Petition for Modification of Application of Existing Mandatory Safety Standards, 26954-26955 [2017-12097]
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 111 / Monday, June 12, 2017 / Notices
comments during normal business
hours at the address listed above.
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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Barbara Barron, Office of Standards,
Regulations, and Variances at 202–693–
9447 (Voice), barron.barbara@dol.gov
(Email), or 202–693–9441 (Facsimile).
[These are not toll-free numbers.]
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section
101(c) of the Federal Mine Safety and
Health Act of 1977 and Title 30 of the
Code of Federal Regulations Part 44
govern the application, processing, and
disposition of petitions for modification.
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 of Labor
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.
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES
II. Petition for Modification
Docket Number: M–2017–008–C.
Petitioner: Excel Mining LLC, 4126
State Highway 194 West, Pikeville,
Kentucky 41501.
Mine: Excel Mining #4 Mine MSHA
I.D. No. 15–19515, located in Pike
County, Kentucky.
Regulation Affected: 30 CFR
75.1909(b)(6) (Nonpermissible diesel
powered equipment; design and
performance requirements).
Modification Request: The petitioner
requests a modification of the existing
standard to allow use of a six-wheeled
Dapco Roadbuilder, model DP–10G,
serial number 003, as it was originally
designed without front brakes. The
petitioner states that:
(1) The Dapco Roadbuilder has a
braking system on the four rear wheels
that is designed to prevent loss of
braking due to a single brake system
component failure.
(2) The petitioner will train the grader
operator to limit the maximum speed of
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:28 Jun 09, 2017
Jkt 241001
the Roadbuilder to 10 miles per hour
(MPH) by permanently blocking out any
gear that would provide a higher speed
than 10 MPH, to use transmission and
differential ratios that would limit the
maximum speed to 10 MPH, to
recognize the appropriate speeds to use
on different roadway conditions and
different grades/undulations, and to
lower the front push blade, grader blade,
or digger forks for additional stopping
capability in emergency situations.
The petitioner asserts that the design
of the Dapco Roadbuilder guarantees no
less than the same measure of protection
afforded by the existing standard
because the machine’s braking system is
adequate to stop the machine due to the
weight distribution over the four rear
wheels.
Sheila McConnell,
Director, Office of Standards, Regulations,
and Variances.
[FR Doc. 2017–12096 Filed 6–9–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510–43–P
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Mine Safety and Health Administration
Petition for Modification of Application
of Existing Mandatory Safety
Standards
Mine Safety and Health
Administration, Labor.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
This notice is a summary of
a petition for modification submitted to
the Mine Safety and Health
Administration (MSHA) by the parties
listed below.
DATES: All comments on the petition
must be received by MSHA’s Office of
Standards, Regulations, and Variances
on or before July 12, 2017.
ADDRESSES: You may submit your
comments, identified by ‘‘docket
number’’ on the subject line, by any of
the following methods:
1. Electronic Mail: zzMSHAcomments@dol.gov. Include the docket
number of the petition in the subject
line of the message.
2. Facsimile: 202–693–9441.
3. Regular Mail or Hand Delivery:
MSHA, Office of Standards,
Regulations, and Variances, 201 12th
Street South, Suite 4E401, Arlington,
Virginia 22202–5452, Attention: Sheila
McConnell, Director, Office of
Standards, Regulations, and Variances.
Persons delivering documents are
required to check in at the receptionist’s
desk in Suite 4E401. Individuals may
inspect a copy of the petition and
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00052
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
comments during normal business
hours at the address listed above.
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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Barbara Barron, Office of Standards,
Regulations, and Variances at 202–693–
9447 (Voice), barron.barbara@dol.gov
(Email), or 202–693–9441 (Facsimile).
[These are not toll-free numbers.]
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section
101(c) of the Federal Mine Safety and
Health Act of 1977 and Title 30 of the
Code of Federal Regulations Part 44
govern the application, processing, and
disposition of petitions for modification.
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 of Labor
(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. Petition for Modification
Docket Number: M–2017–009–C.
Petitioner: Hamilton County Coal,
LLC, 18033 County Road 500E,
Dahlgren, Illinois 62828–4294.
Mine: Mine No. 1, MSHA I.D. No. 11–
03203, located in Hamilton County,
Illinois.
Regulation Affected: 30 CFR 75.382
(Mechanical escape facilities).
