[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 65 (Tuesday, April 6, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16759-16761]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-8369]
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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. International Uranium (USA) Corporation
[Docket No. M-98-08-M]
International Uranium (USA) Corporation, HC 64, Box 153, 2555 No.
Hwy 89A, Fredonia, Arizona 86022 has filed a petition to modify the
application of 30 CFR 57.14130(a)(4)(roll-over protective structures
(ROPS) and seat belts for surface equipment) to its Sunday Mine Complex
(I.D. No. 05-01197) located in Dolores County, Colorado. The petitioner
proposes to implement traffic controls instead of providing Elmac
trucks with seatbelts and rollover protection for use during limited
time on the surface. The petitioner proposes to: (i) restrict the speed
of the Elmac trucks while traveling the short distance on the surface
to five miles per hour; (ii) mark the surface area where the trucks
travel as a ``No Travel Zone'' for unauthorized surface mining
equipment; and (iii) require truck operators, upon exiting the portal,
to conduct a ``rolling stop'' and prior to proceeding visibly survey
the travel route. The petitioner asserts that by implementing these
steps, all potential for a collision or rollover type accident would be
eliminated while the Elmac truck is on the surface and, because
seatbelts and rollover protection are only designed to mitigate
injuries in the event of a rollover or collision accident, the traffic
controls would provide a greater measure of protection by eliminating
the possibility of a rollover or collision accident.
2. International Uranium (USA) Corporation
[Docket No. M-98-09-M]
International Uranium (USA) Corporation, HC 64, Box 153, 2555 No.
Hwy 89A, Fredonia, Arizona 86022 has filed a petition to modify the
application of 30 CFR 57.14130(a)(6) (roll-over protective structures
(ROPS) and seat belts for surface equipment) to its Sunday Mine Complex
(I.D. No. 05-01197) located in Dolores County, Colorado. The petitioner
proposes to implement traffic controls instead of providing its Massey-
Ferguson tractor with seatbelts and rollover protection for use during
limited travel on the surface. The petitioner proposes to: (i) restrict
the surface speed of its Massey-Ferguson tractor to five miles per
hour; and (ii) restrict the travel of its tractor to designated routes,
over maintained roadways, to the maintenance shop and parking area. The
petitioner asserts that by implementing these steps, all potential for
a collision or rollover-type accident would be eliminated while the
Massey-Ferguson tractor is on the surface. In addition, the petitioner
asserts that because rollover protection is only designed to mitigate
injuries in the event of a rollover accident, the traffic controls
would provide a greater measure of protection by eliminating the
possibility of a collision or rollover accident.
3. International Uranium (USA) Corporation
[Docket No. M-98-10-M]
International Uranium (USA) Corporation, HC 64, Box 153, 2555 No.
Hwy 89A, Fredonia, Arizona 86022 has filed a petition to modify the
application of 30 CFR 57.14132(b) (horns and backup alarms for surface
equipment) to its Sunday Mine Complex (I.D. No. 05-01197) located in
Dolores County, Colorado. The petitioner proposes to implement area
restrictions instead of providing Elmac underground-type haulage trucks
with back-up alarms. The petitioner proposes to: (i) implement
personnel and equipment restrictions in the ramping areas during the
one occasion where the trucks move in a limited backward direction on
the surface; (ii) prohibit unauthorized personnel and equipment from
the stockpile ramping areas; and (iii) implement restrictions through
training, including applicable revisions to the training plan and
through signs clearly indicating that the ramping areas are ``No
Entry'' zones. The petitioner asserts that by implementing these steps,
all potential for a collision-type accident would be eliminated while
the Elmac truck is backing-up the stockpile ramps. In addition, the
petitioner asserts that because back-up alarms would be used to warn
persons to evacuate the area where the equipment is backing up, the
area restrictions, which would keep people out of the area would
provide a greater measure of protection.
