Petitions for Modification

Federal RegisterJan 3, 1997

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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration

Petitions for Modification

This notice amends a petition document listed below to include the

mandatory safety standard. This document was published in the Federal

inadvertently left out of the previous notice.

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Mountain Coal Company (Correction)

[Docket No. M-96-104-C]

Mountain Coal Company, P.O. Box 591, Somerset, Colorado 81434 has

filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.503)

(permissible electric face equipment; maintenance) to its West Elk Mine

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

petitioner proposes to use 1,100 feet of 2/0, type SHD-GC cable on

continuous miners, 1,000 feet of #2, type GC cable on roof bolters, and

1,000 feet of #2, type SHD-GC cable on auxiliary face fans. The

petitioner states that the maximum circuit breaker instantaneous

settings for the cables would be 1,500 amperes, 800 amperes and 800

amperes respectively. The petitioner asserts that the proposed

alternative method would provide at least the same measure of

protection as would the mandatory standard.

The following parties have filed the petitions listed below to

modify the application of mandatory safety standards under section

101(c) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977.

1. Minton Hickory Coal Company

[Docket No. M-96-143-C]

Minton Hickory Coal Company, P.O. Box 1733, Corbin, Kentucky 40702

has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR

75.380(f)(4)(i) (escapeways; bituminous and lignite mines) to its Mine

No. 9 (I.D. No. 15-17691) located in Knox County, Kentucky. The

petitioner proposes to install two five pound or one ten pound portable

fire extinguisher in the operator deck of each Mescher Tractor operated

at the mine; to have the fire extinguisher readily accessible to the

operator; and to have the equipment operator inspect each fire

extinguisher daily prior to entering the escapeway. The petitioner

asserts that this petition is based on the safety of the miners

involved at the mine.

2. Minton Hickory Coal Company

[Docket No. M-96-144-C]

Minton Hickory Coal Company, P.O. Box 1733, Corbin, Kentucky 40702

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

(methane monitors) to its Mine No. 9 (I.D. No. 15-17691) located in

Knox County, Kentucky. The petitioner proposes to use hand-held

continuous-duty methane and oxygen indicators instead of machine

mounted methane monitors on three-wheel tractors with drag bottom

buckets. The petitioner asserts that this petition is based on the

safety of the miners involved at the mine.

3. F-M Coal Company

[Docket No. M-96-145-C]

F-M Coal Company, P.O. Box 1733, Corbin, Kentucky 40702 has filed a

petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.342 (methane monitors)

to its Mine No. 2 (I.D. No. 15-17812) located in Knox County, Kentucky.

The petitioner proposes to use hand-held continuous-duty methane and

oxygen indicators instead of machine mounted methane monitors on three-

wheel tractors with drag bottom buckets. The petitioner asserts that

this petition is based on the safety of the miners involved at the

mine.

4. F-M Coal Company

[Docket No. M-96-146-C]

F-M Coal Company, P.O. Box 1733, Corbin, Kentucky 40702 has filed a

petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.380(f)(4)(i)

(escapeways; bituminous and lignite mines) to its Mine No. 2 (I.D. No.

15-17812) located in Knox County, Kentucky. The petitioner proposes to

install two five pound or one ten pound portable fire extinguisher in

the operator deck of each Mescher Tractor operated at the mine; to have

the fire extinguisher readily accessible to the operator; and to have

the equipment operator inspect each fire extinguisher daily prior to

entering the escapeway. The petitioner asserts that this petition is

based on the safety of the miners involved at the mine.

5. Old Ben Coal Company

[Docket No. M-96-147-C]

Old Ben Coal Company, P.O. Box 456, Coulterville, Illinois 62237

has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.900 (low-

and medium-voltage circuits serving three-phase alternating current

equipment; circuit breakers) to its Ziegler No. 11 Mine (I.D. No. 11-

02408) located in Randolph County, Illinois. The petitioner proposes to

use contactors capable of dropping out at 40-60 percent the voltage

loss on belt starting equipment in the Mine's New Main East and New

Main South Development areas instead of using undervoltage release

breakers for undervoltage protection. The petitioner has outlined in

the petition specific procedures to be followed when implementing its

proposed alternative method. The petitioner asserts that the proposed

alternative method would provide at least the same measure of

protection as would the mandatory standard.

6. Jim Walter Resources, Inc.

[Docket No. M-96-148-C]

Jim Walter Resources, Inc., P.O. Box 133, Brookwood, Alabama 35444

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 No. 7 Mine (I.D. No. 01-01401) located in

Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. The petitioner requests that Paragraph 9 of

the Proposed Decision and Order for granted petition, Docket No. M-85-

09-C, be amended as follows: The high-voltage circuit from the longwall

power center to the longwall controller shall be provided with short

circuit protection set at not more than 2,500 amperes or the value of

current indicated in the longwall approval plan. A time delay of not

more than 0.25 second shall be permitted for coordination with

downstream short-circuit protection devices or the time delay specified

in the Longwall Approval Plan. The petitioner asserts that the proposed

alternative method would provide at least the same measure of

protection as would the mandatory standard.

7. Eighty-Four Mining Company

[Docket No. M-96-149-C

Eighty-Four Mining Company, P.O. Box 729, Indiana, Pennsylvania

15701 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.507

(power connection points) to its Mine No. 84 (I.D. No. 36-00958)

located in Washington County, Pennsylvania. The petitioner proposes to

use non-permissible submersible pumps to dewater a sump in which it is

installed. The petitioner states that the pumps would be operated on a

480-volt three-phase alternating-current electrical power circuit with

power supplied from a resistor grounded wye transformer and protected

with a line power ground fault, pilot combination unit. The petitioner

asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide at least the

same measure of protection as would the mandatory standard.