Modification Requested: The
petitioner requests a modification of the
existing standard to permit the use of
the slope belt conveyor as a mechanical
escape facility at Mine No. 1. The
petitioner states that:
a. Mine No. 1 extracts coal from the
Herrin No. 6 coal seam by both
continuous mining and longwall
extraction methods. The coal seam is
intersected by a vertical shaft with cage
hoist facility and by a dual compartment
slope that contains a slope car hoist
facility in the lower track compartment
E:\FR\FM\12JNN1.SGM
12JNN1
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 111 / Monday, June 12, 2017 / Notices
and a belt conveyor in the isolated
upper compartment. Escapeways, as
required in 30 CFR 75.380(a), are
connected to these hoist facilities as
required in 30 CFR 75.380(i)(1) and
(i)(2).
b. Rope and drum hoists used as
mechanical escape facilities at these
locations are subject to maintenance
and/or conditions that could interfere
with the operation of the facility for
extended periods of time. The
availability of a third mechanical escape
facility (slope belt conveyor) provides
an additional layer of safety for the
miners and enhances compliance with
escapeway regulations in that there will
be an additional escape facility readily
available during normal hoist
operations. Additionally, the use of the
slope belt conveyor as a mechanical
escape facility provides the most
efficient means to evacuate miners in
the event of a mine emergency. The
slope belt conveyor provides a nonstop
conveyance on which the miners can
exit the mine without the delay of
having to wait on the limited capacity
of the slope car as it makes a roundtrip
in and out of the mine. At a speed of
140 feet per minute, the slope belt
conveyor can evacuate 100 miners in
approximately 30 minutes. The slope
car hoist requires approximately 120
minutes to evacuate 100 miners. The
petitioner further states that the use of
the slope belt conveyor as a mechanical
escape facility will be conditioned upon
compliance with the following:
(1) The slope belt conveyor will be
equipped with an automatic braking
system which prevents the belt from
reversing direction if power is lost. The
drive motor gear boxes are provided
with a braking/blocking device that
mechanically prevents rotation of the
gears when the drive motors are deenergized.
(2) The power source for the slope
belt conveyor will be independent of the
underground mine’s power source.
(3) The slope belt conveyor is
powered by multiple drive motors
located on the mine’s surface facilities.
Each drive motor is controlled by a
variable frequency drive that, coupled
with encoders, monitors the speed of
the motor unit and can shut down the
belt if a predetermined speed set point
is exceeded. When persons are being
transported on the slope belt conveyor
as a mechanical escape facility, the belt
speed will not exceed 140 feet per
minute.
(4) A personnel loading platform will
be installed across the slope belt
conveyor outby the tailpiece. The
loading platform will be designed to
enable miners, including disabled
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:28 Jun 09, 2017
Jkt 241001
persons, to safely and systematically
board the slope belt conveyor.
(5) A minimum of four attendants will
be stationed at the personnel loading
platform to assist miners as they
transition from the loading platform
onto the slope belt conveyor.
(6) A personnel unloading platform
will be installed across the slope belt
conveyor at the first open cross cut on
the surface. The unloading platform will
be designed to enable miners, including
disabled persons, to safely and
systematically exit the slope belt
conveyor.
(7) A minimum of four attendants will
be stationed at the personnel unloading
platform to assist miners as they
transition from the slope belt conveyor
onto the unloading platform.
(8) Positive-acting stop controls will
be installed continuously along the
slope belt conveyor and such controls
will be readily accessible to persons
being transported on the slope belt
conveyor.
(9) The slope belt conveyor will be
equipped with automatic stop controls
that will automatically stop the belt if a
person travels beyond the unloading
platform.
(10) Automatic controls will deenergize the belt flight dumping onto
the slope belt conveyor and will be so
designed that the power cannot be
reapplied to the belt flight dumping
onto the slope belt conveyor while it is
in use as a mechanical escape facility.
(11) The slope belt conveyor will have
a minimum vertical clearance of 18
inches from the nearest overhead
projection when measured from the
edge of the belt.
(12) Adequate illumination will be
provided at the personnel loading and
unloading platforms on the slope belt
conveyor.
(13) The slope belt conveyor will not
be used to transport supplies and the
slope belt conveyor will be clear of all
material before persons are transported.
(14) Telephone or other suitable
communications will be provided at the
personnel loading and unloading
platforms on the slope belt conveyor.
(15) Suitable crossing facilities will be
provided where ever persons must cross
the moving slope belt conveyor to gain
access at the personnel loading and
unloading platforms.