4. Moberly Stone Company
[Docket No. M-1999-001-M]
Moberly Stone Company, P.O. Box 582, Moberly, Missouri 65270-0582
has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 57.14100(b)
(safety defects; examination, correction and records) to its Moberly
Stone Company Underground Mine (I.D. No. 23-02105), and Open Pit Mine
(I.D. No. 23-01785) both located in Randolph County, Missouri. The
petitioner requests a modification of the mandatory safety standard to
permit operation of its pit trucks without a tachometer or a
speedometer. The petitioner asserts that using a tachometer or a
speedometer would not contribute to any safety factor for the pit
trucks since the nature of the rock deposit would only allow the pit
trucks to travel at a top average speed of 10 miles an hour.
[[Page 16760]]
5. Canyon Fuel Company, LLC
[Docket No. M-1999-006-C]
Canyon Fuel Company, LLC, HC 35 Box 380, Helper, Utah 84526 has
filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.1909(a)(1)
(nonpermissible diesel-powered equipment; design and performance
requirements) to its Skyline Mine No. 3 (I.D. No. 42-01566) located in
Carbon County, Utah. The petitioner requests a modification of the
mandatory safety standard to permit the use of non-permissible, light
duty equipment that is equipped with an over the road type diesel
engine which has been or is currently being offered in commercially
available highway type vehicles instead of using equipment that is
equipped with an MSHA approved engine. The petitioner asserts that
application of the mandatory safety standard would result in a
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. Energy Fuels Coal, Inc.
[Docket No. M-1999-007-C]
Energy Fuels Coal, Inc., P.O. Box 459, Florence, Colorado 81226 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 South Field Mine (I.D. No. O5-03455) located in Fremont County,
Colorado. The petitioner proposes to use a 135 kw/169 kva, 480 volt
diesel powered generator set to move equipment in and out of the mine
and to operate a roof bolter for roof rehabilitation in remote areas of
the mine. The genset is 480 vac three phase and is mounted and grounded
to a metal sled with an area of 60 square feet that is in contact with
the damp mine floor at all times. Energy Fuels feels that this
application is a good ground in that the genset sled has a low
resistance to earth. The petitioner asserts that the proposed
alternative method would provide at least the same measure of
protection as would the mandatory standard.
7. CONSOL of Kentucky, Inc.
[Docket No. M-1999-008-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 75.1101-8 (water sprinkler systems; arrangement
of sprinklers) to its Big Springs E1 Mine (I.D. No. 15-18115) located
in Knott County, Kentucky. The petitioner requests a modification of
the mandatory safety standard to permit the use of a single line of
automatic secondary belt conveyors. The petitioner proposes to: (i) use
a single overhead pipe system with 1/2-inch orifice automatic
sprinklers located on 10-foot centers rather than every 8 feet, to
cover 50 feet of fire-resistant belt or 150 feet of non-fire resistant
belt with actuation temperatures between 200 and 230 degrees Fahrenheit
and with water pressure equal to or greater than 10 psi; (ii) have the
automatic sprinklers located not more than 10 feet apart so that the
discharge of water will extend over the belt drive, belt take-up,
electrical control, and gear reducing unit; and (iii) conduct a test to
insure proper operation during the installation of each new system and
during any subsequent repair or replacement of any critical part. The
petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide
at least the same measure of protection as would the mandatory
standard.
8. KenAmerican Resources, Inc.
Docket No. M-1999-009-C]
KenAmerican Resources, Inc., 7590 Highway 181, Central City,
Kentucky 42330 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR
75.503 (permissible electric face equipment; maintenance) to its
Paradise #9 Mine (I.D. No. 15-17741) located in Muhlenberg County,
Kentucky. The petitioner proposes to use a spring-loaded device with
specific fastening characteristics instead of padlocks to secure plugs
and electrical type connectors to batteries and to the permissible
mobile powered equipment the batteries serve. The petitioner asserts
that the spring-loaded device would prevent accidental separation of
the battery plugs from their receptacles during normal operation of the
battery equipment. In addition, the petitioner asserts that the
proposed alternative method would provide at least the same measure of
protection as would the mandatory standard, and would not result in a
diminution of safety to the miners.
