Petition for Modification of Application of Existing Mandatory Safety Standards, 10548-10550 [2023-03519]
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Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 34 / Tuesday, February 21, 2023 / Notices
(PRA). Public comments on the ICR are
invited.
DATES: The OMB will consider all
written comments that the agency
receives on or before March 23, 2023.
ADDRESSES: Written comments and
recommendations for the proposed
information collection should be sent
within 30 days of publication of this
notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/
PRAMain. Find this particular
information collection by selecting
‘‘Currently under 30-day Review—Open
for Public Comments’’ or by using the
search function.
Comments are invited on: (1) whether
the collection of information is
necessary for the proper performance of
the functions of the Department,
including whether the information will
have practical utility; (2) the accuracy of
the agency’s estimates of the burden and
cost of the collection of information,
including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used; (3)
ways to enhance the quality, utility and
clarity of the information collection; and
(4) ways to minimize the burden of the
collection of information on those who
are to respond, including the use of
automated collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Nicole Bouchet by telephone at 202–
693–0213, or by email at DOL_PRA_
PUBLIC@dol.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This
standard applies to dipping and coating
operations conducted by employers
involved in procedures that prevent
injury and death among workers
exposed to hazards associated with such
support operations. The information
collection requirement contained in the
standard is to ensure that workers are
aware of the safe distance to be when
electrostatic paint detearing equipment
is being used. For additional substantive
information about this ICR, see the
related notice published in the Federal
Register on October 11, 2023 (87 FR
61370).
This information collection is subject
to the PRA. A Federal agency generally
cannot conduct or sponsor a collection
of information, and the public is
generally not required to respond to an
information collection, unless the OMB
approves it and displays a currently
valid OMB Control Number. In addition,
notwithstanding any other provisions of
law, no person shall generally be subject
to penalty for failing to comply with a
collection of information that does not
display a valid OMB Control Number.
See 5 CFR 1320.5(a) and 1320.6.
DOL seeks PRA authorization for this
information collection for three (3)
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years. OMB authorization for an ICR
cannot be for more than three (3) years
without renewal. The DOL notes that
information collection requirements
submitted to the OMB for existing ICRs
receive a month-to-month extension
while they undergo review.
Agency: DOL–OSHA.
Title of Collection: Additional
Requirements for Special Dipping and
Coating Operations.
OMB Control Number: 1218–0237.
Affected Public: Private Sector—
Businesses or other for-profits.
Total Estimated Number of
Respondents: 10.
Total Estimated Number of
Responses: 10.
Total Estimated Annual Time Burden:
1 hour.
Total Estimated Annual Other Costs
Burden: $0.
(Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3507(a)(1)(D))
Nicole Bouchet,
Senior PRA Analyst.
[FR Doc. 2023–03469 Filed 2–17–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510–26–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 Genesis
Alkali, LLC.
DATES: All comments on the petition
must be received by MSHA’s Office of
Standards, Regulations, and Variances
on or before March 23, 2023.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
identified by Docket No. MSHA–2022–
0071 by any of the following methods:
1. Federal eRulemaking Portal:
https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments
for MSHA–2022–0071.
2. Fax: 202–693–9441.
3. Email: petitioncomments@dol.gov.
4. Regular Mail or Hand Delivery:
MSHA, Office of Standards,
Regulations, and Variances, 201 12th
Street South, Suite 4E401, Arlington,
Virginia 22202–5452.
Attention: S. Aromie Noe, Director,
Office of Standards, Regulations, and
Variances. Persons delivering
documents are required to check in at
SUMMARY:
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the receptionist’s desk in Suite 4E401.
Individuals may inspect copies of the
petition and comments during normal
business hours at the address listed
above. Before visiting MSHA in person,
call 202–693–9455 to make an
appointment, in keeping with the
Department of Labor’s COVID–19
policy. Special health precautions may
be required.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: S.