(16) The slope belt conveyor will be
operated in the mechanical escapeway
mode at least weekly. A record of this
test will be documented and made
available for inspection by authorized
representatives of the Secretary and
representatives of the Illinois
Department of Natural Resources.
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Fmt 4703
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26955
(17) All underground mine personnel
will be trained in the provisions of this
petition before the petition is
implemented. A record of this training
will be documented and made available
for inspection by authorized
representatives of the Secretary and
representatives of the Illinois
Department of Natural Resources.
The petitioner asserts that the
proposed alternative method will at all
times provide the same degree of safety
for the underground miners at Mine No.
1 as that afforded by the existing
standard.
Sheila McConnell,
Director, Office of Standards, Regulations,
and Variances.
[FR Doc. 2017–12097 Filed 6–9–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4520–43–P
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Mine Safety and Health Administration
[OMB Control No. 1219–0133]
Proposed Extension of Information
Collection; Hazard Communication
Mine Safety and Health
Administration, Labor.
ACTION: Request for public comments.
AGENCY:
The Department of Labor, as
part of its continuing effort to reduce
paperwork and respondent burden,
conducts a pre-clearance consultation
program to provide the general public
and Federal agencies with an
opportunity to comment on proposed
collections of information in accordance
with the Paperwork Reduction Act of
1995. This program helps to assure that
requested data can be provided in the
desired format, reporting burden (time
and financial resources) is minimized,
collection instruments are clearly
understood, and the impact of collection
requirements on respondents can be
properly assessed. Currently, the Mine
Safety and Health Administration
(MSHA) is soliciting comments on the
information collection for Hazard
Communication.
DATES: All comments must be received
on or before August 11, 2017.
ADDRESSES: Comments concerning the
information collection requirements of
this notice may be sent by any of the
methods listed below.
• Federal E-Rulemaking Portal:
https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
on-line instructions for submitting
comments for docket number MSHA–
2017–0022.
• Regular Mail: Send comments to
USDOL–MSHA, Office of Standards,
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\12JNN1.SGM
12JNN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 111 (Monday, June 12, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26954-26955]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-12097]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Mine Safety and Health Administration
Petition for Modification of Application of Existing Mandatory
Safety Standards
AGENCY: Mine Safety and Health Administration, Labor.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This notice is a summary of a petition for modification
submitted to the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) by the
parties listed below.
DATES: All comments on the petition must be received by MSHA's Office
of Standards, Regulations, and Variances on or before July 12, 2017.
ADDRESSES: You may submit your comments, identified by ``docket
number'' on the subject line, by any of the following methods:
1. Electronic Mail: zzMSHA-comments@dol.gov. Include the docket
number of the petition in the subject line of the message.
2. Facsimile: 202-693-9441.
3. Regular Mail or Hand Delivery: MSHA, Office of Standards,
Regulations, and Variances, 201 12th Street South, Suite 4E401,
Arlington, Virginia 22202-5452, Attention: Sheila McConnell, Director,
Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances. Persons delivering
documents are required to check in at the receptionist's desk in Suite
4E401. Individuals may inspect a copy of the petition and comments
during normal business hours at the address listed above.
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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barbara Barron, Office of Standards,
Regulations, and Variances at 202-693-9447 (Voice),
barron.barbara@dol.gov (Email), or 202-693-9441 (Facsimile). [These are
not toll-free numbers.]
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 101(c) of the Federal Mine Safety
and Health Act of 1977 and Title 30 of the Code of Federal Regulations
Part 44 govern the application, processing, and disposition of
petitions for modification.
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 of Labor (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. Petition for Modification
Docket Number: M-2017-009-C.
Petitioner: Hamilton County Coal, LLC, 18033 County Road 500E,
Dahlgren, Illinois 62828-4294.
Mine: Mine No. 1, MSHA I.D. No. 11-03203, located in Hamilton
County, Illinois.
Regulation Affected: 30 CFR 75.382 (Mechanical escape facilities).