9. D & D Coal Company
[Docket No. M-1999-010-C]
D & D Coal Company, 139 E. Independence Street, Shamokin,
Pennsylvania 17872 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30
CFR 75.1200(d) & (i) (mine map) to its 7' Drift (I.D. No. 36-08092)
located in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. The petitioner proposes to
use cross-sections instead of contour lines through the intake slope,
at locations of rock tunnel connections between veins, and at 1,000
foot intervals of advance from the intake slope, and to limit the
required mapping of the mine workings above and below to those present
within 100 feet of the veins being mined except when veins are
interconnected to other veins beyond the 100-foot limit through rock
tunnels. The petitioner asserts that due to the steep pitch encountered
in mining anthracite coal veins, contours provide no useful information
and their presence would make portions of the mine illegible. The
petitioner further asserts that use of cross-sections in lieu of
contour lines has been practiced since the late 1800's thereby
providing critical information relative to the spacing between veins
and proximity to other mine workings which fluctuate considerably. The
petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide
at least the same measure of protection as would the mandatory
standard.
10. D & D Coal Company
Docket No. M-1999-011-C]
D & D Coal Company, 139 E. Independence Street, Shamokin,
Pennsylvania 17872 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30
CFR 75.1202 and 75.1202-1(a) (temporary notations, revisions, and
supplements) to its 7' Drift (I.D. No. 36-08092) located in Schuylkill
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
low production and slow rate of advance in anthracite mining make
surveying on 6 month intervals impractical. The petitioner asserts that
the proposed alternative method would provide at least the same measure
of protection as would the mandatory standard.
11. Canyon Fuel Company, LLC
[Docket No. M-1999-012-C]
Canyon Fuel Company, LLC, 397 South 800 West, Salina, Utah 84654
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 SUFCO Mine (I.D. No. 42-00089) located in
Sevier County, Utah. The petitioner proposes to use high-voltage (2,400
volts) cables on continuous miner sections. The petitioner asserts that
the proposed alternative method would provide at least the same measure
of protection as would the mandatory standard.
[[Page 16761]]
12. Consolidation Coal Company
[Docket No. M-1999-013-C]
Consolidation Coal Company, Consol Plaza, 1800 Washington Road,
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15241-1421 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 Rend Lake
Mine (I.D. No. 11-00601) located in Jefferson County, Illinois. The
petitioner proposes to use high-voltage (4,160 volt) cables to supply
power to its longwall mining system in by the last open crosscut. The
petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide
at least the same measure of protection as would the mandatory
standard.
13. The Ohio Valley Coal Company
[Docket No. M-1999-014-C]
The Ohio Valley Coal Company, 56854 Pleasant Ridge Road, Alledonia,
Ohio 43902 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR
75.804(a) (underground high-voltage cables) to its Powhatan No. 6 Mine
(I.D. No. 33-01159) located in Belmont County, Ohio. The petitioner
proposes to use a high-voltage cable with an internal ground check
conductor smaller than No. 10 (A.W.G.) as part of its longwall mining
system. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method
would provide at least the same measure of protection as would the
mandatory standard.
14. Perry County Coal Corporation
[Docket No. M-1999-015-C]
Perry County Coal Corporation, P.O. Box 5001, Hazard, Kentucky
41702 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR
75.388(a)(3) (boreholes in advance of mining) to its EAS #1 Mine (I.D.
No. 15-02085) located in Perry County, Kentucky. The petitioner
proposes to establish a 100 foot barrier line instead of a 200 foot
barrier around two adjacent mines located in the same seam as the EAS
#1 Mine. 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 May 6, 1999.
Copies of these petitions are available for inspection at that address.
Dated: March 26, 1999.
Carol J. Jones,
Acting Director, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances.
[FR Doc. 99-8369 Filed 4-5-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P