coal Company

[Docket No. M-94-113-C]

Sky High Coal Company, R.D. #4, Box 393A, Pine Grove, Pennsylvania

17963 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1202-

1(a) (temporary notations, revisions, and supplements) to its L. V. No.

3 Slope (I.D. No. 36-08405) located in Schuylkill 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 alternative

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

the mandatory standard.

15. Consolidation Coal Company

[Docket No. M-94-114-C]

Consolidation Coal Company, 1800 Washington Road, Pittsburgh,

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

of 30 CFR 75.503 (permissible electric face equipment; maintenance) to

its Dilworth Mine (I.D. No. 36-04281) located in Greene County,

Pennsylvania. The petitioner proposes to use 800 feet trailing cables

with three-phase 480 volt to supply power to loading machines, shuttle

cars, roof bolters and section ventilation fans while developing

longwall panels. The petitioner states that the cables would not be

smaller than No. 4 A.W.G. for the ventilation fans, center bolters, and

shuttle cars and not smaller than No. 2 A.W.G. for the loading

machines; and that adequate training would be provided to all miners

designated necessary by the operator. The petitioner asserts that the

proposed alternate method would provide at least the same measure of

protection as would the mandatory standard.

16. R & S Coal Company

[Docket No. M-94-115-C]

R & S Coal Company, 8 West Main Street, Goodspring, Pennsylvania

17981 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1400

(hoisting equipment; general) to its Primrose Slope (I.D. No. 36-08221)

located in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. Because of the steep,

frequently changing pitch and numerous curves and knuckles in the main

haulage slope, the petitioner proposes to use the gunboat without

safety catches in transporting persons. As an alternative, when using

the gunboat to transport persons, the petitioner proposes to use an

increased rope strength safety factor and secondary safety connections

which are securely fastened around the gunboat and to the hoisting rope

above the main connecting device. The petitioner asserts that the

proposed alternate method would provide at least the same measure of

protection as would the mandatory standard.

17. Genwal Coal Company

[Docket No. M-94-116-C]

Genwal Coal Company, P.O. Box 1420, Huntington, Utah 84528 has

filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.350 (air

courses and belt haulage entries) to its Crandall Canyon Mine (I.D. No.

40-01715) located in Emery County, Utah. The petitioner proposes to use

belt air to ventilate the face area and to install a low-level carbon

monoxide detection system that would provide both visual and audible

alarm signals as an early warning device in belt entries used as intake

air courses, which would provide two separate and distinct intake air

escapeways to the miners working in the development sections. The

petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative 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 September 9, 1994.

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

Dated: August 1, 1994.

Patricia W. Silvey,

Director, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances.

[FR Doc. 94-19471 Filed 8-9-94; 8:45 am]

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