Petitions for Modification of Application of Existing Mandatory Safety Standard, 23941-23943 [2018-11037]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 100 / Wednesday, May 23, 2018 / Notices
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Mine Safety and Health Administration
[OMB Control No. 1219–0004]
Proposed Extension of Information
Collection; Roof Control Plan for
Underground Coal Mines
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 ensure 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 Roof Control
Plan for Underground Coal Mines.
DATES: All comments must be received
on or before July 23, 2018.
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–
2018–0002.
• Regular Mail: Send comments to
USDOL–MSHA, Office of Standards,
Regulations, and Variances, 201 12th
Street South, Suite 4E401, Arlington,
VA 22202–5452.
• Hand Delivery: USDOL—Mine
Safety and Health Administration, 201
12th Street South, Suite 4E401,
Arlington, VA 22202–5452. Sign in at
the receptionist’s desk on the 4th floor
via the East elevator.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Sheila McConnell, Director, Office of
Standards, Regulations, and Variances,
MSHA, at
MSHA.information.collections@dol.gov
(email); (202) 693–9440 (voice); or (202)
693–9441 (facsimile).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
I. Background
Section 103(h) of the Federal Mine
Safety and Health Act of 1977 (Mine
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:33 May 22, 2018
Jkt 244001
Act), 30 U.S.C. 813(h), authorizes
MSHA to collect information necessary
to carry out its duty in protecting the
safety and health of miners. Further,
section 101(a) of the Mine Act, 30 U.S.C.
811, authorizes the Secretary of Labor
(Secretary) to develop, promulgate, and
revise as may be appropriate, improved
mandatory health or safety standards for
the protection of life and prevention of
injuries in coal or other mines.
Section 302(a) of the Mine Act,
requires that a roof control plan and
revisions thereof suitable to the roof
conditions and mining system of each
coal mine be first approved by the
Secretary before implementation by the
operator. The plan must show the type
of support and spacing approved by the
Secretary, and the plan must be
reviewed at least every six months by
the Secretary.
This information collection addresses
the recordkeeping associated with:
75.220(a)(1)—Roof control plan
75.221(1)(2)—Roof control plan
information
75.222(a)—Roof control plan-approval
75.223(a), (b), & (d)—Evaluation and
revision of roof control plan.
II. Desired Focus of Comments
MSHA is soliciting comments
concerning the proposed information
collection related to Roof Control Plan
for Underground Coal Mines. MSHA is
particularly interested in comments
that:
• Evaluate whether the collection of
information is necessary for the proper
performance of the functions of the
agency, including whether the
information has practical utility;
• Evaluate the accuracy of MSHA’s
estimate of the burden of the collection
of information, including the validity of
the methodology and assumptions used;
• Suggest methods to enhance the
quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected; and
• Minimize the burden of the
collection of information on those who
are to respond, including through the
use of appropriate automated,
electronic, mechanical, or other
technological collection techniques or
other forms of information technology,
e.g., permitting electronic submission of
responses.
The information collection request
will be available on https://
www.regulations.gov. MSHA cautions
the commenter against providing any
information in the submission that
should not be publicly disclosed. Full
comments, including personal
information provided, will be made
available on www.regulations.gov and
www.reginfo.gov.
PO 00000
Frm 00058
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
23941
The public may also examine publicly
available documents at USDOL—Mine
Safety and Health Administration, 201
12th South, Suite 4E401, Arlington, VA
22202–5452. Sign in at the receptionist’s
desk on the 4th floor via the East
elevator.
Questions about the information
collection requirements may be directed
to the person listed in the FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION section of this notice.
III. Current Actions
This request for collection of
information contains provisions for Roof
Control Plan for Underground Coal
Mines. MSHA has updated the data
with respect to the number of
respondents, responses, burden hours,
and burden costs supporting this
information collection request.
Type of Review: Extension, without
change, of a currently approved
collection.
Agency: Mine Safety and Health
Administration.
OMB Number: 1219–0004.
Affected Public: Business or other forprofit.
Number of Respondents: 211.
Frequency: On occasion.
Number of Responses: 1,450.
Annual Burden Hours: 4,513 hours.
Annual Respondent or Recordkeeper
Cost: $5,025.
