[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 102 (Thursday, May 27, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29784-29785]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-12691]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Mine Safety and Health Administration
Petitions for Modification
AGENCY: Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), Labor.
ACTION: Notice of petitions for modification of existing mandatory
safety standards.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Section 101(c) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of
1977 and 30 CFR part 44 govern the application, processing, and
disposition of petitions for modification. This notice is a summary of
petitions for modification filed by the parties listed below to modify
the application of existing mandatory safety standards published in
Title 30 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
DATES: All comments on the petitions must be received by the Office of
Standards, Regulations and Variances on or before June 28, 2010.
ADDRESSES: You may submit your comments, identified by ``docket
number'' on the subject line, by any of the following methods:
1. Electronic Mail: [email protected].
2. Facsimile: 1-202-693-9441.
3. Regular Mail: MSHA, Office of Standards, Regulations and
Variances, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, Room 2350, Arlington, Virginia 22209-
3939, Attention: Patricia W. Silvey, Director, Office of Standards,
Regulations and Variances.
4. Hand-Delivery or Courier: MSHA, Office of Standards, Regulations
and Variances, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, Room 2350, Arlington, Virginia
22209-3939, Attention: Patricia W. Silvey, Director, Office of
Standards, Regulations and Variances.
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. Individuals
who submit comments by hand-delivery are required to check in at the
receptionist desk on the 21st floor.
Individuals may inspect copies of the petitions and comments during
normal business hours at the address listed above.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barbara Barron, Office of Standards,
Regulations and Variances at 202-693-9447 (Voice),
[email protected] (E-mail), or 202-693-9441 (Telefax). [These are
not toll-free numbers.]
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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 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. Petitions for Modification
Docket Numbers: M-2010-020-C.
Petitioner: The Wolf Run Mining Company, Route 3, Box 146,
Philippi, West Virginia 26416.
Mine: Sentinel Mine, MSHA I.D. No. 46-04168, located in Barbour
County, West Virginia.
Regulation Affected: 30 CFR 75.1909(b)(6) (Non-permissible diesel-
powered equipment; design and performance requirements).
Modification Request: The petitioner requests a modification of the
existing standard to permit the Getman Roadbuilder, Serial Number
379514 to be operated as it was originally designed, without front
brakes. The petitioner states that: (1) The rule does not address
equipment with more than four wheels, specifically the Getman
Roadbuilder, Model RDG-1504S, with six wheels; (2) the machine has dual
brake systems on the four rear wheels, and is designed to prevent loss
of braking due to a single component failure; (3) seventy-four percent
(74%) of the machines total weight is over the four (4) rear wheels;
and (4) with the weight distribution, brakes on the rear of the machine
are sufficient to safely stop the machine. The petitioner further
states that: (1) Training will be provided to the grader operators to
lower the moldboard to provide additional stopping capability in
emergency situations and recognize the appropriate speeds to use on
different roadway conditions; and (2) limit the maximum speed to 10
miles per hour. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative
method will provide no less than the same measure of protection at the
Sentinel Mine than would be provided with compliance with the existing
standard.
Docket Numbers: M-2010-023-C.
Petitioner: Rosebud Mining Company, 301 Market Street, Kittanning,
Pennsylvania 16201.
Mines: Tracy Lynne Mine, MSHA I.D. No. 36-08603, Clementine Mine,
MSHA I.D. No. 36-08862, both located in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania;
Penfield Mine, MSHA I.D. No. 36-09355, located in Clearfield County,
Pennsylvania; Mine 78, MSHA I.D. No. 36-09371, located in Somerset
County, Pennsylvania; and Heilwood Mine, MSHA I.D. No. 36-09407, Lowry
Mine, MSHA I.D. No. 36-09287, Toms Run Mine, MSHA I.D. No. 36-08525,
and Cherry Tree Mine, MSHA I.D. No. 36-09224, all located in Indiana
County, Pennsylvania.
Regulation Affected: 30 CFR 75.503 (Permissible electric face
equipment; maintenance) and 30 CFR 18.35 (Portable trailing cables and
cords).
Modification Request: The petitioner requests a modification of the
existing standard to permit the maximum length of the 480-volt trailing
cables for supplying power to the Fletcher Roof Ranger II Twin Boom
Roof Bolters to be 950 feet. The petitioner states that: (1) The
trailing cables for the 480-volt Fletcher Roof Ranger II Roof Bolter
will
[[Page 29785]]
not be smaller than No. 2 American Wire Gauge (AWG) cable; (2) all
circuit breakers used to protect the No. 2 AWG trailing cables
exceeding 700 feet in length will have instantaneous trip units
calibrated to trip at 500 amperes. The trip setting of these circuit
breakers will be sealed to insure that the settings on the breakers
cannot be changed, and will have permanent, legible labels. Each label
will identify the circuit breaker as being suitable for protecting the
No. 2 AWG cables; (3) replacement circuit breakers and/or instantaneous
trip units, used to protect the No. 2 AWG trailing cables will be
calibrated to trip at 500 amperes, and the setting to be sealed; (4)
all components that provide short-circuit protection will have a
sufficient interruption rating in accordance with the maximum
calculated fault current available; (5) the No. 2 AWG cables and the
circuit breakers will be examined in accordance with all 30 CFR
provisions during each production day; (6) permanent warning labels
will be installed and maintained on the load center identifying the
location of each short-circuit protective device. These labels will
warn miners not to change or alter the settings of these devices; (7)
the affected trailing cables will be de-energized and repaired if the
cables are damaged in any way during the shift; (8) the alternative
method will not be implemented until after all miners who have been
designated to operate the Roof Ranger II, or any other person
designated to examine the trailing cables or trip settings on the
circuit breakers have received proper training as to the performance of
their duties; and (9) within sixty (60) days after the Proposed
Decision and Order becomes final, proposed revisions for its approved
30 CFR part 48 training plan will be submitted to the District Manager.
The proposed revisions will specify task training for miners designated
to examine the trailing cables for safe operating conditions and verify
that the short-circuit settings of the circuit interrupting device(s)
that protect the affecting trailing cables do not exceed the specified
setting(s) in Item No. 3. Training will include the following elements:
(a) The hazards of setting the short-circuit interrupting device(s) too
high to adequately protect the trailing cables; (b) how to verify that
the interrupting device(s) protecting the trailing cable(s) are
properly set and maintained; (c) mining methods and operating
procedures that will protect the trailing cables against damage; and
(d) the proper procedure for examining the trailing cable to insure
that the cable(s) are in safe operating condition by a visual
inspection of the entire cable, observing the insulation, the integrity
of the splices, nicks and abrasions. The petitioner states that the
procedures as specified in 30 CFR 48.3 for approval of proposed
revisions to approved training plans will apply. The petitioner asserts
that the proposed alternative method will at all times guarantee no
less than the same measure of protection afforded the miners by such
standard with no diminution of safety to miners.
Dated: May 21, 2010.
Patricia W. Silvey,
Director, Office of Standards, Regulations and Variances.
[FR Doc. 2010-12691 Filed 5-26-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P