8. Eighty-Four Mining Company

[Docket No. M-96-150-C]

Eighty-Four Mining Company, P.O. Box 729, Indiana, Pennsylvania

15701 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.512

(electrical equipment) to its Mine No. 84 (I.D. No. 36-00958) located

in Washington County, Pennsylvania. The petitioner proposes to use non-

permissible submersible pumps to dewater a sump in which it is

installed. The petitioner states that the pumps would be operated on a

480-volt three-phase alternating-

[[Page 422]]

current electrical power circuit with power supplied from resistor

grounded wye transformer and protected with a line power ground fault,

pilot combination unit. The petitioner asserts that the proposed

alternative method would provide at least the same measure of

protection as would the mandatory standard.

9. Costain Coal, Inc.

[Docket No. M-96-151-C]

Costain Coal, Inc., P.O. Box 448, Clay, Kentucky 42404 has filed a

petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.312(d) (main mine fan

and examinations and records) to its Wheatcroft Mine (I.D. No. 15-

13920) and its Baker Mine (I.D. No. 15-14492) both located in Webster

County, Kentucky. The petitioner proposes to test the automatic closing

doors every thirty-one (31) days by de-energizing the operating fan

along with simultaneously starting the idle fan and then observe the

previously operating fan for proper operation as the previously idle

fan powers up and maintains ventilation without materially affecting

the system. The petitioner states that both fans would be set up with

the same blade setting and a visual indicator that shows when the anti-

reversal doors are open or closed; and 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. Road Fork Development Company

[Docket No. M-96-152-C]

Road Fork Development Company, P.O. Box 565, Matewan, West Virginia

25678 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.503

(permissible electric face equipment; maintenance) to its Calloway Mine

(I.D. No. 15-17252); its Pegs Branch Mine (I.D. No. 15-17541); its

Burnwell Energy Mine (I.D. No. 15-16599); and its Extra Energy Mine

(I.D. No. 15-15386) all located in Pike County, Kentucky. The

petitioner proposes to use permanently installed, spring-loaded locking

devices to secure battery plugs on mobile equipment to prevent

unintentional loosening of the battery plugs from battery receptacles

and to eliminate the hazards associated with difficult removal of

padlocks during emergency situations. 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.

11. Boone Resources, Inc.

[Docket No. M-96-153-C]

Boone Resources, Inc., 1051 Oak Mountain Drive, Pelham, Alabama

35124 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.350

(air courses and belt haulage entries) to its Boone No. 1 Mine (I.D.

No. 01-02908) located in Shelby County, Alabama. The petitioner

requests a modification of the standard to permit the use of belt air

to provide ventilation for the sections and possibly a longwall system

in the future. The petitioner proposes to install a carbon monoxide

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

entries used as intake aircourses. The petitioner asserts that the

terms and conditions in this petition would ensure that the high level

of safety standards that Boone No. 1 has provided to its workforce in

the past will be maintained.

12. Costain Coal, Inc.

[Docket No. M-96-154-C]

Costain Coal, Inc., P.O. Box 448, Clay, Kentucky 42404 has filed a

petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.364(b)(4) (weekly

examinations) to its Smith Underground No. 1 Mine (I.D. No. 15-16020)

located in Webster County, Kentucky. Due to a roof fall, one of the

seals in the 1st South seals off the South Main of the mine cannot be

examined safely. The petitioner proposes to continuously monitor the

air passing by the seals to determine the levels of methane, carbon

monoxide, and oxygen. The petitioner asserts that the proposed

alternative method would provide at least the same measure of

protection as would the mandatory standard.

13. Road Fork Development Company

[Docket No. M-96-155-C]

Road Fork Development Company, P.O. Box 565, Matewan, West Virginia

25678 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.901

(protection of low- and medium-voltage three-phase circuits used

underground) to its Calloway Mine (I.D. No. 15-17252); its Pegs Branch

Mine (I.D. No. 15-17541); its Burnwell Energy Mine (I.D. No. 15-16599);

and its Extra Energy Mine (I.D. No. 15-15386) all located in Pike

County, Kentucky. The petitioner proposes to use a diesel generator to

power mobile equipment in and out of the mines. The petitioner has

outlined in this petition specific changes and adjustments that would

be made to the generator set to ensure that the proposed alternative

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

the mandatory standard.

14. Rawl Sales and Processing Company

[Docket No. M-96-156-C]

Rawl Sales and Processing Company, P.O. Box 722, Matewan, West

Virginia 25678 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR

75.901(a) (protection for low- and medium- voltage three-phase circuits

used underground) to its Tall Timber Mine (I.D. No. 15-13720) located

in Pike County, Kentucky. The petitioner proposes to use a diesel

generator to power mobile equipment in and out of the mine. The

petitioner has outlined in this petition specific changes and

adjustments that would be made to the generator set to ensure that the

proposed alternative method would provide at least the same measure of

protection as the mandatory standard.

15. Crystal Fuels Company

[Docket No. M-96-157-C]

Crystal Fuels Company, P.O. Box 269, Matewan, West Virginia 25678

has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.503

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

(I.D. No. 46-03408) located in Mingo County, West Virginia. The