Aromie Noe, Office of Standards,
Regulations, and Variances at 202–693–
9440 (voice), Petitionsformodification@
dol.gov (email), or 202–693–9441 (fax).
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 (CFR) 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. The application of such standard to
such mine will result in a diminution of
safety to the miners in such mine.
In addition, sections 44.10 and 44.11
of 30 CFR establish the requirements for
filing petitions for modification.
II. Petition for Modification
Docket Number: M–2022–013–M.
Petitioner: Genesis Alkali, LLC., 580
Westvaco Road, Green River, Wyoming
82935.
Mine: Westvaco Mine, MSHA ID No.
48–00152, located in Sweetwater
County, Wyoming.
Regulation Affected: 30 CFR
57.22305, Approved equipment (III
mines).
Modification Request: The petitioner
requests a modification of 30 CFR
57.22305 to allow non-permissible
extraction submersible pumps (ESPs)
through well-bores drilled and installed
from the surface to access the tronabearing solution contained in
abandoned areas of the mine.
The petitioner states that:
(a) The Westvaco mine is an
underground trona mine in south
central Wyoming.
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(b) Since 1988, underground tailings
disposal and secondary resource
recovery have been part of the mining
operation. These are areas of the mine
that have no further production plans
and have been abandoned and flooded
with water through in mine pumping
and from slurry tailings generated by the
mineral preparation process that are
injected into the mine through surface
injection holes. There is no access to
these abandoned areas because they
have been left to deteriorate. They have
been barricaded with wooden blocks in
some cases. They are not ventilated, and
they are not accessible for travel. They
are not considered active areas of the
mine.
(c) The petitioner plans to install ESPs
through well-bores drilled and installed
from the surface to access the tronabearing solution contained in
abandoned areas of the mine. The
pumps will be located strategically in
the mine based on the mining process
and topography to ensure a large pool of
water can be gathered in an abandoned
area of the mine. The well-bores will be
drilled so that the pump intake and
electrical motor always remain below
the mine floor and under water. The
ESP design ensures that electrical
components will always be submerged
below the low water level or contained
in a solid inner casing that is submerged
below the low water level, preventing
their exposure to air currents or the
mine atmosphere.
(d) The permanently abandoned area
is not beyond the last open crosscut and
not ventilated with any air currents.
(e) The petitioner operates nonpermissible, submersible pumps in
outby areas of the mine which are
inspected weekly and which cannot be
operated in atmospheres containing 1.0
percent or more methane.
(f) The ESPs will be in locations that
are inaccessible by miners. The pumps
operate autonomously and are
controlled remotely from the surface.
(g) Autonomous extraction enables
the petitioner to have miners involved
in processing activities on the surface
instead of in extraction activities
underground. The use of one or more
ESPs allows the petitioner to avoid
exposing miners to hazards associated
with underground mining.
The petitioner proposes the following
alternative method:
(a) The electrical equipment shall be
isolated from the mine atmosphere by
deploying a dual threaded,
unperforated, solid metal inner casing
extending below the low water level in
the well-bore and thus providing a
water seal to isolate the pump, pump
motor, and power cable, including the
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pigtail from the power cable to the
motor connection. The larger outer
casing shall contain perforations to
allow the water to flow from the mine
into the well bore sump and into the
pump intake for pumping out of the
mine. The low water level shall be the
mine floor.
(b) To ensure the inner casing remains
below the low water level at the mine
floor level, a water level monitoring
system shall be installed consisting of
two redundant fiber optic pressure
sensors with a low-level alarm and
interlock system. The monitoring
system shall shut down the pump motor
in the event of low water level inside
the well. These fiber optic sensors,
which are intrinsically safe and
designed to withstand harsh
environments, measure the pressure of
the water column, convert it to an
elevation, and determine the low water
level, which is above the pump before
the pump motor is started. The low
water level interlock system in each
identical/redundant sensor shall be set
to the mine floor elevation (above the
pump) and shall trigger an alarm and
automatically shut down the pump if
the water level drops to that level, or if
the discrepancy between the readings
for each sensor is greater than 1 foot.