Comments submitted in response to
this notice will be summarized and
included in the request for Office of
Management and Budget approval of the
information collection request; they will
also become a matter of public record.
Sheila McConnell,
Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2018–11040 Filed 5–22–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510–43–P
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Mine Safety and Health Administration
Petitions for Modification of
Application of Existing Mandatory
Safety Standard
Mine Safety and Health
Administration, Labor.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
This notice is a summary of
petitions for modification submitted to
the Mine Safety and Health
Administration (MSHA) by the parties
listed below.
DATES: All comments on the petitions
must be received by MSHA’s Office of
Standards, Regulations, and Variances
on or before June 22, 2018.
ADDRESSES: You may submit your
comments, identified by ‘‘docket
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\23MYN1.SGM
23MYN1
23942
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 100 / Wednesday, May 23, 2018 / Notices
number’’ on the subject line, by any of
the following methods:
1. Email: 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 copies of the petitions 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.
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
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. Petitions for Modification
Docket Number: M–2018–014–C.
Petitioner: Greenbrier Minerals, LLC,
P.O. Box 446, Man, West Virginia
25635.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:33 May 22, 2018
Jkt 244001
Mine: Powellton No. 1 Mine, MSHA
I.D. No. 46–09217, located in Logan
County, West Virginia.
Regulation Affected: 30 CFR
75.310(b)(1) (Installation of main mine
fans).
Modification Request: The petitioner
requests a modification of the existing
standard to allow the Powellton No. 1
Mine to feed power from a new, isolated
surface substation via borehole feed to
replenish power for future mine
advancement and to provide power for
the No. 3 Coal Branch fan installation.
The petitioner states that:
(1) Feeding of power will be from an
isolated surface substation dedicated
only to the borehole feed. This feed
circuit will be a three-phase, 12.47 KV
High-Voltage Circuit that is run on open
wire and poles with neutral and pilot,
with the pilot wire mounted on separate
insulators the entire length. The system
circuit breaker will be controlled by an
SEL–501–2 Digital Fault Relay, and wire
and cable grounds will be monitored by
an MCI 22701 impedance monitor.
(2) A surface Gang Operated Air Break
(GOAB) switch is located at the top of
the borehole with Lightning Arrestors
on each phase. The Lightning Arrestors
will be grounded by attaching a 15 KV
rated cable that will be placed at a
minimum of 25 feet away from the
borehole structure or station ground
field.
(3) The borehole cable will be a Mine
Power Feeder (MPF) constructed cable,
15 KV, 4/0–3 Conductor SHD (Shield)
GGC. The cable will be hung by wire
messenger and supported at the top rim
and every subsequent 100 feet span. All
messenger and apparatus at the borehole
location will be grounded to the station
ground field in accordance with current
MSHA, West Virginia Office of Miners
HS&T, and applicable NEC Code
regulations.
(4) At the exit of the bottom of the
borehole, the cable will enter a Mining
Controls, Dual Vacuum Breaker Switch
House (A). The switch house features
AEEI A8200, diode terminated, ground
monitors and SEL–751A Digital Fault
Relays. It will also feature three phase
Tavrida Electric Vacuum Breakers rated
800A, 15KV, 20kAIC.
(5) One circuit from the Dual Vacuum
Switch House (A) will be dedicated to
feed into a second Dual Vacuum Switch
House (B) which will send refreshed
power to petitioner’s Section 2 and
Section 3 Continuous Miner Sections.
This switch house features AEEI A8200,
diode terminated, ground monitors and
SEL–501–2 Digital Fault Relays. It will
also feature three phase MCI Electric
Vacuum Breakers rated 600A, 15KV,
20kAIC.
PO 00000
Frm 00059
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
(6) The other circuit from the Dual
Vacuum Switch House (A) will be
dedicated to feed only the fan circuit
which is approximately 12,000 feet to
the portal. The supplying cable will be
a Mine Power Feeder (MPF) constructed
cable, 15 KV, 4/0–3 Conductor SHD
(Shield) GGC. The cable will be
terminated at a Pole Mounted, GOAB
Switch with Lightning Arrestors. The
lightning arrestors will be grounded by
attaching a 15 KV rated cable that will
be placed at a minimum of 25 feet away
from all station grounds. The pilot and
ground will be terminated in an
enclosure with an ‘‘Emergency Stop’’
switch located near the fan controls.
