Mine Safety and Health Administration; 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. Serendipity Mining, Inc.

[Docket No. M-95-01-C]

Serendipity Mining, Inc., P.O. Box 1588, Barbourville, Kentucky

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

(methane monitors) to its No. 4 Mine (I.D. No. 15-17568) located in

Whitley County, Kentucky. The petitioner proposes to monitor

continuously with a hand-held methane and oxygen detector instead of

using a methane monitoring system on permissible three-wheel tractors

with [[Page 9867]] 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.

2. Windsor Coal Company.

[Docket No. M-95-02-C]

Windsor Coal Company, P.O. Box 39, West Liberty, West Virginia

26074 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR

75.364(b)(1) and (2) (weekly examination) to its Windsor Mine (I.D. No.

46-01286) located in Brooke County, West Virginia. Due to deteriorating

roof and rib conditions in the left side return air course of the East

Mains from the 0+00 to 66+00 for a distance of approximately 6,600

feet, traveling or restoration of the affected area would be unsafe.

The petitioner proposes to examine the area on a weekly basis by

establishing check points G--No. 1 entry at approximately 0+50, and H--

No. 1 entry at approximately 66+00; to examine the 1 North bleeder

seal, 1 North seals, East Main seals, and 2 North seals (22 seals

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

air at all check points on a weekly basis and record the results in a

book kept on the surface and made available for inspection by

interested persons; to install stoppings at the equalizing overcasts at

approximately 23+00 and 65+00 to prevent the mixing of right side and

left side returns; and to install a stopping at approximately 0+50 in

the No. 2 entry to direct all air to check point ``G''. The petitioner

asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide at least the

same measure of protection as would the mandatory standard.

3. Rosebud Mining Company.

[Docket No. M-95-03-C]

Rosebud Mining Company, Box 324 B, R.D. 2, Parker, Pennsylvania

16049 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.333

(ventilation controls) to its Rosebud No. 3 Mine (I.D. No. 36-07843)

located in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. The petitioner proposes to

use temporary ventilation controls on the intake side in the room

necking procedure for rooms to be developed less than 600 feet. The

petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide

at least the same measure of protection as would the mandatory

standard.

4. R. & R. Anthracite Coal Company.

[Docket No. M-95-04-C]

R. & R. Anthracite Coal Company, R. R. 2, Box 21 B, Hegins,

Pennsylvania 17938 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30

CFR 75.1400 (hoisting equipment; general) to its Buck Mt. Slope (I.D.

No. 36-08498) 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 alternative, when

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

hoisting rope with a safety factor at least 3 times greater than

required and secondary safety connections which are securely fastened

around the gunboat and to the hoisting rope above the main connection

device. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method

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

mandatory standard.

5. Consolidation Coal Company.

[Docket No. M-94-05-C]

Consolidation Coal Company, Consol Plaza, 1800 Washington Road,

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15241 has filed a petition to modify the

application of 30 CFR 75.1002 (location of trolley wires and trolley

feeder wires, high-voltage cables and transformers) to its Buchanan

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

petitioner proposes to use high-voltage cables (4,160 volts) in by the

last open crosscut. The petitioner states that application of the

mandatory 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.

6. C. S. & S. Coal Corporation.

[Docket No. M-95-06-C]

C. S. & S. Coal Corporation, P.O. Box 1234, Grundy, Virginia 24614

has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1710

(canopies or cabs; electric face equipment) to its No. 7 Mine (I.D. No.

44-06762) located in Russell County, Virginia. The petitioner proposes

to operate electric mobile equipment without canopies in seam heights

up to 48 inches. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative

method would not result in a diminution of safety to the miners.

7. Texasgulf, Inc.

[Docket No. M-95-01-M]

Texasgulf, Inc., P.O. Box 171, Weeping Water, Nebraska 68463 has

filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 57.11041 (landings

for inclined ladderways) to its Limestone Mine (I.D. No. 25-00554)

located in Cass County, Nebraska. The petitioner proposes to have two

portals at the mine to serve as the primary and secondary escapeways.

The petitioner proposes to have a vertical vent shaft 36 inches in

diameter and 125 feet tall as an auxiliary escapeway for a extra safety

measure in case the primary and secondary portals become blocked; and

as an additional escapeway, the petitioner proposes to install a ladder

with rungs 8 inches from the wall to the center of the rung and with a

15 inch x 10 inch step off point every 20 feet. The petitioner asserts

that the proposed alternative method would provide at least the same

measure of protection as would the mandatory standard.

8. Aluminum Company of America

[Docket No. M-95-02-M]

Aluminum Company of America, State Highway 35, Point Comfort, Texas

77978 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 56.9300

(berms or guardrails) to its Bayer Alumina Plant (I.D. No. 41-00320)

located in Calhoun County, Texas. The petitioner requests a

modification of the mandatory standard to allow continued use of its

already established methods of compliance of having signs posted at the

entrances to the impoundment area stating that the roadways are not

bermed; delineators at 25 feet intervals along the perimeter of the

elevated roadways; the maximum speed limit posted at 15 mph on the

elevated roadways; road surfaces well maintained with necessary repairs

following periods of inclement weather. The petitioner has a locked,

remotely operated electric gate at the main entrance to the impoundment

area with 24 hour security, 7 days a week via closed circuit camera and

TV monitor. Access to the gate is by permission only via telephones

which are located outside the gate, or by two-way radios for

maintenance personnel. The petitioner states that application of the

mandatory 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.

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 [[Page 9868]] received in that office on or before March

24, 1995. Copies of these petitions are available for inspection at

that address.

Dated: February 10, 1995.

Patricia W. Silvey,

Director, Office of Standards, Regulations and Variances.

[FR Doc. 95-4228 Filed 2-21-95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4510-43-P