The sensors shall be located at least 10
feet below the low water level and
above the pump. If either water level
sensor starts to drift or fail, exceeding
preestablished thresholds, an alarm
shall be triggered and power to the ESP
shall automatically shut off.
(c) If the sensors need to be removed,
a workplace exam shall be conducted,
and the sensors shall be slowly
extracted from the conduit in the wellbore and stored on a reel. The water
level sensors shall be calibrated or
replaced and reinstalled. A final water
level shall be determined upon
installation and an ‘‘as built’’ wellprofile shall be created noting the
location of the sensors.
(d) All motor terminations and cable
splices shall be underwater and isolated
from the mine atmosphere. To verify
after installation that the inner casing is
sealed/isolated from the mine
atmosphere by water, this testing
procedure shall be followed:
(1) Measure initial static water level
in inner casing with wireline.
(2) Set a retrievable packer or other
drillable plug at the bottom of inner
casing.
(3) Add water to the inner casing to
approximately 10 feet above the static
water level or 10 feet above the base of
the casing grout, whichever is higher.
Since the casing is grouted to the
surface, test the portion of the casing
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10549
below the grout line; there is no need to
test the entire length of the casing.
(4) Wait for water to degas to ensure
no air entrapment.
(5) Confirm and measure water level
with wireline.
(6) Wait 30 minutes and measure
water level again.
(7) If the water level change is less
than 0.02 feet, isolation is in place (the
wireline precision is 0.01 feet).
(8) If the water level change is greater
than or equal to 0.02 feet, further testing
of well shall be performed to locate the
leak off point. The testing procedure
shall be repeated until isolation is
demonstrated.
(e) The ESP electrical system design is
an industry standard design and
encompasses the process from the first
transformer on the mine property with
incoming utility power to the pump
motor connection. The incoming power
from the utility provider (35KV) is
stepped down to 480V. The 480V feeds
a variable frequency drive (VFD)
assembly connected to a step-up
transformer to increase the voltage to
4160V. This is fed to the extraction well
pump motor approximately 1,700 feet
underground via a power cable adequate
in design to power the ESP.
(f) The pump motors are paired in
series and have a distinct connection
point that does not require a ground
wire since the pump motors are
continuously submerged under water
during operation. The power cable used
in this application shall be spliced to a
pigtail that uses a connector designed
for this pump.
(g) The following is a summary of the
specifications for each of the major
components of the ESP:
(1) Baker Hughes CentriLift VFD
specially designed for ESP applications.
The VFD does not have an automatic
restart and requires an operator to push
the start/stop button if the VFD is shut
down for any reason. The motor
protection shall be the overload
protection set to 120 percent of the
motor full load amps.
(2) Southwest Electric 480V/4160V
Transformer with Multi Tap Switch.
(3) High Resistance Grounding System
which consists of a 15A, 160-ohm
Neutral Grounding Resistor connected
to the Step-up Transformer (480V/
4160V) Neutral.
(4) Baker Hughes ESP Pump and
Motor Assembly rated at 350 HP, 125A@
3450V.
(5) Baker Hughes Centriline CPS76932
power cable—5KV Rated Cable #1 AWG
(American Wire Gauge) with an
ampacity of 183A, approximately 1,700
ft cable length from VFD to motor. The
initial installation of the power cable
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shall be a continuous run. The power
cable shall have current carrying
capacity of not less than 125 percent of
the full-load-amperage of the
submersible pump motor and an outer
jacket suitable for ‘‘harsh locations’’ and
high voltage. The power cable shall be
banded to the discharge casing at
intervals of 9 feet per the manufacturer.
