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. Canterbury Coal Co.

[Docket No. M-94-18-C]

Canterbury Coal Company, R.D. 1, Box 119, Avonmore, Pennsylvania

15618 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR

75.380(d)(5) (escapeways; bituminous and lignite mines) to its DiAnne

Mine (I.D. No. 36-05708) located in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. The

petitioner proposes to bypass a return airshaft and direct its

alternate or secondary escapeway past the return airshaft to the mine

slope; and to instruct all personnel instructed on escapeway and escape

procedures upon entering the mine. The petitioner asserts that the

proposed alternate method would provide at least the same measure of

protection as would the mandatory standard.

2. Utah Fuel Co.

[Docket No. M-94-19-C]

Utah Fuel Company, P.O. Box 719, Helper, Utah 84526-0719 has filed

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

(escapeways; bituminous and lignite mines) to its Skyline Mine No. 1

(I.D. No. 42-01435); and its Skyline Mine No. 3 (I.D. No. 42-01566)

both located in Carbon County, Utah. The petitioner proposes to

continue utilizing the five-foot wide stairways at overcasts in the

secondary escapeway which was installed prior to November 16, 1992. The

petitioner asserts that the proposed alternate method would provide at

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

3. Consolidation Coal Co.

[Docket No. M-94-20-C]

Consolidation Coal Company, Consol Plaza, 1800 Washington Road,

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania has filed a petition to modify the application

of 30 CFR 75.364(a)(2)(iii) (weekly examination) to its Buchanan No. 1

Mine (I.D. No. 44-04856) located in Buchanan County, Virginia. Due to

deteriorating roof conditions in the Northeast bleeder system,

traveling this area in its entirety would be unsafe. The petitioner

proposes to establish bleeder evaluation points #1, #2, #3, #4, and #5

to monitor the air as it enters and exits the affected area; to

relocate bleeder evaluation points #1 and #2 with each new longwall

panel; to have a certified person examine for the quantity, quality and

direction of the air on a weekly basis at each bleeder evaluation point

and record the results of examinations in a book kept on the surface

for inspection by all interested persons; and to maintain and monitor

the evaluation points until the affected area is sealed. The petitioner

asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide at least the

same measure of protection as would the mandatory standard.

4. Murphy's Branch, Inc.

[Docket No. M-94-21-C]

Murphy's Branch, Inc., P.O. Box 185, Thorpe, West Virginia 24888

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

and (5) (weekly examination) to its No. 2 Mine (I.D. No. 46-07452)

located in McDowell County, West Virginia. Due to deteriorating roof

conditions in the No. 2 intake entry from the mine portal inby 1 break,

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

the airway up to the first crosscut which is 100 feet from the mine

portal; to install man doors at the No. 1 crosscut between the No. 2

entry and both the No. 1 return entry and the No. 3 belt entry

(secondary escapeway); to install a box check between the No. 1 and No.

2 crosscut in the No. 3 belt entry and then vent the belt air to the

return in the No. 2 crosscut; to prohibit travel in the affected area;

to examine the air quality inby the No. 1 crosscut in the No. 2 entry

on a weekly basis and record the results in an appropriate book; and to

provide training and self-contained self-rescuers to all employees. The

petitioner asserts that the proposed alternate method would provide at

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

5. Murphy's Branch, Inc.

[Docket No. M-94-22-C]

Murphy's Branch, Inc., P.O. Box 185, Thorpe, West Virginia 24888

has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.380(b)(1)

and (f)(1) (escapeways; bituminous and lignite mines) to its No. 2 Mine

(I.D. No. 46-07452) located in McDowell County, West Virginia. Due to

deteriorating roof conditions in the No. 2 intake entry from the mine

portal inby 1 break, the area cannot be traveled safely. The petitioner

proposes to travel the airway except for the 100 feet from the mine

portal to the first crosscut; to install man doors at the No. 1

crosscut between the No. 2 entry and both the No. 1 return entry and

the No. 3 belt entry (secondary escapeway); to install a box check

between the No. 1 and No. 2 crosscut in the No. 3 belt entry and then

vent the belt air to the return in the No. 2 crosscut; to prohibit

travel in the affected area; to examine the air quality inby the No. 1

crosscut in the No. 2 entry on a weekly basis and record the results in

an appropriate book; and to provide training and self-contained self-

rescuers to all employees. The petitioner asserts that the proposed

alternate method would provide at least the same measure of protection

as would the mandatory standard.

6. Mountain Coal Co.

[Docket No. M-94-23-C]

Mountain Coal Company, 555 Seventeenth Street, Denver, Colorado

80202 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR

75.380(d)(4) (escapeways; bituminous and lignite mines) to its West Elk

Mine (I.D. No. 05-03672) located in Gunnison County, Colorado. The

petitioner requests a modification to allow the width of the alternate

escapeway in the belt entry for each longwall panel to be maintained at

a width of a minimum of 48 inches for a maximum distance of 1,050 feet

immediately outby the stageloader; to designate the intake entry as the

primary escapeway and the belt entry as the alternate escapeway with

both escapeways on intake air and maintained to a minimum of 6 feet in

width for their entire distance, except for a distance of maximum of

1,050 feet in the alternate escapeway beginning at the stageloader. The

petitioner asserts that the proposed alternate method would provide at

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

7. AKZO Salt, Inc.

[Docket No. M-94-06-M]

AKZO Salt, Inc., 3846 Retsof Road, P.O. Box 91, Retsof, New York

14539 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 57.19073

(hoisting during shift changes) to its Retsof Mine (I.D. No. 30-00662)

located in Livingston County, New York. The petitioner proposes to

continue to conduct hoisting operations during shift changes in strict

compliance with the conditions of a previous variance that required the

man cage to be completely enclosed, i.e., the gaps above and below the

upper materials handling doors on both sides of the cage would be

closed with metal plate at least \3/16\-inch thick; to make future

repairs to or replacements of the man cage and other components of the

hoisting system in such a manner and to such specifications so as to

ensure performance characteristics equivalent to or greater than those

of the man cage in use at the time the variance was originally granted.

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 April 4, 1994.

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

Dated: February 23, 1994.

Patricia W. Silvey,

Director, Office of Standards, Regulations and Variances.

[FR Doc. 94-4909 Filed 3-2-94; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4510-43-P