(7) Power will enter on the primary
side of a set of three 167KVA (12.4KV–
Delta X 480V–WYE) pole mounted
transformer cans. These cans are fuse
protected and have lightning arrestors
for each phase. These lightning arrestors
will be grounded by attaching a 15 KV
rated cable that will be placed at a
minimum of 25 feet away from station
grounds. The secondary side of the
transformers (480V AC) will feed into a
(Fully Automated Transfer Switch) and
then to the Fan VFD Motor Starter, that
will power the 250 horsepower fan
motor.
(8) The alternate power source is a
Caterpillar Generator XQ300–C9 (300
KW) feeding the fully automatic transfer
switch 480V AC power anytime there is
a power interruption. The generator will
start, the transfer switch will switch to
generator supplied power, and the
whole process takes approximately 39
seconds for the fan to be running at the
set capacity. The generator has a fuel
tank capacity of 430 gallons and the fan
has a fuel consumption rate of 18.6
gallons per hour. Therefore, the fan can
run from the generator for
approximately 23 hours from the
onboard tank. There is also an
additional supply tank to fill the
generator tank that holds 1,000 gallons
of fuel, providing an additional run time
of 53 hours plus. This will allow time
to troubleshoot, repair, test, and
reenergize the High-Voltage Feeder
Circuit or have additional fuel delivered
to the site.
(9) All normal backup notification
systems will be installed including
radio remote warning signals that the
fan is not running, fiber-optic
communication, and security cameras
monitoring the site.
(10) The petitioner operates the
affected underground coal mine which
additional power feeds are required to
replenish power to two working
sections and supply power to the #3
Coal Branch Fan Installation.
E:\FR\FM\23MYN1.SGM
23MYN1
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 100 / Wednesday, May 23, 2018 / Notices
(11) The #3 Coal Branch Fan will be
installed to meet Ventilation Plan
requirements as set forth in petitioner’s
Ventilation Plan.
(12) There is no Three-Phase Utility
Power of any voltage available within
9.5 miles.
(13) The borehole location is very
remote, approximately 2.2 miles from
the substation location, thus would be
considered a security risk for damage
should the substation be placed there.
Mine personnel can be at the borehole
location in approximately 45 minutes
vs. 5 minutes travel to the current
location that is located behind the
Preparation Plant of the Main
Substation.
(14) Mining is being conducted by
another mining company which
intersects with Greenbrier Minerals
property line. Petitioner states that it
could get right of way to build across
the other company property line but in
subsequent years would have to move
two sections of power line, and our
substation would be in a blasting area
that could lead to damage from flying
debris, air-shock, and ground vibrations.
(15) The petitioner requests that the
Powellton #1 Mine be allowed to feed
both mine power systems and
petitioner’s #3 Coal Branch Fan
Installation on one system where such
occurrences of a fault trip on the main
feed would be kept to a minimum by
utilizing the dual series vacuum breaker
configuration. In those rare instances
where the dual vacuum breaker
configuration should fail, petitioner has
included a fully automatic system with
a transfer switch and generator that will
restore power to the #3 Coal Branch Fan
in less than one minute.
(16) The proposed modification
would not only ensure operable
ventilation, it would also ensure
through weekly functional testing that
the alternate power supply would
function as intended and adequately
maintain mine ventilation.
The petitioner asserts that the
proposed alternative method will
achieve the purpose of the existing
standard and will always guarantee no
less than the same measure of protection
afforded by the standard.
Docket Number: M–2018–005–M.
Petitioner: Solvay Chemicals, Inc.,
P.O. Box 1167, 400 County Road 85,
Green River, Wyoming 82935.
Mine: Solvay Chemicals, Inc. Mine,
MSHA I.D. No. 48–01295, located in
Sweetwater County, Wyoming.
Regulation Affected: 30 CFR
57.4760(a) (Shaft mines).