(6) Opsens Solutions OPP–C, MEMSbased fiber optic pressure sensor water
level monitoring system consisting of
two redundant fiber optic pressure
sensors with a low-level alarm and
interlock system. This system shall be
fail-safe in that it will always trip the
pump motor circuit in the event of lossof-signal, loss-of-power, or a pre
established discrepancy between the
sensors and not allow the circuit to
reclose. The light source used is a white
light, not a laser. These fiber optic
pressure sensors along with their
amplifiers have a typical output of
between 10 mW (megawatt) to 100 mW.
(7) SEL–710–5 Motor Protection Relay
with a 50P/51P Phase Overcurrent
Protection Function, 27 Undervoltage
Protection function, and a 50G/51G
Residual Ground Overcurrent protection
function. This relay has a shunt trip to
the VFD Main Breaker.
(8) Bender RC48 C ground fault
ground and ground continuity
monitoring system which monitors the
residual ground current and monitors
the grounding conductor for low
resistance, high resistance, and a short
circuit. The relay monitor shall be
installed in a non-hazardous area and is
a typical setup used in high resistance
grounded systems at mines that operate
with high voltage. The relay monitor
shall conform to the applicable National
Electric Code requirements and provide
safeguards equivalent to pertinent
MSHA standards and this application.
(9) Baker Hughes Cable Splice,
Regional Power Cable and MLE Splice
and Baker Hughes Connector. The
pigtail is necessary to take the incoming
1 AWG power conductors and downsize
them to a 4 AWG power conductor that
fits the connector used to connect to the
pump motor. The pigtail is typically less
than 15 feet in length and can carry the
necessary amperage for this short
distance.
(h) All equipment associated with this
ESP and located on the mine’s surface
shall be protected from dust, rain, and
rodents by suitable enclosures.
(i) A grounding circuit, originating at
the grounded side of the grounding
resistor, shall extend along with the
power cable (conductors) to the pigtail
and serve as the grounding conductor
for the ESP. No other electrical
equipment shall be supplied power
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from this circuit. This relay takes a zerosequence current transformer input for
ground fault protection and uses
termination devices at the motor to
monitor the continuity of the ground
wire and to check for low resistance,
high resistance, and shorted faults. This
ground check circuit shall cause the
circuit breaker to open when either a
ground fault is present or a ground wire
is broken.
(j) The grounding circuit shall include
the pigtail splice through the
termination device which shall be
installed on the surface since the Baker
Hughes pump does not provide for
termination devices for grounds and
ground checks. The pigtail splice armor
shall provide the ground continuity
connection to the motor/pump casing to
prevent a shock hazard. Additionally,
the pump/motor casing is inaccessible
to personnel, mitigating the shock
hazard.
(k) The grounding resistor shall limit
the ground-fault current to not more
than 15 amperes. The grounding resistor
shall be rated for the maximum fault
current available and shall be insulated
from ground for a voltage equal to the
phase-to-phase voltage of the system.
(l) A lightning arrestor shall be
provided and shall be grounded to a low
resistance grounding medium and
separated from the pump power neutral
grounding circuit by not less than 25
feet.
(m) The circuit breaker shall be of
adequate interrupting capacity with
auxiliary relay protection to provide
protection against under-voltage,
grounded phase, short-circuit, and
overload.
(n) The grounded phase protection
device must be set not to exceed 40
percent of the current rating of the
neutral ground resistor.
(o) The high voltage pump shall be
provided with instantaneous ground
fault protection set at no more than
0.125 amperes; the time delay setting
must not exceed 0.25 seconds or the
minimum setting to allow the pump to
start without nuisance tripping.
(p) The short circuit protection device
shall be set not to exceed the required
short circuit protection for the power
cable or 75 percent of the minimum
available phase-to-phase short circuit
current, whichever is less. The trip
point will be set at 1140 amps. The
overload protection or the motor will be
set at 125 percent of the full load amps.
(q) The undervoltage connection
device shall operate on a loss of voltage
to prevent automatic restarting of the
equipment.
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(r) The disconnect device installed in
conjunction with the circuit breaker
shall provide a visible disconnect.