Modification Requested: The petitioner requests a modification of
the existing standard to permit the use of the slope belt conveyor as a
mechanical escape facility at Mine No. 1. The petitioner states that:
a. Mine No. 1 extracts coal from the Herrin No. 6 coal seam by both
continuous mining and longwall extraction methods. The coal seam is
intersected by a vertical shaft with cage hoist facility and by a dual
compartment slope that contains a slope car hoist facility in the lower
track compartment
[[Page 26955]]
and a belt conveyor in the isolated upper compartment. Escapeways, as
required in 30 CFR 75.380(a), are connected to these hoist facilities
as required in 30 CFR 75.380(i)(1) and (i)(2).
b. Rope and drum hoists used as mechanical escape facilities at
these locations are subject to maintenance and/or conditions that could
interfere with the operation of the facility for extended periods of
time. The availability of a third mechanical escape facility (slope
belt conveyor) provides an additional layer of safety for the miners
and enhances compliance with escapeway regulations in that there will
be an additional escape facility readily available during normal hoist
operations. Additionally, the use of the slope belt conveyor as a
mechanical escape facility provides the most efficient means to
evacuate miners in the event of a mine emergency. The slope belt
conveyor provides a nonstop conveyance on which the miners can exit the
mine without the delay of having to wait on the limited capacity of the
slope car as it makes a roundtrip in and out of the mine. At a speed of
140 feet per minute, the slope belt conveyor can evacuate 100 miners in
approximately 30 minutes. The slope car hoist requires approximately
120 minutes to evacuate 100 miners. The petitioner further states that
the use of the slope belt conveyor as a mechanical escape facility will
be conditioned upon compliance with the following:
(1) The slope belt conveyor will be equipped with an automatic
braking system which prevents the belt from reversing direction if
power is lost. The drive motor gear boxes are provided with a braking/
blocking device that mechanically prevents rotation of the gears when
the drive motors are de-energized.
(2) The power source for the slope belt conveyor will be
independent of the underground mine's power source.
(3) The slope belt conveyor is powered by multiple drive motors
located on the mine's surface facilities. Each drive motor is
controlled by a variable frequency drive that, coupled with encoders,
monitors the speed of the motor unit and can shut down the belt if a
predetermined speed set point is exceeded. When persons are being
transported on the slope belt conveyor as a mechanical escape facility,
the belt speed will not exceed 140 feet per minute.
(4) A personnel loading platform will be installed across the slope
belt conveyor outby the tailpiece. The loading platform will be
designed to enable miners, including disabled persons, to safely and
systematically board the slope belt conveyor.
(5) A minimum of four attendants will be stationed at the personnel
loading platform to assist miners as they transition from the loading
platform onto the slope belt conveyor.
(6) A personnel unloading platform will be installed across the
slope belt conveyor at the first open cross cut on the surface. The
unloading platform will be designed to enable miners, including
disabled persons, to safely and systematically exit the slope belt
conveyor.
(7) A minimum of four attendants will be stationed at the personnel
unloading platform to assist miners as they transition from the slope
belt conveyor onto the unloading platform.
(8) Positive-acting stop controls will be installed continuously
along the slope belt conveyor and such controls will be readily
accessible to persons being transported on the slope belt conveyor.
(9) The slope belt conveyor will be equipped with automatic stop
controls that will automatically stop the belt if a person travels
beyond the unloading platform.
(10) Automatic controls will de-energize the belt flight dumping
onto the slope belt conveyor and will be so designed that the power
cannot be reapplied to the belt flight dumping onto the slope belt
conveyor while it is in use as a mechanical escape facility.
(11) The slope belt conveyor will have a minimum vertical clearance
of 18 inches from the nearest overhead projection when measured from
the edge of the belt.
(12) Adequate illumination will be provided at the personnel
loading and unloading platforms on the slope belt conveyor.
(13) The slope belt conveyor will not be used to transport supplies
and the slope belt conveyor will be clear of all material before
persons are transported.
(14) Telephone or other suitable communications will be provided at
the personnel loading and unloading platforms on the slope belt
conveyor.
(15) Suitable crossing facilities will be provided where ever
persons must cross the moving slope belt conveyor to gain access at the
personnel loading and unloading platforms.
(16) The slope belt conveyor will be operated in the mechanical
escapeway mode at least weekly. A record of this test will be
documented and made available for inspection by authorized
representatives of the Secretary and representatives of the Illinois
Department of Natural Resources.
(17) All underground mine personnel will be trained in the
provisions of this petition before the petition is implemented. A
record of this training will be documented and made available for
inspection by authorized representatives of the Secretary and
representatives of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method will at
all times provide the same degree of safety for the underground miners
at Mine No. 1 as that afforded by the existing standard.
Sheila McConnell,
Director, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances.
[FR Doc. 2017-12097 Filed 6-9-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4520-43-P
