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. Canyon Fuel Company, LLC

[Docket No. M-1999-049-C]

Canyon Fuel Company, LLC, PO Box 1029, Wellington, Utah 84542 has

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

courses and belt haulage entries) to its Dugout Canyon Mine (I.D. No.

42-01890) located in Carbon County, Utah. The petitioner proposes to

use belt air to ventilate faces in areas of the mine where two entry

mining system is not used. The petitioner proposes to install a low-

level carbon monoxide monitoring system as an early warning fire

detection system in all belt entries used as intake air courses. The

petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide

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

2. Coal Miners, Inc.

[Docket No. M-1999-050-C]

Coal Miners, Inc., 999 Barrett Cemetery Road, Equality, Illinois

62934 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.350

(air courses and belt haulage entries) to its Eagle Valley Mine (I.D.

No. 11-02846) located in Gallatin County, Illinois. The petitioner

requests a modification of the mandatory standard to permit the use of

air coursed through belt haulage entries to ventilate active working

places. The petitioner proposes to install a low-level carbon monoxide

detection system as an early warning fire detection system in the

supply road with branches extended to the beltline at certain

locations. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method

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

standard.

3. Meadow Branch Mining Corporation

[Docket No. M-1999-051-C]

Meadow Branch Mining Corporation, PO Box 2560, Wise, Virginia 24293

has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1710-1

(canopies or cabs; self-propelled diesel-powered and electric face

equipment; installation requirements) to its Low Splint No. 1 Mine

(I.D. No. 44-06883) located in Wise County, Virginia. The petitioner

proposes to operate electric face equipment without canopies in coal

seam heights of 37 to 43 inches. The petitioner states that: (i) Mining

conditions cause the canopies to come in contact with the roof,

damaging the canopy and destroying roof support; (ii) canopies restrict

the visibility of the equipment operators, creating a hazard in the

operation of the equipment and for the people crawling and walking on

the section; and (iii) the relief requested would not result in a

diminution of safety to the miners.

4. West Ridge Resources, Inc.

[Docket No. M-1999-052-C]

West Ridge Resources, Inc., PO Box 902, Price, Utah 84501 has filed

a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1101-8 (water

sprinkler system; arrangement of sprinklers) to its West Ridge Mine

(I.D. No. 42-02233) located in Carbon County, Utah. The petitioner

requests a variance from the mandatory standard to permit a different

arrangement of water sprinkler systems than established by the

standard. The petitioner proposes to: (i) Use a single overhead pipe

system with \1/2\-inch orifice automatic sprinklers located on 10-foot

centers rather than every 8 feet, to cover 50 feet of fire-resistant

belt or 150 feet of non-fire resistant belt with actuation temperatures

between 200 and 230 degrees Fahrenheit and with water pressure equal to

or greater than 10 psi; and (ii) have the automatic sprinklers located

not more than 10 feet apart so that the discharge of water will extend

over the belt drive, belt take-up, electrical control, and gear

reducing unit. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative

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

mandatory standard and will not result in a diminution of safety to the

miners.

5. West Ridge Resources, Inc.

[Docket No. M-1999-053-C]

West Ridge Resources, Inc., PO Box 902, Price, Utah 84501 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 West Ridge Mine (I.D. No. 42-02233) located in

Carbon County, Utah. The petitioner proposes to use a nominal voltage

of longwall power circuits not to exceed 2,400 volts to supply power to

the permissible longwall mining equipment. The petitioner has listed in

this petition specific terms and conditions for using its proposed

alternative method. The petitioner asserts that the proposed

alternative method will provide at least the same measure of protection

as would the mandatory standard and will not result in a diminution of

safety to the miners.

6. Consolidation Coal Company

[Docket No. M-1999-054-C]

Consolidation Coal Company, Consol Plaza, 1800 Washington Road,

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15241-1421 has filed a petition to modify the

application of 30 CFR 75.1909(b)(6) (nonpermissible diesel-powered

equipment; design and performance requirements) to its Rend Lake Mine

(I.D. No. 11-00601) located in Jefferson County, Illinois. The

petitioner requests a modification of the mandatory standard so that

individual service brakes would not be required on all grader wheels of

the diesel grader. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative

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

mandatory standard.

7. Consolidation Coal Company

[Docket No. M-1999-055-C]

Consolidation Coal Company, Consol Plaza, 1800 Washington Road,

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15241-1421 has filed a petition to modify the

application of 30 CFR 75.364(b)(4) (weekly examination) to its

Shoemaker Mine (I.D. No. 46-01436) located in Marshall County, West

Virginia. Due to deteriorating roof and rib conditions, the petitioner

proposes to establish check points to examine the affected area instead

of traveling the area in its entirety. The petitioner states that: (i)

A weekly examination would be made for methane and a smoke tube would

be used to verify direction of air flow; (ii) the persons making

examinations and tests would place his/her initials, the date and time

in a record book provided on the surface and made available for

inspection for interested parties; and (iii) checks points and all

approaches to the check points would be maintained in safe condition.