(s) All surface installed electrical
equipment associated with the pump
shall be accessible for inspection.
(t) A functional test shall be
conducted for the motor ground
conductor prior to any energization of
the pump/motor system. A record that
such tests were conducted shall be kept
by the operator for a period of 1 year
and shall be made available for review
by the Secretary or his/her authorized
representative.
(w) A look-ahead circuit shall be
provided to detect ground-fault
condition and prevent the circuit
interrupting device from closing while
the ground-fault condition exists.
(x) The surface pump control and
power circuit shall be examined at least
every 6 months. The examination shall
include a test that simulates the
functional test of all protective devices
(ground fault, short circuit, overload,
ground monitor, grounded phase, and
under voltage) to determine proper
operation. A record of these tests shall
be recorded. The record shall be made
in a secure book or in a computer
system that is not susceptible to
alteration. Records shall be retained by
the operator for at least 1 year and shall
be made available for review by the
Secretary or his/her authorized
representative.
(y) Every 12 months, the operator
shall conduct an examination that shall
include a full functional test of all
protective devices (ground fault, short
circuit, overload, ground monitor,
grounded phase, and under voltage) to
determine proper operation. A record of
these tests shall be recorded. The record
shall be made in a secure book or in a
computer system that is not susceptible
to alteration. Records shall be retained
by the operator for at least 1 year and
shall be made available for review by
the Secretary or his/her authorized
representative.
The petitioner asserts that the
alternative method proposed will at all
times guarantee no less than the same
measure of protection afforded the
miners under the mandatory standard.
Patricia W. Silvey,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Operations,
Mine Safety and Health Administration.
[FR Doc. 2023–03519 Filed 2–17–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4520–43–P
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 34 (Tuesday, February 21, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10548-10550]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-03519]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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
Genesis Alkali, LLC.
DATES: All comments on the petition must be received by MSHA's Office
of Standards, Regulations, and Variances on or before March 23, 2023.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by Docket No. MSHA-2022-
0071 by any of the following methods:
1. Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. Follow
the instructions for submitting comments for MSHA-2022-0071.
2. Fax: 202-693-9441.
3. Email: [email protected].
4. Regular Mail or Hand Delivery: MSHA, Office of Standards,
Regulations, and Variances, 201 12th Street South, Suite 4E401,
Arlington, Virginia 22202-5452.
Attention: S. Aromie Noe, 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 petition and comments during normal business
hours at the address listed above. Before visiting MSHA in person, call
202-693-9455 to make an appointment, in keeping with the Department of
Labor's COVID-19 policy. Special health precautions may be required.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: S. Aromie Noe, Office of Standards,
Regulations, and Variances at 202-693-9440 (voice),
[email protected] (email), or 202-693-9441 (fax). 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
(CFR) 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. The application of such standard to such mine will result in a
diminution of safety to the miners in such mine.
In addition, sections 44.10 and 44.11 of 30 CFR establish the
requirements for filing petitions for modification.
II. Petition for Modification
Docket Number: M-2022-013-M.
Petitioner: Genesis Alkali, LLC., 580 Westvaco Road, Green River,
Wyoming 82935.
Mine: Westvaco Mine, MSHA ID No. 48-00152, located in Sweetwater
County, Wyoming.
Regulation Affected: 30 CFR 57.22305, Approved equipment (III
mines).
Modification Request: The petitioner requests a modification of 30
CFR 57.22305 to allow non-permissible extraction submersible pumps
(ESPs) through well-bores drilled and installed from the surface to
access the trona-bearing solution contained in abandoned areas of the
mine.
The petitioner states that:
(a) The Westvaco mine is an underground trona mine in south central
Wyoming.
