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. C & C Coal Company

[Docket No. M-94-124-C]

C & C Coal Company, 100 E. Main Street, Ashland, Pennsylvania 17921

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

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

Primrose Slope (I.D. No. 36-08341) 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 alternative method would provide at least the same

measure of protection as would the mandatory standard.

2. C & C Coal Company

[Docket No. M-94-125-C]

C & C Coal Company, 100 E. Main Street, Ashland, Pennsylvania 17921

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

(mine map) to its Primrose Slope (I.D. No. 36-08341) located in

Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. The petitioner proposes to limit the

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

100 foot 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. C & C Coal Company

[Docket No. M-94-126-C]

C & C Coal Company, 100 E. Main Street, Ashland, Pennsylvania 17921

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

(temporary notations, revisions, and supplements) to its Primrose Slope

(I.D. No. 36-08341) 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.

4. Betty B. Coal Company

[Docket No. M-94-127-C]

Betty B. Coal Company, P.O. Box 1139, Coeburn, Virginia 24230 has

filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1710 (canopies

or cabs; electric face equipment) to its Betty B. Mine No. 12 (I.D. No.

44-06423) located in Wise County, Virginia. The petitioner requests

relief from the use of canopies on electric face equipment. The

petitioner states that the use of canopies would result in hazardous

conditions to the equipment operator.

5. L. L. & S. Coal Company

[Docket No. M-94-128-C]

L. L. & S. Coal Company, P.O. Box 148, Hegins, Pennsylvania 17938

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

(hoisting equipment; general) to its L. L. & S. Mine (I.D. No. 36-

08166) located in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. Because of 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 alternate, 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 alternative method would provide at least the same measure of

protection as would the mandatory standard.

6. Consolidation Coal Company

[Docket No. M-94-129-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 from the No. 5 Seal in the

Main East set of seals to the point of intersection with Main North of

the intake air course, traveling the affected area in its entirety

would be unsafe. The petitioner proposes to establish evaluation check

points; to have a certified person test for methane and the quantity of

air at each check point on a weekly basis; to have the certified person

initial, date, and record the results in a record book kept on the

surface; and to make the record book available for inspection by

interested persons. The petitioner asserts that the proposed

alternative method would provide at least the same measure of

protection as would the mandatory standard.

7. Martinka Coal Company

[Docket No. M-94-130-C]

Martinka Coal Company, 800 Laidley Tower, P.O. Box 1233,

Charleston, West Virginia 25324 has filed a petition to modify the

application of 30 CFR 75.364(b)(2) (weekly examination) to its Tygart

River Mine (I.D. No. 46-03805) located in Marion County, West Virginia.

Due to deteriorating conditions in certain areas of the return air

course, traveling the affected area in its entirety would be unsafe.

The petitioner proposes to establish five evaluation check points; to

have a certified person monitor for hazardous conditions, the volume

and direction of airflow, and the methane and oxygen concentrations in

the affected area at each check point on a weekly basis; to record the

results in a manner similar to that required by the mandatory standard;

and to locate a date board at each evaluation point which the examiner

would initial and record the date and time of the examination. The

petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide

at least the same measure of protection as would the mandatory

standard.

8. Monterey Coal Company

[Docket No. M-94-131-C]

Monterey Coal Company, Rural Route 4, Box 235, Carlinville,

Illinois 62626 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR

75.503 (permissible electric face equipment; maintenance) to its No. 1

Mine (I.D. No. 11-00726) located in Macoupin County, Illinois. The

petitioner proposes to use two Fletcher Model CDR-15 slim line

roofbolters near the end of the longwall panel to provide additional

support of the face in preparation for equipment transfer to the next

panel. These bolters would be equipped with No. 2 AWG G-GC portable

cables with 1200 feet of the cable reaching across the face from the

power center outby. The petitioner asserts that the proposed

alternative method would provide at least the same measure of

protection as would the mandatory standard.

9. Consolidation Coal Company

[Docket No. M-94-132-C]

Consolidation Coal Company, 1800 Washington Road, Pittsburgh,

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

of 30 CFR 75.1002 (trolley wires and trolley feeder wires, high-voltage

cables and transformers) to its Shoemaker Mine (I.D. No. 46-01436)

located in Marshall County, West Virginia. The petitioner proposes to

use high-voltage (4,160 volts) cables inby the last open crosscut to

supply power to longwall equipment. 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

alternative method would provide at least the same measure of

protection as would the mandatory standard.

10. Eastern Associated Coal Corporation

[Docket No. M-94-133-C and M-94-134-C]

Eastern Associated Coal Corporation, 800 Laidley Tower, P.O. Box

1233, Charleston, West Virginia 25324 has filed a petition to modify

the application of 30 CFR 75.503 (permissible electric face equipment;

maintenance) to its Lightfoot No. 1 Mine (I.D. No. 46-04332) and its

Lightfoot No. 2 Mine (I.D. No. 46-04955) both located in Boone County,

West Virginia. The petitioner proposes to use a threaded ring and a

spring loaded device on battery plug connectors for mobile battery-

powered machines to prevent the plug connector from accidently

disengaging while under load instead of using a padlock. The petitioner

asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide at least the

same measure of protection as would the mandatory standard.

11. K & S Coal Company

[Docket No. M-94-135-C]

K & S Coal Company, RD #2, Box 145, Hegins, Pennsylvania 17938 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 First Chance Slope

(I.D. No. 36-07629) 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 preshift and on-shift

examinations, and to suspend mine production when air quality fails to

meet specified criteria. 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 October 7, 1994.

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

Patricia W. Silvey,

Director, Office of Standards, Regulations and Variances.

[FR Doc. 94-21986 Filed 9-6-94; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4510-43-P