83 FR 53112 - Petitions for Modification of Application of Existing Mandatory Safety Standard

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Mine Safety and Health Administration

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 203 (October 19, 2018)

Page Range		53112-53113
FR Document		2018-22744

This notice is a summary of a petition for modification submitted to the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) by the party listed below.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 203 (Friday, October 19, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 203 (Friday, October 19, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53112-53113]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-22744]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration


Petitions for Modification of Application of Existing Mandatory 
Safety Standard

AGENCY: Mine Safety and Health Administration, Labor.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice is a summary of a petition for modification 
submitted to the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) by the 
party listed below.

DATES: All comments on the petition must be received by MSHA's Office 
of Standards, Regulations, and Variances on or before November 19, 
2018.

ADDRESSES: You may submit your comments, identified by ``docket 
number'' on the subject line, by any of the following methods:
    1. Email: [email protected]. Include the docket number of the 
petition in the subject line of the message.
    2. Facsimile: 202-693-9441.
    3. Regular Mail or Hand Delivery: MSHA, Office of Standards, 
Regulations, and Variances, 201 12th Street South, Suite 4E401, 
Arlington, Virginia 22202-5452, Attention: Sheila McConnell, Director, 
Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances. Persons delivering 
documents are required to check in at the receptionist's desk in Suite 
4E401. Individuals may inspect a copy of the petition and comments 
during normal business hours at the address listed above.
    MSHA will consider only comments postmarked by the U.S. Postal 
Service or proof of delivery from another delivery service such as UPS 
or Federal Express on or before the deadline for comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barbara Barron, Office of Standards, 
Regulations, and Variances at 202-693-9447 (voice), 
[email protected] (email), or 202-693-9441 (fax). [These are not 
toll-free numbers.]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 101(c) of the Federal Mine Safety 
and Health Act of 1977 and Title 30 of the Code of Federal Regulations 
Part 44 govern the application, processing, and disposition of 
petitions for modification.

I. Background

    Section 101(c) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 
(Mine Act) allows the mine operator or representative of miners to file 
a petition to modify the application of any mandatory safety standard 
to a coal or other mine if the Secretary of Labor (Secretary) 
determines that:
    1. An alternative method of achieving the result of such standard 
exists which will at all times guarantee no less than the same measure 
of protection afforded the miners of such mine by such standard; or
    2. That the application of such standard to such mine will result 
in a diminution of safety to the miners in such mine.
    In addition, the regulations at 30 CFR 44.10 and 44.11 establish 
the requirements and procedures for filing petitions for modification.

II. Petition for Modification

    Docket Number: M-2018-008-M.
    Petitioner: U.S. Silica Company, 5263 Edmund Highway, West 
Columbia, South Carolina 29170.
    Mines: Columbia Plant, MSHA I.D. No. 38-00138, located in Lexington 
County, South Carolina.
    Regulation Affected: 30 CFR 56.13020 (Use of compressed air).
    Modification Request: The petitioner requests a modification of the 
existing standard to permit an alternative method that will provide no 
less a degree of safety than that provided by the standard.
    The petitioner states that:
    (1) The alternative method provides a direct reduction of miners' 
exposure to respirable dust, thus reducing their health risks. The 
proposed alternative method has been jointly developed between Unimin 
Corporation and the National Institute of Occupational Safety and 
Health (NIOSH) and successfully tested by the NIOSH.
    (2) The petition proposes the following:
--Only miners trained in the operation of the clothes cleaning booth 
will be permitted to use the booth to clean their clothes.
--Petitioner will incorporate the NIOSH Clothes Cleaning Process and 
manufacturer's instruction manual into their MSHA Part 48 training plan 
and train affected miners in the process.
--Miners entering the booth will examine valves and nozzles for damage 
or malfunction and will close the door fully before opening the air