Modification Request: The petitioner
states that the fire control doors located
near the #3 shaft in this Class III Gassy
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:33 May 22, 2018
Jkt 244001
Mine presents a diminution of safety to
the miners because the installation of
control doors or the reversal of
mechanical ventilation would affect the
main air currents and splits, thus
adversely impacting the ventilation
system’s ability to render and dilute
concentrations of toxic gases or methane
gas. Additionally, the installation of
control doors or the reversal of
mechanical ventilation can only be
achieved by shutting down the mine’s
main exhaust fans. Due to the expanse
of the mine, evacuation of all personnel
underground to the surface in ten
minutes or less is not an alternative
means of compliance with the standard.
The petitioner seeks to remove the fire
control doors and requests a
modification of the existing standard to
permit the use of alternative controls in
lieu of the installation of control doors.
The petitioner states that:
(1) It requests a modification of 30
CFR 57.4760(a), that authorizes the
petitioner to establish an alternative
method in lieu of the mandatory safety
standard. The petitioner considers the
following alternatives to the installation
of control doors as acceptable means to
control the spread of fire, smoke, and
toxic gases underground in the event of
a fire specific to the petitioner’s mine:
(a) The petitioner currently has four
shafts constructed of non-combustible
materials. All four existing shafts will be
provided with a means of hoisting mine
personnel. At all times, two properly
maintained escapeways to the surface
from the lowest levels will be
maintained.
(b) Conveyor belting used
underground will be 2G compliant or
meet the equivalent flame spread rating.
The petitioner asserts that application
of the existing standard will result in a
diminution of safety to the miners and
that the proposed alternative method
will provide the same measure of
protection afforded by the standard.
Sheila McConnell,
Director, Office of Standards, Regulations,
and Variances.
[FR Doc. 2018–11037 Filed 5–22–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4520–43–P
ACTION:
23943
Request for public comments.
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 ensure 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 Notification
of Methane Detected in Underground
Metal and Nonmetal Mine Atmospheres.
DATES: All comments must be received
on or before July 23, 2018.
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–
2018–0005.
• Regular Mail: Send comments to
USDOL–MSHA, Office of Standards,
Regulations, and Variances, 201 12th
Street South, Suite 4E401, Arlington,
VA 22202–5452.
• Hand Delivery: USDOL-Mine Safety
and Health Administration, 201 12th
Street South, Suite 4E401, Arlington,
VA 22202–5452. Sign in at the
receptionist’s desk on the 4th floor via
the East elevator.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Sheila McConnell, Director, Office of
Standards, Regulations, and Variances,
MSHA, at MSHA.information.
collections@dol.gov (email); (202) 693–
9440 (voice); or (202) 693–9441
(facsimile).
SUMMARY:
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Mine Safety and Health Administration
[OMB Control No. 1219–0103]
Proposed Extension of Information
Collection; Notification of Methane
Detected in Underground Metal and
Nonmetal Mine Atmospheres
Mine Safety and Health
Administration, Labor.
AGENCY:
PO 00000
Frm 00060
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Section 103(h) of the Federal Mine
Safety and Health Act of 1977 (Mine
Act), 30 U.S.C. 813(h), authorizes
MSHA to collect information necessary
to carry out its duty in protecting the
safety and health of miners. Further,
section 101(a) of the Mine Act, 30 U.S.C.
811, authorizes the Secretary of Labor
(Secretary) to develop, promulgate, and
revise as may be appropriate, improved
mandatory health or safety standards for
E:\FR\FM\23MYN1.SGM
23MYN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 100 (Wednesday, May 23, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23941-23943]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-11037]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Mine Safety and Health Administration
Petitions for Modification of Application of Existing Mandatory
Safety Standard
AGENCY: Mine Safety and Health Administration, Labor.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This notice is a summary of petitions for modification
submitted to the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) by the
parties listed below.
DATES: All comments on the petitions must be received by MSHA's Office
of Standards, Regulations, and Variances on or before June 22, 2018.
ADDRESSES: You may submit your comments, identified by ``docket
[[Page 23942]]
number'' on the subject line, by any of the following methods:
1. Email: [email protected]. 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 copies of the petitions 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),
[email protected] (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. Petitions for Modification
Docket Number: M-2018-014-C.
Petitioner: Greenbrier Minerals, LLC, P.O. Box 446, Man, West
Virginia 25635.
