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. Mallie Coal Company, Inc.

[Docket No. M-98-91-C]

Mallie Coal Company, Inc., Rt. 1 Box 173, Woodbine, Kentucky 40771

has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.380(f)(4)

(escapeways; bituminous and lignite mines) to its Mine No. 4 (I.D. No.

15-17603) located in Knox County, Kentucky. The petitioner proposes to

use one twenty or two ten pound portable chemical fire extinguishers on

each Mescher Jeep. If two fire extinguishers are used, one ten pound

extinguisher would be mounted in the operator's deck with the other

mounted

[[Page 2520]]

on the jeep for accessibility by the operator and if one fire

extinguisher is used, it would be mounted in the operator's deck. The

petitioner states that in either case, a total of twenty pounds of fire

extinguisher capability would be carried on each Mescher Jeep and

readily accessible to the jeep operator. The petitioner proposes to

have the equipment operator inspect each fire extinguisher daily prior

to entering the mine, maintain records of the inspections, and replace

defective fire extinguishers prior to entering the mine. The petitioner

asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide at least the

same measure of protection as would the mandatory standard.

2. M & M Anthracite Coal Company

[Docket No. M-98-99-C]

M & M Anthracite Coal Company, 245 Second Street, Joliett,

Pennsylvania 17981-1315 has filed a petition to modify the application

of 30 CFR 75.1400 (hoisting equipment; general) to its L.V. #3 Vein

Slope (I.D. No. 36-08744) located in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania.

The petitioner proposes to use a slope conveyance (gunboat) in

transporting persons without installing safety catches or other not

less effective devices but instead use inceased rope strength/safety

factor and secondary safety rope connection in place of such devices.

The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method would

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

standard.

3. Cyprus Plateau Mining Corporation

[Docket No. M-98-100-C]

Cyprus Plateau Mining Corporation, One Oxford Centre, 301 Grant

Street, 20th Floor, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219-1410 has filed a

petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.804(a) (underground

high-voltage cables) to its Willow Creek Mine (I.D. No. 42-02113)

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

specially designed high-voltage cables on longwall equipment that would

comply with existing standard 30 CFR 75.804(a), or would use type

CABLE/BICC Anaconda brand 5KV, 3/C type SHD+GC; AmerCable Tiger Brand,

3/C, 5KV, type SHD-CGC; Pirelli 5KV, 3/C, type SHD-CENTER-GC; or

similar 5,000 volt cable with center ground check conductor,

manufactured to the ICEA Standard S-75-381 for type SHD, three-

conductor cables. The petitioner states that the cable would be MSHA

accepted as flame-resistant; that the ground check conductor would not

be smaller than a No. 16 AWG stranded conductor; that the cable

construction shall be symmetrical 3/C, 3/G, and 1/GC; that all

electrical personnel who perform maintenance on the longwall would

receive training in the installation, splicing and repair, and

permissibility requirements of these high-voltage cables; and that

proposed revisions for its part 48 training plan would be submitted to

the District Manager within 60 days after the proposed decision and

order becomes final. The petitioner asserts that the proposed

alternative method would provide at least the same measure of

protection as would the mandatory standard.

4. Cyprus Plateau Mining Corporation

[Docket No. M-98-101-C]

Cyprus Plateau Mining Corporation, One Oxford Centre, 301 Grant

Street, 20th Floor, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219-1410 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 Willow Creek Mine (I.D. No. 42-02113) located in

Carbon County, Utah. The petitioner requests that the Proposed Decision

and Order (PDO) be amended for its previous Petition for Modification,

docket number M-95-167-C to use high-voltage longwall mining systems to

power permissible longwall equipment. The petitioner requests that the

PDO be amended to clarify the petition and to conform the requirements

of the PDO to the equipment being used. The petitioner requests changes

to Item No. 22 to provide information to the miners that adequate means

to secure the mid-face box and on-line connector has been installed to

provide secure connections to the high-voltage cables to allow the

petitioner the option of using either of these items; and to change

Item No. 24 to clarify that high-voltage personal equipment is needed

to handle energized high-voltage cables and provide information

concerning storage facility for protective equipment. The petitioner

requests that Items No. 34 and 35 be combined to provide information to

warn miners that the high-voltage controller contains capacitors that

must be discharged and grounded and that all circuits are not

deenergized, and to address caution labels for the power center,

controller, and shearer in one stipulation instead of two. The

petitioner requests a new Item No. 35 be added to include information

that would warn the miners of 4,160 volt cables on board the shearer

before opening any covers. The petitioner requests that Item No. 36(c)

be changed because at this time capacitors are not installed at the

power center; that Item 38 be changed because capacitors are installed

on the load side in the controller; that Item 39 be revised to add a

stipulation at the end of paragraph (d); and that Item 40 be changed to

facilitate locating grounded phase, or open conductors within the

cable. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method

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

mandatory standard.