[[Page 10549]]
(b) Since 1988, underground tailings disposal and secondary
resource recovery have been part of the mining operation. These are
areas of the mine that have no further production plans and have been
abandoned and flooded with water through in mine pumping and from
slurry tailings generated by the mineral preparation process that are
injected into the mine through surface injection holes. There is no
access to these abandoned areas because they have been left to
deteriorate. They have been barricaded with wooden blocks in some
cases. They are not ventilated, and they are not accessible for travel.
They are not considered active areas of the mine.
(c) The petitioner plans to install ESPs through well-bores drilled
and installed from the surface to access the trona-bearing solution
contained in abandoned areas of the mine. The pumps will be located
strategically in the mine based on the mining process and topography to
ensure a large pool of water can be gathered in an abandoned area of
the mine. The well-bores will be drilled so that the pump intake and
electrical motor always remain below the mine floor and under water.
The ESP design ensures that electrical components will always be
submerged below the low water level or contained in a solid inner
casing that is submerged below the low water level, preventing their
exposure to air currents or the mine atmosphere.
(d) The permanently abandoned area is not beyond the last open
crosscut and not ventilated with any air currents.
(e) The petitioner operates non-permissible, submersible pumps in
outby areas of the mine which are inspected weekly and which cannot be
operated in atmospheres containing 1.0 percent or more methane.
(f) The ESPs will be in locations that are inaccessible by miners.
The pumps operate autonomously and are controlled remotely from the
surface.
(g) Autonomous extraction enables the petitioner to have miners
involved in processing activities on the surface instead of in
extraction activities underground. The use of one or more ESPs allows
the petitioner to avoid exposing miners to hazards associated with
underground mining.
The petitioner proposes the following alternative method:
(a) The electrical equipment shall be isolated from the mine
atmosphere by deploying a dual threaded, unperforated, solid metal
inner casing extending below the low water level in the well-bore and
thus providing a water seal to isolate the pump, pump motor, and power
cable, including the pigtail from the power cable to the motor
connection. The larger outer casing shall contain perforations to allow
the water to flow from the mine into the well bore sump and into the
pump intake for pumping out of the mine. The low water level shall be
the mine floor.
(b) To ensure the inner casing remains below the low water level at
the mine floor level, a water level monitoring system shall be
installed consisting of two redundant fiber optic pressure sensors with
a low-level alarm and interlock system. The monitoring system shall
shut down the pump motor in the event of low water level inside the
well. These fiber optic sensors, which are intrinsically safe and
designed to withstand harsh environments, measure the pressure of the
water column, convert it to an elevation, and determine the low water
level, which is above the pump before the pump motor is started. The
low water level interlock system in each identical/redundant sensor
shall be set to the mine floor elevation (above the pump) and shall
trigger an alarm and automatically shut down the pump if the water
level drops to that level, or if the discrepancy between the readings
for each sensor is greater than 1 foot. The sensors shall be located at
least 10 feet below the low water level and above the pump. If either
water level sensor starts to drift or fail, exceeding preestablished
thresholds, an alarm shall be triggered and power to the ESP shall
automatically shut off.
(c) If the sensors need to be removed, a workplace exam shall be
conducted, and the sensors shall be slowly extracted from the conduit
in the well-bore and stored on a reel. The water level sensors shall be
calibrated or replaced and reinstalled. A final water level shall be
determined upon installation and an ``as built'' well-profile shall be
created noting the location of the sensors.
(d) All motor terminations and cable splices shall be underwater
and isolated from the mine atmosphere. To verify after installation
that the inner casing is sealed/isolated from the mine atmosphere by
water, this testing procedure shall be followed:
(1) Measure initial static water level in inner casing with
wireline.
(2) Set a retrievable packer or other drillable plug at the bottom
of inner casing.
(3) Add water to the inner casing to approximately 10 feet above
the static water level or 10 feet above the base of the casing grout,
whichever is higher. Since the casing is grouted to the surface, test
the portion of the casing below the grout line; there is no need to
test the entire length of the casing.
(4) Wait for water to degas to ensure no air entrapment.
(5) Confirm and measure water level with wireline.
