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. Jackson Valley Energy Partners, L.P.

[Docket No. M-98-106-C]

Jackson Valley Energy Partners, L.P., 4655 Coal Mine Road, P.O. Box

1066, Ione, California 95640 has filed a petition to modify the

application of 30 CFR 77.502 (electric equipment; examination, testing,

and maintenance) to its Jackson Valley Open Pit Mine (I.D. No. 04-

05157) located in Amador County, California. The petitioner requests a

variance to operate typical shops where welding and normal maintenance

is done without conducting mandatory monthly inspections required for

electrical circuits and breakers for maintenance shops. The shops

include the normal 120 volt outlets and 480 volt circuit for welders

and air compressors. The petitioner states that the electrical circuits

in these shops originate in the cogeneration plant which has a complete

grounding system and ground fault system that protect from any and all

ground fault conditions; and that the lack of monthly inspections would

in no way create situations that would compromise the safety of the

employees.

2. Clinchfield Coal Company

[Docket No. M-98-107-C]

Clinchfield Coal Company, P.O. Box 7, Dante, Virginia 24237 has

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

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

equipment; installation requirements) to its McClure No. 2 Mine (I.D.

No. 44-04946) located in Dickenson County, Virginia. The petitioner

proposes to operate self-propelled electric face equipment without

canopies or cabs. The petitioner asserts that application of the

standard would result in a diminution of safety to the miners.

3. The Ohio Valley Coal Company

[Docket No. M-98-108-C]

The Ohio Valley Coal Company, 56854 Pleasant Ridge Road, Alledonia,

Ohio 43902 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR

75.364(b)(1) and (b)(4) (weekly examination) to its Powhatan No. 6 Mine

(I.D. No. 33-01159) located in Belmont County, Ohio. 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 and monitoring stations instead of

examining seals and traveling the entry in its entirety; to maintain

the evaluation and monitoring stations in safe travelable condition; to

have a certified person take readings for methane, oxygen, and air

quantity at the evaluation and monitoring stations for each shift

during pre-shift examination, and record the results of the readings on

a date board at the evaluation and

[[Page 2519]]

monitoring stations with the date, time, and their initials. The

petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide

at least the same measure of protection as would the mandatory

standard.

4. Meadow River Coal Company, Inc.

[Docket No. M-98-109-C]

Meadow River Coal Company, Inc., P.O. Box 7, Dante, Virginia 24237

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

courses and belt haulage entries) to its Meadow River No. 1 Mine (I.D.

No. 46-03467) located in Fayette County, Virginia. The petitioner

proposes to use belt entry as an intake airway. The petitioner proposes

to install a low-level carbon monoxide detection system in all belt

entries used as intake air courses as an early warning carbon monoxide

detection system. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative

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

the mandatory standard.

5. Eastern Associated Coal Corp.

[Docket No. M-98-110-C]

Eastern Associated Coal Corp., PO Box 1990, Henderson, Kentucky

42420 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.503

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

Mine (I.D. No. 46-01271) located in Boone County, West Virginia. The

petitioner proposes to use a threaded ring and spring-loaded device

instead of a padlock on the battery plug connectors for mobile battery-

powered machines to prevent the plug connector from accidently

disengaging while under load. The petitioner asserts that application

of the standard would result in 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. The Ohio Valley Coal Company

[Docket No. M-98-111-C]

The Ohio Valley Coal Company, 56854 Pleasant Ridge Road, Alledonia,

Ohio 43902 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 Powhatan No. 6 Mine (I.D. No. 33-01159)

located in Belmont County, Ohio. The petitioner seeks to amend the

previously granted petition to include the use of a high voltage

shearer. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method

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

mandatory standard.

7. G & S Coal Company

[Docket No. M-98-112-C]

G & S Coal Company, 21 E. Wood Street, Pine Grove, Pennsylvania

17963 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1100-

2 (quantity and location of firefighting equipment) to its Buck Mt.

Slope (I.D. No. 36-08498) located in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania.

The petitioner proposes to use only portable fire extinguishers to

replace existing requirements where rock dust, water cars, and other

water storage are not practical. The petitioner asserts that the

proposed alternative method would provide at least the same measure of

protection as would the mandatory standard.

8. White County Coal Corporation

[Docket No. M-98-113-C]

White County Coal Corporation, PO Box 457, Carmi, Illinois 62821

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

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

(I.D. No. 11-02662) located in White County, Illinois. The petitioner

proposes to use a round eye bolt snap device instead of the presently

approved bolt and nut system to secure screw caps in place on plugs of

battery operated scoops and tractors. The petitioner asserts that the

proposed alternative method would provide no less protection for

securing the plugs.

9. Snyder Coal Company

[Docket No. M-98-114-C]

Snyder Coal Company, Box 93, RD #2, Hegins, Pennsylvania 17938 has

filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1202-1(a)

(temporary notations, revisions, and supplements) to its N and L Slope

(I.D. No. 36-02203) located in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. The

petitioner proposes to revise and supplement mine maps annually instead

of every 6 months, as required, and to update maps daily by hand

notations. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method

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

mandatory standard.

10. Primrose Coal #2

[Docket No. M-98-115-C]

Primrose Coal #2, 475 High Road, Ashland, Pennsylvania 17921 has

filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.335

(construction of seals) to its Buck Mountain Vein Slope (I.D. No. 36-

08698) located in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. The petitioner

requests a modification of the standard to permit alternative methods

of construction using wooden materials of moderate size and weight due

to the difficulty in accessing previously driven headings and breasts

containing inaccessible abandoned workings; a design criteria in the 10

psi range; and installed in pairs permit the water trap to be installed

only in the gangway seal and sampling tube in the monkey seal. 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. 99-872 Filed 1-13-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310-43-P