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. Genwal Coal Company (Amendment)

[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.

42-01715) located in Emery County, Utah. The petitioner proposes to use

belt air to ventilate the face area; 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; and to 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.

2. Three Way Coal Company

[Docket No. M-94-117-C]

Three Way Coal Company, P.O. Box 17, Brachdale, Pennsylvania 17923

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

(hoisting equipment; general) to its Little Vein Slope (I.D. No. 36-

08332) 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.

3. Red Oak Mining Company

[Docket No. M-94-118-C]

Red Oak Mining Company, P.O. Box 210, Westover, Pennsylvania 16692

has filed to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1103-4(a)(3)

(automatic fire sensor and warning device systems) to its South Mine

(I.D. No. 36-07810) located in Cambria County, Pennsylvania. The

petitioner proposes to install a low-level carbon monoxide detection

system as an early warning fire detection system in all belt entries

where a monitoring system identifies a sensor location instead of

having a detection system in each belt flight. The petitioner states

that the carbon monoxide monitoring system would be capable of

providing both a visual and audible alarm signal that would be

activated when the carbon monoxide level at any sensor reaches 10 ppm

above the ambient level of the mine, and that all miners would be

withdrawn to a safe location unless the cause for the alarm is

determined not be hazardous to the miners. The petitioner asserts that

the proposed alternate method would provide at least the same measure

of protection as would the mandatory standard.

4. Red Oak Mining Company

[Docket No. M-94-119-C]

Red Oak Mining Company, P.O. Box 210, Westover, Pennsylvania 16692

has filed to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.350 (air courses and

belt haulage entries) to its South Mine (I.D. No. 36-07810) located in

Cambria County, Pennsylvania. The petitioner proposes to install a low-

level carbon monoxide detection system as an early warning fire

detection system in conveyor belt entries used as intake air courses

that would provide both visual and audible alarm signals when the

carbon monoxide level at any sensor is 10 ppm above the ambient level

for the mine, when an audible alarm signal is different from the alert

signal, and when the carbon monoxide level reaches 15 ppm above the

ambient level for the mine. The petitioner asserts that the proposed

alternate method would provide at least the same measure of protection

as would the mandatory standard.

5. Somerset Mining Company

[Docket No. M-94-120-C]

Somerset Mining Company, P.O. Box 535, Somerset, Colorado 81434 has

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

courses and belt haulage entries) to its Sanborn Creek Mine (I.D. No.

05-04452) located in Gunnison County, Colorado. The petitioner proposes

to use belt air to ventilate active working places in order to enhance

the operator's ability to ventilate remote sections of the mine. 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.

6. Arclar Company

[Docket No. M-94-121-C]

Arclar Company, 29 West Raymond, P.O. Box 444, Harrisburg, Illinois

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

75.360(b)(6) (preshift examination) to its Big Ridge Mine (I.D. No. 11-

02879) located in Saline County, Illinois. The petitioner proposes to

conduct preshift examinations of the intake air at specified locations

to determine the quality and quantity of the air reporting to the

operating unit and to examine the neck areas for any changes in roof

conditions on a weekly basis. The petitioner states that a six month

history of preshift examinations have shown no quantity of methane or

oxygen deficiency. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternate

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

the mandatory standard.

7. Freeman United Coal Mining Company

[Docket No. M-94-122-C]

Freeman United Coal Mining Company, P.O. Box 100, West Frankfort,

Illinois 62896-0100 has filed a petition to modify the application of

30 CFR 75.1002 (location of trolley wires, trolley feeder wires, high-

voltage cables and transformers) to its Orient No. 6 Mine (I.D. No. 11-

00599) located in Jefferson County, Illinois. The petitioner proposes

to use 2400 volt cables to power longwall equipment inby the last open

crosscut and within 150 feet of pillar workings (gob) areas. The

petitioner asserts that the proposed alternate method would provide at

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

8. B&M Coal Company

[Docket No. M-94-123-C]

B&M Coal Company, Box 37, Dilliner, Pennsylvania 15327 has filed an

amended petition for its B&M No. 2 Mine (I.D. No. 36-06126) located in

Greene County, Pennsylvania. The petitioner requests that previous

petition, docket number M-91-102-C, for 30 CFR 75.362 be amended. The

petitioner requests that Item No. 15 of the previous petition be

amended to include language requiring intake escapeways to be

maintained in accordance with new mandatory standard 30 CFR 75.380

(f)(1) (Ventilation Final Rule of November 15, 1992). The petitioner

asserts that the proposed alternate method would provide at least the

same measure of protection as would the mandatory standard.

9. Kennecott Utah Copper

[Docket No. M-94-36-M]

Kennecott Utah Copper, 8362 West 10200 South, P.O. Box 525, Bingham

Canyon, Utah 84006-0525 has filed an amended petition to its previous

petition 30 CFR 56.9022, docket number M-86-20-M for its Concentrator

North (I.D. No. 42-00717) located in Salt Lake County, Utah. The

petitioner requests that the previous petition be amended to reflect

the new mandatory standard 30 CFR 56.9300 (d)(1) and (d)(3). The

petitioner proposes to post warning signs that impoundment roadway is

not bermed and caution must be used at each access point from the outer

roadway because of the structure of the tailings impoundment; to post

signs that limit speed at 15 MPH; to limit access to the impoundment

roadway to only authorized personnel required to be in the area for

inspecting and/or maintaining the pipeline in the area, in the

tailings, and/or the roadway. In addition, the petitioner proposes to

install a 24-inch diameter pipeline on the inside edge of the

impoundment roadway that serves as a continuous delineator to vehicle

drivers; to limit traffic on the roadway to one-way traffic; to limit

access to personnel required to have access to conduct inspections or

perform maintenance; to provide training to all authorized personnel

concerning special hazard recognition; and to issue a special license,

that would be updated every four years, to authorized drivers in the

area. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternate method would

provide at least same measure of protection as would the mandatory

standard.

10. Rock of Ages Corporation, and Swenson Granite Company, Inc.

(Subsidiary of Rock of Ages)

[Docket No. M-94-37-M]

Rock of Ages Corporation, P.O. Box 482, Barre, Vermont 05641 has

filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 56.19003 to its

Rock of Ages Lite Side (I.D. No. 43-00024); its Rock of Ages Dark Side

(I.D. No. 43-00023); and its Wells Lamson (I.D. No. 43-00063) all

located in Washington County, Vermont, and its Gray Quarry (I.D. No.

27-00083) located in Merrimack County, New Hampshire. The petitioner

requests relief from the mandatory standard as it applies to chain

drives between the driving mechanism and the gear train of the hoists,

allowing the use of chain drives for such application. 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 26, 1994.

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

Dated: August 18, 1994.

Patricia W. Silvey,

Director, Office of Standards, Regulations and Variances.

[FR Doc. 94-20946 Filed 8-24-94; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4510-43-P