[[Page 53113]]

valve. Any defects will be repaired prior to the booth being used.
--Miners entering the booth will wear eye protection, ear plugs or 
muffs for hearing protection, and respiratory protection. Respiratory 
protection will consist of a full-face or half-mask respirator that 
meets or exceeds the minimum requirements of a N95 filter to which the 
miner has been fit-tested. As an alternative, the use of a full-face 
respirator will meet the requirements for eye protection. A sign will 
be conspicuously posted requiring the use of the above personal 
protective equipment when the booth is entered.
--Air flow through the booth will be at least 2,000 cubic feet per 
minute to maintain negative pressure during use of the cleaning booth 
in order to prevent contamination of the environment outside the booth. 
Airflow will be in a downward direction, thereby moving contaminants 
away from the miner's breathing zone.
--Air pressure through the spray manifold will be limited to 30 pounds 
per square inch or less. A lock box with a single, plant manager 
controlled key will be used to prevent regulator tampering.
--The air spray manifold will consist of schedule 80 steel pipe that 
has a failure pressure of 1,300 pounds per square inch and will be 
capped at the base and actuated by an electrically controlled ball 
valve at the top.
--Air nozzles must not exceed 30 pounds per square inch gauge.
--The upper most spray of the spray manifold will be located below the 
booth user's breathing zone. Some type of mechanical device can be used 
to cover the upper air nozzles to meet the specific height of the user.
--Air nozzles will be guarded to eliminate the possibility of 
incidental contact, which could create mechanical damage to the air 
nozzles during the clothes cleaning process.
--Periodic maintenance checks of the booth will be conducted in 
accordance with the recommendations contained in the manufacturer's 
instruction manual.
--The air receiver tank supplying air to the manifold system will be of 
sufficient volume to permit no less than 20 seconds of continuous 
cleaning time.
--An appropriate hazard warning sign will be posted on the booth to 
state at a minimum, ``Compressed Air'' and ``Respirable Dust''.
--A pressure relief valve designed for the booth's air reservoir will 
be installed.
--The mine will exhaust dust-laden air from the booth into a local 
exhaust ventilation system or duct outside the facility while ensuring 
there is no re-entrainment back into the structure.

    The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method will at 
all times guarantee no less than the same measure of protection 
afforded by the standard.

Roslyn B. Fontaine,
Deputy Director, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances.
[FR Doc. 2018-22744 Filed 10-18-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4520-43-P

Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 203 / Friday, October 19, 2018 / Notices 53113

valve. Any defects will be repaired —The mine will exhaust dust-laden air —Subsonic Technology Development
prior to the booth being used. from the booth into a local exhaust Strategy
—Miners entering the booth will wear ventilation system or duct outside the —Vertical Lift Noise
eye protection, ear plugs or muffs for facility while ensuring there is no re- —Autonomy Update
hearing protection, and respiratory entrainment back into the structure. For NASA Langley Research Center
protection. Respiratory protection will The petitioner asserts that the visitor access, please go through the
consist of a full-face or half-mask proposed alternative method will at all Main Gate and show a valid
respirator that meets or exceeds the times guarantee no less than the same government-issued identification (i.e.,
minimum requirements of a N95 filter measure of protection afforded by the driver’s license, passport, etc.) to the
to which the miner has been fit-tested. standard. security guard. Inform the security
As an alternative, the use of a full-face guard that you are attending a meeting
respirator will meet the requirements Roslyn B. Fontaine, in Building 2101. Foreign nationals
for eye protection. A sign will be Deputy Director, Office of Standards, attending this meeting will be required
conspicuously posted requiring the Regulations, and Variances. to provide a copy of their passport and
use of the above personal protective [FR Doc. 2018–22744 Filed 10–18–18; 8:45 am] visa in addition to providing the
equipment when the booth is entered. BILLING CODE 4520–43–P following information no less than 15
—Air flow through the booth will be at days prior to the meeting: Full name;
least 2,000 cubic feet per minute to gender; date/place of birth; citizenship;
maintain negative pressure during use NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND passport information (number, country,
of the cleaning booth in order to SPACE ADMINISTRATION telephone); visa information (number,
prevent contamination of the type, expiration date); employer/
environment outside the booth. [Notice (18–079)] affiliation information (name of
Airflow will be in a downward institution, address, country,
direction, thereby moving NASA Advisory Council; Aeronautics telephone); title/position of attendee. To
contaminants away from the miner’s Committee; Meeting expedite admittance, U.S. citizens and
breathing zone. Permanent Residents (green card
AGENCY: National Aeronautics and
—Air pressure through the spray holders) are requested to provide full
Space Administration.
manifold will be limited to 30 pounds name and citizenship status no less than
ACTION: Notice of meeting. 5 working days in advance. Information
per square inch or less. A lock box
with a single, plant manager SUMMARY: In accordance with the should be sent to Ms. Irma Rodriguez by
controlled key will be used to prevent Federal Advisory Committee Act, as fax at (202) 358–4060. For questions,
regulator tampering. amended, the National Aeronautics and please call Ms. Irma Rodriguez at (202)
—The air spray manifold will consist of Space Administration (NASA) 358–0984. Attendees will also be
schedule 80 steel pipe that has a announces a meeting of the Aeronautics required to sign a register prior to
failure pressure of 1,300 pounds per Committee of the NASA Advisory entering the meeting room. It is
square inch and will be capped at the Council (NAC). This meeting will be imperative that the meeting be held on
base and actuated by an electrically held for soliciting, from the aeronautics these dates to accommodate the
controlled ball valve at the top. community and other persons, research scheduling priorities of the key
—Air nozzles must not exceed 30 and technical information relevant to participants.
pounds per square inch gauge. program planning. Patricia Rausch,
—The upper most spray of the spray
DATES: Thursday, November 15, 2018, Advisory Committee Management Officer,
manifold will be located below the National Aeronautics and Space
10:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m., Local Time.
booth user’s breathing zone. Some Administration.
type of mechanical device can be used ADDRESSES: NASA Langley Research
Center, 2 Langley Boulevard, Building [FR Doc. 2018–22799 Filed 10–18–18; 8:45 am]
to cover the upper air nozzles to meet
the specific height of the user. 2101, Room 305, Hampton, VA 23681. BILLING CODE 7510–13–P