Mine: Powellton No. 1 Mine, MSHA I.D. No. 46-09217, located in
Logan County, West Virginia.
Regulation Affected: 30 CFR 75.310(b)(1) (Installation of main mine
fans).
Modification Request: The petitioner requests a modification of the
existing standard to allow the Powellton No. 1 Mine to feed power from
a new, isolated surface substation via borehole feed to replenish power
for future mine advancement and to provide power for the No. 3 Coal
Branch fan installation.
The petitioner states that:
(1) Feeding of power will be from an isolated surface substation
dedicated only to the borehole feed. This feed circuit will be a three-
phase, 12.47 KV High-Voltage Circuit that is run on open wire and poles
with neutral and pilot, with the pilot wire mounted on separate
insulators the entire length. The system circuit breaker will be
controlled by an SEL-501-2 Digital Fault Relay, and wire and cable
grounds will be monitored by an MCI 22701 impedance monitor.
(2) A surface Gang Operated Air Break (GOAB) switch is located at
the top of the borehole with Lightning Arrestors on each phase. The
Lightning Arrestors will be grounded by attaching a 15 KV rated cable
that will be placed at a minimum of 25 feet away from the borehole
structure or station ground field.
(3) The borehole cable will be a Mine Power Feeder (MPF)
constructed cable, 15 KV, 4/0-3 Conductor SHD (Shield) GGC. The cable
will be hung by wire messenger and supported at the top rim and every
subsequent 100 feet span. All messenger and apparatus at the borehole
location will be grounded to the station ground field in accordance
with current MSHA, West Virginia Office of Miners HS&T, and applicable
NEC Code regulations.
(4) At the exit of the bottom of the borehole, the cable will enter
a Mining Controls, Dual Vacuum Breaker Switch House (A). The switch
house features AEEI A8200, diode terminated, ground monitors and SEL-
751A Digital Fault Relays. It will also feature three phase Tavrida
Electric Vacuum Breakers rated 800A, 15KV, 20kAIC.
(5) One circuit from the Dual Vacuum Switch House (A) will be
dedicated to feed into a second Dual Vacuum Switch House (B) which will
send refreshed power to petitioner's Section 2 and Section 3 Continuous
Miner Sections. This switch house features AEEI A8200, diode
terminated, ground monitors and SEL-501-2 Digital Fault Relays. It will
also feature three phase MCI Electric Vacuum Breakers rated 600A, 15KV,
20kAIC.
(6) The other circuit from the Dual Vacuum Switch House (A) will be
dedicated to feed only the fan circuit which is approximately 12,000
feet to the portal. The supplying cable will be a Mine Power Feeder
(MPF) constructed cable, 15 KV, 4/0-3 Conductor SHD (Shield) GGC. The
cable will be terminated at a Pole Mounted, GOAB Switch with Lightning
Arrestors. The lightning arrestors will be grounded by attaching a 15
KV rated cable that will be placed at a minimum of 25 feet away from
all station grounds. The pilot and ground will be terminated in an
enclosure with an ``Emergency Stop'' switch located near the fan
controls.
(7) Power will enter on the primary side of a set of three 167KVA
(12.4KV-Delta X 480V-WYE) pole mounted transformer cans. These cans are
fuse protected and have lightning arrestors for each phase. These
lightning arrestors will be grounded by attaching a 15 KV rated cable
that will be placed at a minimum of 25 feet away from station grounds.
The secondary side of the transformers (480V AC) will feed into a
(Fully Automated Transfer Switch) and then to the Fan VFD Motor
Starter, that will power the 250 horsepower fan motor.
(8) The alternate power source is a Caterpillar Generator XQ300-C9
(300 KW) feeding the fully automatic transfer switch 480V AC power
anytime there is a power interruption. The generator will start, the
transfer switch will switch to generator supplied power, and the whole
process takes approximately 39 seconds for the fan to be running at the
set capacity. The generator has a fuel tank capacity of 430 gallons and
the fan has a fuel consumption rate of 18.6 gallons per hour.
