[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: 30CFR75.325]
[Page 474-476]
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. 75.325 Air quantity.
(a)(1) In bituminous and lignite mines the quantity of air shall be
at least 3,000 cubic feet per minute reaching each working face where
coal is being cut, mined, drilled for blasting, or loaded. When a
greater quantity is
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necessary to dilute, render harmless, and carry away flammable,
explosive, noxious, and harmful gases, dusts, smoke, and fumes, this
quantity shall be specified in the approved ventilation plan. A minimum
air quantity may be required to be specified in the approved ventilation
plan for other working places or working faces.
(2) The quantity of air reaching the working face shall be
determined at or near the face end of the line curtain, ventilation
tubing, or other ventilation control device. If the curtain, tubing, or
device extends beyond the last row of permanent roof supports, the
quantity of air reaching the working face shall be determined behind the
line curtain or in the ventilation tubing at or near the last row of
permanent supports.
(3) If machine mounted dust collectors or diffuser fans are used,
the approved ventilation plan shall specify the operating volume of the
dust collector or diffuser fan.
(b) In bituminous and lignite mines, the quantity of air reaching
the last open crosscut of each set of entries or rooms on each working
section and the quantity of air reaching the intake end of a pillar line
shall be at least 9,000 cubic feet per minute unless a greater quantity
is required to be specified in the approved ventilation plan. This
minimum also applies to sections which are not operating but are capable
of producing coal by simply energizing the equipment on the section.
(c) In longwall and shortwall mining systems--
(1) The quantity of air shall be at least 30,000 cubic feet per
minute reaching the working face of each longwall, unless the operator
demonstrates that a lesser air quantity will maintain continual
compliance with applicable methane and respirable dust standards. This
lesser quantity shall be specified in the approved ventilation plan. A
quantity greater than 30,000 cubic feet per minute may be required to be
specified in the approved ventilation plan.
(2) The velocity of air that will be provided to control methane and
respirable dust in accordance with applicable standards on each longwall
or shortwall and the locations where these velocities will be provided
shall be specified in the approved ventilation plan. The locations
specified shall be at least 50 feet but no more than 100 feet from the
headgate and tailgate, respectively.
(d) Ventilation shall be maintained during installation and removal
of mechanized mining equipment. The approved ventilation plan shall
specify the minimum quantity of air, the locations where this quantity
will be provided and the ventilation controls required.
(e) In anthracite mines, the quantity of air shall be as follows:
(1) At least 1,500 cubic feet per minute reaching each working face
where coal is being mined, unless a greater quantity is required to be
specified in the approved ventilation plan.
(2) At least 5,000 cubic feet per minute passing through the last
open crosscut in each set of entries or rooms and at the intake end of
any pillar line, unless a greater quantity is required to be specified
in the approved ventilation plan.
(3) When robbing areas where air currents cannot be controlled and
air measurements cannot be obtained, the air shall have perceptible
movement.
(f) The minimum ventilating air quantity for an individual unit of
diesel-powered equipment being operated shall be at least that specified
on the approval plate for that equipment. Such air quantity shall be
maintained--
(1) In any working place where the equipment is being operated;
(2) At the section loading point during any shift the equipment is
being operated on the working section;
(3) In any entry where the equipment is being operated outby the
section loading point in areas of the mine developed on or after April
25, 1997;
(4) In any air course with single or multiple entries where the
equipment is being operated outby the section loading point in areas of
the mine developed prior to April 25, 1997; and
(5) At any other location required by the district manager and
specified in the approved ventilation plan.
(g) The minimum ventilating air quantity where multiple units of
diesel-powered equipment are operated on working sections and in areas
where
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mechanized mining equipment is being installed or removed must be at
least the sum of that specified on the approval plates of all the
diesel-powered equipment on the working section or in the area where
mechanized mining equipment is being installed or removed. The minimum
ventilating air quantity shall be specified in the approved ventilation
plan. For working sections such air quantity must be maintained--
(1) In the last open crosscut of each set of entries or rooms in
each working section;
(2) In the intake, reaching the working face of each longwall; and
(3) At the intake end of any pillar line.
(h) The following equipment may be excluded from the calculations of
ventilating air quantity under paragraph (g) if such equipment exclusion
is approved by the district manager and specified in the ventilation
plan:
(1) Self-propelled equipment meeting the requirements of
Sec. 75.1908(b);
(2) Equipment that discharges its exhaust into intake air that is
coursed directly to a return air course;
(3) Equipment that discharges its exhaust directly into a return air
course; and
(4) Other equipment having duty cycles such that the emissions would
not significantly affect the exposure of miners.
(i) A ventilating air quantity that is less than what is required by
paragraph (g) of this section may be approved by the district manager in
the ventilation plan based upon the results of sampling that demonstrate
that the lesser air quantity will maintain continuous compliance with
applicable TLV[reg]'s.
(j) If during sampling required by Sec. 70.1900(c) of this
subchapter the ventilating air is found to contain concentrations of CO
or NO2 in excess of the action level specified by
Sec. 70.1900(c), higher action levels may be approved by the district
manager based on the results of sampling that demonstrate that a higher
action level will maintain continuous compliance with applicable
TLV[reg]'s. Action levels other than those specified in
Sec. 70.1900(c) shall be specified in the approved ventilation plan.
(k) As of November 25, 1997 the ventilating air quantity required
where diesel-powered equipment is operated shall meet the requirements
of paragraphs (f) through (j) of this section. Mine operators utilizing
diesel-powered equipment in underground coal mines shall submit to the
appropriate MSHA district manager a revised ventilation plan or
appropriate amendments to the existing plan, in accordance with
Sec. 75.371, which implement the requirements of paragraphs (f) through
(j) of this section.
[61 FR 9828, Mar. 11, 1996; 61 FR 26442, May 28, 1996; 61 FR 29288, June
10, 1996, as amended at 61 FR 55526, Oct. 25, 1996; 62 FR 34641, June
27, 1997]