—Air nozzles will be guarded to FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
eliminate the possibility of incidental Irma Rodriguez, Designated Federal
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND
contact, which could create Officer, Aeronautics Research Mission
SPACE ADMINISTRATION
mechanical damage to the air nozzles Directorate, NASA Headquarters,
during the clothes cleaning process. Washington, DC 20546, (202) 358–0984, [Notice (18–080)]
—Periodic maintenance checks of the or irma.c.rodriguez@nasa.gov.
Human Exploration and Operations
booth will be conducted in SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Research Advisory Committee;
accordance with the meeting will be open to the public up
Meeting
recommendations contained in the to the capacity of the room. This
manufacturer’s instruction manual. meeting is also available telephonically AGENCY: National Aeronautics and
—The air receiver tank supplying air to and by WebEx. You must use a touch- Space Administration.
the manifold system will be of tone telephone to participate in this ACTION: Notice of meeting.
sufficient volume to permit no less meeting. Any interested person may dial
than 20 seconds of continuous the USA toll-free conference number 1– SUMMARY: In accordance with the
cleaning time. 888–769–8716, participant passcode: Federal Advisory Committee Act, as
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1

—An appropriate hazard warning sign 6813159, followed by the # sign to amended, the National Aeronautics and
will be posted on the booth to state at participate in this meeting by telephone. Space Administration (NASA)
a minimum, ‘‘Compressed Air’’ and The WebEx link is https://nasa. announces a meeting of the Human
‘‘Respirable Dust’’. webex.com/, the meeting number is 994 Exploration and Operations Research
—A pressure relief valve designed for 496 825, and the password is Advisory Committee.
the booth’s air reservoir will be Je2WcGD*. The agenda for the meeting DATED: November 16, 2018, 9:00 a.m. to
installed. includes the following topics: 5:00 p.m., Local Time.

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Document Created: 2018-10-19 01:26:08
Document Modified: 2018-10-19 01:26:08

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice.
Dates		All comments on the petition must be received by MSHA's Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances on or before November 19, 2018.
Contact		Barbara Barron, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances at 202-693-9447 (voice), [email protected] (email), or 202-693-9441 (fax). [These are not toll-free numbers.]
FR Citation		83 FR 53112

83 FR 53112 - Petitions for Modification of Application of Existing Mandatory Safety Standard

DEPARTMENT OF LABORMine Safety and Health Administration

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 203 (October 19, 2018)

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Mine Safety and Health Administration