The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method would

provide at least the same

[[Page 41140]]

measure of protection as the mandatory standard.

8. Monterey Coal Company

[Docket No. M-1999-056-C]

Monterey Coal Company, 14300 Brushy Mound Road, Carlinville,

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

75.1909(b)(6) (nonpermissible diesel-powered equipment; design and

performance requirements) to its No. 1 Mine (I.D. No. 11-00726) located

in Macoupin County, Illinois. The petitioner requests a modification of

the mandatory standard for its grader. The petitioner states that to

add brakes on the grader would result in loss of machine control for

the operators and the weight, size, and location of the front brakes

would subject repair personnel to injury. As an alternative method, the

petition proposes to lower the blade to stop and control the grader.

The petitioner asserts that its alternative method will provide no less

than the same measure of protection provided by the mandatory standard.

9. Canyon Fuel Company, LLC

[Docket No. M-1999-057-C]

Canyon Fuel Company, 397 South 800 West, Salina, Utah 84654 has

filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.360(b)(9)

(preshift examination) to its SUFCO Mine (I.D. No. 42-00089) located in

Sevier County, Utah. The petitioner proposes to install an Atmospheric

Monitoring System (AMS) that would continuously monitor the electrical

installations for carbon monoxide and methane instead of conducting a

preshift examination. The petitioner asserts that the proposed

alternative method would provide at least the same measure of

protection as the mandatory standard.

10. Knott County Mining Company

[Docket No. M-1999-058-C]

Knott County Mining Company, P.O. Box 2805, Pikeville, Kentucky

41502 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.900

(low-and medium-voltage circuits serving current equipment; circuit

breakers) to its Panther Lick Mine (I.D. No. 15-16808) located in Knott

County, Kentucky. The petitioner requests a modification of the

mandatory standard to permit use of contactors for undervoltage

protection as an alternative to using circuit breakers. The petitioner

has outlined in this petition specific procedures, including personnel

training, that would be implemented when using the proposed alternative

method. The petitioner asserts that safety of miners would not be

compromised and that proposed alternative method would provide at least

the same measure of protection as the mandatory standard.

11. Independence Coal Company, Inc.

[Docket No. M-1999-059-C]

Independence Coal Company, Inc., HC 78, Box 1800, Madison, West

Virginia 25130 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 Cedar Grove Mine No. 1 (I.D. No. 46-

08603) located in Boone County, West Virginia. The petitioner proposes

to use 4,160 volts to supply power to the permissible longwall face

equipment, using specific terms and conditions listed in this petition.

The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method would

provide at least the same measure of protection as the mandatory

standard.

12. Peabody Coal Company

[Docket No. M-1999-060-C]

Peabody Coal Company, 1951 Barrett Court, PO Box 1990, Henderson,

Kentucky 42430 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR

75.1909(b)(6) (nonpermissible diesel-powered equipment; design and

performance requirements) to its Marissa Mine (I.D. No. 11-02440)

located in Washington County, Illinois. The petitioner proposes to: (i)

Use its grader underground with rear wheel brakes only; (ii) limit the

diesel grader speed to a maximum of 10 miles per hour; and (iii) train

grader operators to drop the grader blade in the event the brakes fail

instead of using front wheel brakes on the grader. The petitioner

asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide at least the

same measure of protection as the mandatory standard.

13. Performance Coal Company

[Docket No. M-1999-061-C]

Performance Coal Company, PO Box 69, Naoma, West Virginia 25140 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 Upper Big Branch Mine-South (I.D. No. 46-08436)

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

use a nominal voltage of power circuits not to exceed 2,400 volts to

supply power to high-voltage continuous miner located inby the last

open crosscut or within 150 feet from pillar workings. The petitioner

has listed in this petition specific terms and conditions for using its

proposed alternative method. The petitioner asserts that the proposed

alternative method would provide at least the same measure of

protection as the mandatory standard.

Request for Comments

Persons interested in these petitions are encouraged to submit

comments via e-mail to ``[email protected],'' or on a computer disk

along with an original hard copy to the Office of Standards,

Regulations, and Variances, Mine Safety and Health Administration, 4015

Wilson Boulevard, Room 627, Arlington, Virginia 22203. All comments

must be postmarked or received in that office on or before August 30,

1999. Copies of these petitions are available for inspection at that

address.

Dated: July 22, 1999.

Carol J. Jones,

Acting Director, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances.

[FR Doc. 99-19404 Filed 7-28-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4510-43-P