Petitions for Modification

[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 9 (Thursday, January 14, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2519-2521]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-781]


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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 `` comments@msha.gov'', 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