[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 30, Volume 1]
[Revised as of July 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 30CFR75.313]

[Page 472]
 
                       TITLE 30--MINERAL RESOURCES
 
  CHAPTER I--MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
 
PART 75--MANDATORY SAFETY STANDARDS--UNDERGROUND COAL MINES--Table of Contents
 
                         Subpart D--Ventilation
 
Sec. 75.313  Main mine fan stoppage with persons underground.

    (a) If a main mine fan stops while anyone is underground and the 
ventilating quantity provided by the fan is not maintained by a back-up 
fan system--
    (1) Electrically powered equipment in each working section shall be 
deenergized;
    (2) Other mechanized equipment in each working section shall be shut 
off; and
    (3) Everyone shall be withdrawn from the working sections and areas 
where mechanized mining equipment is being installed or removed.
    (b) If ventilation is restored within 15 minutes after a main mine 
fan stops, certified persons shall examine for methane in the working 
places and in other areas where methane is likely to accumulate before 
work is resumed and before equipment is energized or restarted in these 
areas.
    (c) If ventilation is not restored within 15 minutes after a main 
mine fan stops--
    (1) Everyone shall be withdrawn from the mine;
    (2) Underground electric power circuits shall be deenergized. 
However, circuits necessary to withdraw persons from the mine need not 
be deenergized if located in areas or haulageways where methane is not 
likely to migrate to or accumulate. These circuits shall be deenergized 
as persons are withdrawn; and
    (3) Mechanized equipment not located on working sections shall be 
shut off. However, mechanized equipment necessary to withdraw persons 
from the mine need not be shut off if located in areas where methane is 
not likely to migrate to or accumulate.
    (d)(1) When ventilation is restored--
    (i) No one other than designated certified examiners shall enter any 
underground area of the mine until an examination is conducted as 
described in Sec. 75.360(b) through (e) and the area has been determined 
to be safe. Designated certified examiners shall enter the underground 
area of the mine from which miners have been withdrawn only after the 
fan has operated for at least 15 minutes unless a longer period of time 
is specified in the approved ventilation plan.
    (ii) Underground power circuits shall not be energized and 
nonpermissible mechanized equipment shall not be started or operated in 
an area until an examination is conducted as described in Sec. 75.360(b) 
through (e) and the area has been determined to be safe, except that 
designated certified examiners may use nonpermissible transportation 
equipment in intake airways to facilitate the making of the required 
examination.
    (2) If ventilation is restored to the mine before miners reach the 
surface, the miners may return to underground working areas only after 
an examination of the areas is made by a certified person and the areas 
are determined to be safe.
    (e) Any atmospheric monitoring system operated during fan stoppages 
shall be intrinsically safe.