5. Cyprus Plateau Mining Corporation

[Docket No. M-98-102-C]

Cyprus Plateau Mining Corporation, One Oxford Centre, 301 Grant

Street, 20th Floor, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219-1410 has filed a

petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.350 (air courses and

belt haulage entries) to its Willow Creek Mine (I.D. No.42-02113)

located in Carbon County, Utah. The petitioner requests that its

previously granted petition, docket number M-95-166-C be amended to

allow the use of belt air to ventilate working sections with more than

two entries. The petitioner proposes to install a carbon monoxide

monitoring system in all belt entries utilized as intake air courses as

an early warning fire detection system. The petitioner asserts that the

proposed alternative method would provide at least the same measure of

protection as would the mandatory standard.

6. CONSOL of Kentucky, Inc.

[Docket No. M-98-103-C]

CONSOL of Kentucky, Inc., Consol Plaza, 1800 Washington Road,

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15241-1421 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 Big Springs #16 Mine

(I.D. No. 15-17957), its E3RF Mine (I.D. No. 15-17894), its Motts

Branch Mine (I.D. No. 15-18012), and its Big Springs No. 17 Mine (I.D.

No. 15-17996) all located in Knotts County, Kentucky; and its Wiley

(MC) Mine (I.D. No. 15-17220), its E3-MC Mine (I.D. No. 15-17720), and

its Loves Branch Mine (I.D. No. 15-17814) located in Letcher County,

Kentucky. The petitioner proposes to use a low and medium voltage,

three-phase, alternating current for use underground from a portable,

diesel-driven generator and to connect the neutral of the generator's

transformer secondary through a suitable resistor to the frame of the

diesel generator. The petitioner states that the frame of the diesel

[[Page 2521]]

generator would not have solid connection to a borehole casing, a metal

waterline, or a grounding conductor with a low resistance to earth;

that the resistor used to connect the neutral of the transformer

secondary to the frame of the diesel generator would be rated for

continuous duty and would limit the phase-to-frame fault current for

each of the low and medium voltage circuits to a maximum of 0.5

amperes; that each outgoing power circuit of the diesel generator would

be protected by a circuit breaker; that each outgoing power circuit of

the diesel generator would be equipped with a relay that would monitor

the phase-to-frame fault current and trip the appropriate circuit

breaker when the phase-to-frame fault current exceeds 0.1 amperes; that

the 995-volt circuits would be equipped with a sensitive ground fault

relay that would cause the respective circuit breaker(s) to trip and

shut down the diesel engine when a phase-to-frame fault of 90

milliamperes or higher occurs; that a 1/0 A.W.G. or larger external

ground conductor would be solidly connected between the frames of the

diesel generator and mining equipment being powered and between the

trailing cable coupler and the frame of equipment where the cable

coupler connects to the coupler of the equipment; that the cable power

from the generator to the equipment would be type SHD-GC on machines

greater that 660 volts and would have a minimum of 2,000 volt rating

and an outer jacket that has been MSHA approved as flame-resistant;

that strain relief would be provided on each end of the shielded cable

that extends between the generator and the piece of equipment being

powered; that prior to moving each piece of equipment and upon start-up

of the diesel generator, a functional test of the ground fault and

ground wire monitor systems would be performed and a record would be

maintained on the results of the tests; that all circuit breaker

settings would be adjusted to provide short-circuit protection; and

that prior to using the diesel generator system, ``hands on'' training

would be provided to all qualified persons on proper testing procedures

and incorporated into the part 48 training plans. The petitioner

asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide at least the

same measure of protection as would the mandatory standard.

7. U.S. Steel Mining Company, LLC

[Docket No. M-98-104-C]

U.S. Steel Mining Company, LLC, P.O. Box 338 Pineville, West

Virginia 24874 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. 50 Mine (I.D. No. 46-01816) located

in Wyoming County, West Virginia. The petitioner proposes to use 4,160

volt cables to supply power to permissible longwall mining equipment.

The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method would

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

standard.

8. Windsor Coal Company

[Docket No. M-98-105-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) (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 certain areas of the intake air course,

traveling the affected area would be unsafe. The petitioner proposes to

establish evaluation points to monitor the air and gas measurements in

the affected area; to maintain the evaluation points in safe

conditions; to have a certified person test for methane and the quality

and quantity of air at both evaluation points; and to have the person

making the examinations and test place their initials, date, and time

at the evaluation points and in a book on the surface made available

for interested persons. 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 February 16,

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

address.

Dated: January 6, 1999.

Carol J. Jones,

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

[FR Doc. 99-781 Filed 1-13-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4510-43-P