(6) Wait 30 minutes and measure water level again.
(7) If the water level change is less than 0.02 feet, isolation is
in place (the wireline precision is 0.01 feet).
(8) If the water level change is greater than or equal to 0.02
feet, further testing of well shall be performed to locate the leak off
point. The testing procedure shall be repeated until isolation is
demonstrated.
(e) The ESP electrical system design is an industry standard design
and encompasses the process from the first transformer on the mine
property with incoming utility power to the pump motor connection. The
incoming power from the utility provider (35KV) is stepped down to
480V. The 480V feeds a variable frequency drive (VFD) assembly
connected to a step-up transformer to increase the voltage to 4160V.
This is fed to the extraction well pump motor approximately 1,700 feet
underground via a power cable adequate in design to power the ESP.
(f) The pump motors are paired in series and have a distinct
connection point that does not require a ground wire since the pump
motors are continuously submerged under water during operation. The
power cable used in this application shall be spliced to a pigtail that
uses a connector designed for this pump.
(g) The following is a summary of the specifications for each of
the major components of the ESP:
(1) Baker Hughes CentriLift VFD specially designed for ESP
applications. The VFD does not have an automatic restart and requires
an operator to push the start/stop button if the VFD is shut down for
any reason. The motor protection shall be the overload protection set
to 120 percent of the motor full load amps.
(2) Southwest Electric 480V/4160V Transformer with Multi Tap
Switch.
(3) High Resistance Grounding System which consists of a 15A, 160-
ohm Neutral Grounding Resistor connected to the Step-up Transformer
(480V/4160V) Neutral.
(4) Baker Hughes ESP Pump and Motor Assembly rated at 350 HP,
[email protected]
(5) Baker Hughes Centriline CPS76932 power cable--5KV Rated Cable
#1 AWG (American Wire Gauge) with an ampacity of 183A, approximately
1,700 ft cable length from VFD to motor. The initial installation of
the power cable
[[Page 10550]]
shall be a continuous run. The power cable shall have current carrying
capacity of not less than 125 percent of the full-load-amperage of the
submersible pump motor and an outer jacket suitable for ``harsh
locations'' and high voltage. The power cable shall be banded to the
discharge casing at intervals of 9 feet per the manufacturer.
(6) Opsens Solutions OPP-C, MEMS-based fiber optic pressure sensor
water level monitoring system consisting of two redundant fiber optic
pressure sensors with a low-level alarm and interlock system. This
system shall be fail-safe in that it will always trip the pump motor
circuit in the event of loss-of-signal, loss-of-power, or a pre
established discrepancy between the sensors and not allow the circuit
to reclose. The light source used is a white light, not a laser. These
fiber optic pressure sensors along with their amplifiers have a typical
output of between 10 mW (megawatt) to 100 mW.
(7) SEL-710-5 Motor Protection Relay with a 50P/51P Phase
Overcurrent Protection Function, 27 Undervoltage Protection function,
and a 50G/51G Residual Ground Overcurrent protection function. This
relay has a shunt trip to the VFD Main Breaker.
(8) Bender RC48 C ground fault ground and ground continuity
monitoring system which monitors the residual ground current and
monitors the grounding conductor for low resistance, high resistance,
and a short circuit. The relay monitor shall be installed in a non-
hazardous area and is a typical setup used in high resistance grounded
systems at mines that operate with high voltage. The relay monitor
shall conform to the applicable National Electric Code requirements and
provide safeguards equivalent to pertinent MSHA standards and this
application.
(9) Baker Hughes Cable Splice, Regional Power Cable and MLE Splice
and Baker Hughes Connector. The pigtail is necessary to take the
incoming 1 AWG power conductors and downsize them to a 4 AWG power
conductor that fits the connector used to connect to the pump motor.
The pigtail is typically less than 15 feet in length and can carry the
necessary amperage for this short distance.
(h) All equipment associated with this ESP and located on the
mine's surface shall be protected from dust, rain, and rodents by
suitable enclosures.