Therefore, the fan can run from the generator for approximately 23
hours from the onboard tank. There is also an additional supply tank to
fill the generator tank that holds 1,000 gallons of fuel, providing an
additional run time of 53 hours plus. This will allow time to
troubleshoot, repair, test, and reenergize the High-Voltage Feeder
Circuit or have additional fuel delivered to the site.
(9) All normal backup notification systems will be installed
including radio remote warning signals that the fan is not running,
fiber-optic communication, and security cameras monitoring the site.
(10) The petitioner operates the affected underground coal mine
which additional power feeds are required to replenish power to two
working sections and supply power to the #3 Coal Branch Fan
Installation.
[[Page 23943]]
(11) The #3 Coal Branch Fan will be installed to meet Ventilation
Plan requirements as set forth in petitioner's Ventilation Plan.
(12) There is no Three-Phase Utility Power of any voltage available
within 9.5 miles.
(13) The borehole location is very remote, approximately 2.2 miles
from the substation location, thus would be considered a security risk
for damage should the substation be placed there. Mine personnel can be
at the borehole location in approximately 45 minutes vs. 5 minutes
travel to the current location that is located behind the Preparation
Plant of the Main Substation.
(14) Mining is being conducted by another mining company which
intersects with Greenbrier Minerals property line. Petitioner states
that it could get right of way to build across the other company
property line but in subsequent years would have to move two sections
of power line, and our substation would be in a blasting area that
could lead to damage from flying debris, air-shock, and ground
vibrations.
(15) The petitioner requests that the Powellton #1 Mine be allowed
to feed both mine power systems and petitioner's #3 Coal Branch Fan
Installation on one system where such occurrences of a fault trip on
the main feed would be kept to a minimum by utilizing the dual series
vacuum breaker configuration. In those rare instances where the dual
vacuum breaker configuration should fail, petitioner has included a
fully automatic system with a transfer switch and generator that will
restore power to the #3 Coal Branch Fan in less than one minute.
(16) The proposed modification would not only ensure operable
ventilation, it would also ensure through weekly functional testing
that the alternate power supply would function as intended and
adequately maintain mine ventilation.
The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method will
achieve the purpose of the existing standard and will always guarantee
no less than the same measure of protection afforded by the standard.
Docket Number: M-2018-005-M.
Petitioner: Solvay Chemicals, Inc., P.O. Box 1167, 400 County Road
85, Green River, Wyoming 82935.
Mine: Solvay Chemicals, Inc. Mine, MSHA I.D. No. 48-01295, located
in Sweetwater County, Wyoming.
Regulation Affected: 30 CFR 57.4760(a) (Shaft mines).
Modification Request: The petitioner states that the fire control
doors located near the #3 shaft in this Class III Gassy Mine presents a
diminution of safety to the miners because the installation of control
doors or the reversal of mechanical ventilation would affect the main
air currents and splits, thus adversely impacting the ventilation
system's ability to render and dilute concentrations of toxic gases or
methane gas. Additionally, the installation of control doors or the
reversal of mechanical ventilation can only be achieved by shutting
down the mine's main exhaust fans. Due to the expanse of the mine,
evacuation of all personnel underground to the surface in ten minutes
or less is not an alternative means of compliance with the standard.
The petitioner seeks to remove the fire control doors and requests
a modification of the existing standard to permit the use of
alternative controls in lieu of the installation of control doors.
The petitioner states that:
(1) It requests a modification of 30 CFR 57.4760(a), that
authorizes the petitioner to establish an alternative method in lieu of
the mandatory safety standard. The petitioner considers the following
alternatives to the installation of control doors as acceptable means
to control the spread of fire, smoke, and toxic gases underground in
the event of a fire specific to the petitioner's mine:
(a) The petitioner currently has four shafts constructed of non-
combustible materials. All four existing shafts will be provided with a
means of hoisting mine personnel. At all times, two properly maintained
escapeways to the surface from the lowest levels will be maintained.
(b) Conveyor belting used underground will be 2G compliant or meet
the equivalent flame spread rating.
The petitioner asserts that application of the existing standard
will result in a diminution of safety to the miners and that the
proposed alternative method will provide the same measure of protection
afforded by the standard.
Sheila McConnell,
Director, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances.
[FR Doc. 2018-11037 Filed 5-22-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4520-43-P
