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. Mountain Coal Company

[Docket No. M-1999-001-C]

Mountain Coal Company, P.O. Box 591, 5174 Highway 133, Somerset,

Colorado 81434 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR

75.701 (grounding metallic frames, casings, and other enclosures of

electric equipment) to its West Elk Mine (I.D. No. 05-03672) located in

Gunnison County, Colorado. The petitioner proposes to use portable

diesel generators to move and operate electric powered mobile equipment

and pumps throughout the mine. The petitioner has outlined in this

petition specific requirements that would be followed as an alternative

for existing and future generators. The petitioner asserts that the

proposed alternative method would provide at least the same measure of

protection as would the mandatory standard.

2. Mountain Coal Company

[Docket No. M-1999-002-C]

Mountain Coal Company, P.O. Box 591, 5174 Highway 133, Somerset,

Colorado 81434 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 West Elk Mine (I.D. No. 05-03672) located in

Gunnison County, Colorado. The petitioner proposes to use portable

diesel generators to move and operate electric powered mobile equipment

and pumps throughout the mine. The petitioner has outlined in this

petition specific requirements that would be followed as an alternative

for existing and future generators. The petitioner asserts that the

proposed alternative method would provide at least the same measure of

protection as would the mandatory standard.

3. Peabody Coal Company

[Docket No. M-1999-003-C]

Peabody Coal Company, 1951 Barrett Court, P.O. Box 1990, Henderson,

Kentucky 42420 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR

75.364(b)(4) (weekly examination) to its Camp No. 1 Mine (I.D. No. 15-

02709) located in Union County, Kentucky. Due to hazardous conditions

near the return air course inby and outby the seals, traveling the area

to conduct weekly examinations would create a diminution of safety to

the miners. The petitioner proposes to establish evaluation points to

monitor the affected area and have a certified person monitor the

evaluation points on a weekly basis to determine the volume of air, and

the methane and oxygen concentrations; and to record all examination

results in a book maintained on the surface of the mine. The petitioner

states that monitoring of these evaluation points would determine the

atmosphere immediately prior to up-wind and immediately after down-wind

the seals. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method

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

mandatory standard.

4. Peabody Coal Company

[Docket No. M-1999-004-C]

Peabody Coal Company, 1951 Barrett Court, P.O. Box 1990, Henderson,

Kentucky 42420 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR

75.364(b)(2) (weekly examination) to its Camp No. 1 Mine (I.D. No. 15-

02709) located in Union County, Kentucky. Due to hazardous conditions

near the return air course inby and outby the seals, traveling the area

to conduct weekly examinations would create a diminution of safety to

the miners. The petitioner proposes to establish evaluation points to

monitor the affected area and have a certified person monitor the

evaluation points on a weekly basis to determine the volume of air, and

the methane and oxygen concentrations; and to record all examination

results in a book maintained on the surface of the mine. The petitioner

asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide at least the

same measure of protection as would the mandatory standard.

5. Canyon Fuel Company, LLC

[Docket No. M-1999-005-C]

Canyon Fuel Company, LLC, P.O. Box 1029, Wellington, Utah 84542 has

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

sprinkler systems; arrangement of sprinklers) to its Dugout Canyon Mine

(I.D. No. 42-01890) located in Carbon County, Utah. The petitioner

proposes to use an alternative method of arranging its sprinkler

system. The petitioner proposes a modification based on the following

terms: (i) Each water sprinkler system would consist of a single

overhead pipe water sprinkler system with automatic sprinklers located

not more than 10 feet apart for the water discharged from the

sprinklers to cover the 50 feet of fire-resistant belt or 150 feet of

non fire-resistant belt adjacent to the belt drive and one or more

automatic sprinklers located 10 feet apart for water discharged from

the sprinkler(s) to cover the drive motor(s), belt takeup, electrical

controls, and gear reducing unit for each belt drive; (ii) Each water

sprinkler would be in installed for the clearance between the center of

the top belt and the roof to permit the single overhead pipe system to

be installed in accordance with adequate height, and where the

clearance between the center of the top belt and the roof does not

permit the installation of the single overhead pipe system directly

over the belt, the single overhead pipe system would be installed in

accordance with restricted height; (iii) The residual pressure in each

sprinkler system would not be less than 10 psi with any three

sprinklers open, and an adequate supply of water to provide a constant

flow for at least 10 minutes with all sprinklers functioning; (iv) Each

water sprinkler system would be equipped with a flush-out connection

and a manual shut-off valve; and (v)

[[Page 12184]]

Each automatic sprinkler would be a standard \1/2\-inch orifice

pendant-type with fusible link actuation temperature for each sprinkler

between 200 and 230 degrees Fahrenheit. The petitioner proposes to

conduct a functional test annually for each water sprinkler system. 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 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 April 12,

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

address.

Dated: March 5, 1999.

Carol J. Jones,

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

[FR Doc. 99-6038 Filed 3-10-99; 8:45 am]

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