(i) A grounding circuit, originating at the grounded side of the
grounding resistor, shall extend along with the power cable
(conductors) to the pigtail and serve as the grounding conductor for
the ESP. No other electrical equipment shall be supplied power from
this circuit. This relay takes a zero-sequence current transformer
input for ground fault protection and uses termination devices at the
motor to monitor the continuity of the ground wire and to check for low
resistance, high resistance, and shorted faults. This ground check
circuit shall cause the circuit breaker to open when either a ground
fault is present or a ground wire is broken.
(j) The grounding circuit shall include the pigtail splice through
the termination device which shall be installed on the surface since
the Baker Hughes pump does not provide for termination devices for
grounds and ground checks. The pigtail splice armor shall provide the
ground continuity connection to the motor/pump casing to prevent a
shock hazard. Additionally, the pump/motor casing is inaccessible to
personnel, mitigating the shock hazard.
(k) The grounding resistor shall limit the ground-fault current to
not more than 15 amperes. The grounding resistor shall be rated for the
maximum fault current available and shall be insulated from ground for
a voltage equal to the phase-to-phase voltage of the system.
(l) A lightning arrestor shall be provided and shall be grounded to
a low resistance grounding medium and separated from the pump power
neutral grounding circuit by not less than 25 feet.
(m) The circuit breaker shall be of adequate interrupting capacity
with auxiliary relay protection to provide protection against under-
voltage, grounded phase, short-circuit, and overload.
(n) The grounded phase protection device must be set not to exceed
40 percent of the current rating of the neutral ground resistor.
(o) The high voltage pump shall be provided with instantaneous
ground fault protection set at no more than 0.125 amperes; the time
delay setting must not exceed 0.25 seconds or the minimum setting to
allow the pump to start without nuisance tripping.
(p) The short circuit protection device shall be set not to exceed
the required short circuit protection for the power cable or 75 percent
of the minimum available phase-to-phase short circuit current,
whichever is less. The trip point will be set at 1140 amps. The
overload protection or the motor will be set at 125 percent of the full
load amps.
(q) The undervoltage connection device shall operate on a loss of
voltage to prevent automatic restarting of the equipment.
(r) The disconnect device installed in conjunction with the circuit
breaker shall provide a visible disconnect.
(s) All surface installed electrical equipment associated with the
pump shall be accessible for inspection.
(t) A functional test shall be conducted for the motor ground
conductor prior to any energization of the pump/motor system. A record
that such tests were conducted shall be kept by the operator for a
period of 1 year and shall be made available for review by the
Secretary or his/her authorized representative.
(w) A look-ahead circuit shall be provided to detect ground-fault
condition and prevent the circuit interrupting device from closing
while the ground-fault condition exists.
(x) The surface pump control and power circuit shall be examined at
least every 6 months. The examination shall include a test that
simulates the functional test of all protective devices (ground fault,
short circuit, overload, ground monitor, grounded phase, and under
voltage) to determine proper operation. A record of these tests shall
be recorded. The record shall be made in a secure book or in a computer
system that is not susceptible to alteration. Records shall be retained
by the operator for at least 1 year and shall be made available for
review by the Secretary or his/her authorized representative.
(y) Every 12 months, the operator shall conduct an examination that
shall include a full functional test of all protective devices (ground
fault, short circuit, overload, ground monitor, grounded phase, and
under voltage) to determine proper operation. A record of these tests
shall be recorded. The record shall be made in a secure book or in a
computer system that is not susceptible to alteration. Records shall be
retained by the operator for at least 1 year and shall be made
available for review by the Secretary or his/her authorized
representative.
The petitioner asserts that the alternative method proposed will at
all times guarantee no less than the same measure of protection
afforded the miners under the mandatory standard.
Patricia W. Silvey,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Operations, Mine Safety and Health
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2023-03519 Filed 2-17-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4520-43-P
