Petitions for Modification

[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 9 (Thursday, January 14, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2518-2519]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-872]


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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. 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 `` 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. 99-872 Filed 1-13-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-43-P