Petition for Modification of Application of Existing Mandatory Safety Standards, 40335-40336 [2023-13174]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 118 / Wednesday, June 21, 2023 / Notices In addition, sections 44.10 and 44.11 of 30 CFR establish the requirements for filing petitions for modification. lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 II. Petition for Modification Docket Number: M–2023–017–C. Petitioner: Peter Shingara Jr. Mining, 315 Shingara Lane, Sunbury, Pennsylvania 17801. Mine: No. 1 Slope Operation, MSHA ID No. 36–10008, located in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. Regulation Affected: 30 CFR 75.1200, Mine map. Modification Request: The petitioner requests a modification of 30 CFR 75.1200—specifically clauses (d) and (i). The petitioner requests that the substitution of cross-sections be permitted, in lieu of contour lines through the intake slope, at locations of rock tunnel connections between coal veins, and at 1,000 feet intervals of advance from the intake slope. The petitioner also requests for limiting the required mappings of mine workings above and below to those present within 100 feet of the vein(s) being mined unless these veins are interconnected to other veins beyond the 100 feet limit, through rock tunnels. The petitioner states that: (a) Due to steep pitch encountered in mining anthracite coal veins, contour lines of elevations provide no useful information, and their depiction would make portions of the map illegible. (b) Mining activities at the mine are either second mining of remnant pillars from previous mining or the mining of coal veins of lower quality in proximity to inaccessible and frequently flooded abandoned mine workings which may or may not be mapped. (c) The mine workings above and below are usually inactive and abandoned and not subject to change during the life of the mine. The petitioner proposes the following alternative method: (a) Cross-sections shall be used in lieu of contour lines on mine maps to provide critical information relative to the spacing between veins and proximity to other mine workings which fluctuate considerably. (b) All mapping for mines above and below shall be researched by a contract engineer for the presence of interconnecting rock tunnels between coal veins in relation to the mine and a hazard analysis done when mapping indicates the presence of known or potentially flooded workings. (c) Mine workings found beyond 100 feet from the mine, when no rock tunnel connections are found, shall be recognized as presenting no hazard to VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:36 Jun 20, 2023 Jkt 259001 the mine due to the pitch of the vein and rock separation. (d) Where evidence indicates prior mining was conducted on a coal vein above or below the mine and there is no available mine map, the vein shall be considered to be mined and flooded, and appropriate precautions shall be taken, as required by 30 CFR 75.388. (e) Where potential hazards exist and in-mine drilling capabilities limit penetration, surface boreholes shall be used to intercept the workings and the results analyzed prior to the beginning of mining in the affected area. The petitioner asserts that the alternate method proposed will at all times guarantee no less than the same measure of protection afforded the miners under the mandatory standard. Song-ae Aromie Noe, Director, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances. [FR Doc. 2023–13176 Filed 6–20–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4520–43–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 party listed below. DATES: All comments on the petition must be received by MSHA’s Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances on or before July 21, 2023. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by Docket No. MSHA–2023– 0028 by any of the following methods: 1. Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments for MSHA–2023–0028. 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 the receptionist’s desk in Suite 4E401. Individuals may inspect copies of the petition and comments during normal business SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00143 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 40335 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–2023–014–C. Petitioner: Peter Shingara Jr. Mining, 315 Shingara Lane, Sunbury, Pennsylvania 17801. Mine: No. 1 Slope Operation, MSHA ID No. 36–10008, located in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. Regulation Affected: 30 CFR 75.1002(a), Installation of electric equipment and conductors; permissibility. Modification Request: The petitioner requests a modification of 30 CFR 75.1002(a) to permit use of nonpermissible electric equipment, including drags and battery locomotives, within 150 feet of the pillar line. The petitioner states that: (a) The mine is a pitching anthracite mine. (b) The use of drags on less than moderate pitching veins (less than 20 degrees pitch) is the only practical system of mining for the mine. E:\FR\FM\21JNN1.SGM 21JNN1 40336 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 118 / Wednesday, June 21, 2023 / Notices (c) Permissible drags are not commercially available and permissible locomotives are not commercially available, partly due to their small size. (d) Because of low daily production rates and full timbering support, inrushes of methane resulting from pillar falls are unlikely to occur. (e) Recovery of the pillars above the first miner heading is usually accomplished on the advance within 150 feet of the section intake (gangway) and the remaining minable pillars are recovered from the deepest point of penetration outby. The petitioner proposes the following alternative method: (a) The equipment shall be operated in the working section’s only intake entry (gangway) which is regularly traveled and examined. (b) Methane testing shall occur on an hourly basis and the test results shall be recorded in the on-shift examination record. (c) Equipment operation shall be suspended if the methane concentration at the equipment reaches 0.5 percent methane when found during a pre-shift examination or during operation. (d) The required intake air flow of 5,000 cubic feet per minute shall be measured just outby the nonpermissible equipment, with the ventilating air passing over the equipment to ventilate the pillar being mined. (e) The electrical equipment shall be monitored during operation and shall be de-energized at the intersection of the working gangway and intake slope. (f) Where more than one active line of pillar breast recovery exists, the locomotive may travel to a point just outby the deepest active chute/breast (room) workings or last open crosscut in developing set of entries. The petitioner asserts that the alternate method proposed will at all times guarantee no less than the same measure of protection afforded the miners under the mandatory standard. lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 Song-ae Aromie Noe, Director, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances. [FR Doc. 2023–13174 Filed 6–20–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4520–43–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:36 Jun 20, 2023 Jkt 259001 NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION [NOTICE: 23–065] Name of Information Collection: Pilot Testing of Telephone Interviewing Approaches To Assess Community Response to New, Quieter Boom Experiences National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). ACTION: Notice of information collection. AGENCY: The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections. DATES: Comments are due by August 21, 2023. ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for this information collection should be sent within 60 days of publication of this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this information collection by selecting ‘‘Currently under 60-day Review—Open for Public Comments’’ or by using the search function. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions should be directed to Bill Edwards-Bodmer, NASA Clearance Officer, NASA Headquarters, 300 E Street SW, JF0000, Washington, DC 20546, 757–864–7998, or b.edwards-bodmer@nasa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SUMMARY: I. Abstract This information collection enabled NASA to pre-test methods to collect information from individuals to determine community response to the new, quieter sonic booms, prior to the start of flight testing the X-plane. No public exposure to any form of sonic boom occurred during the pre-testing phase. The pre-test was conducted by telephone interview. NASA wanted to evaluate telephone surveys to assess prompt public response associated with experiencing low amplitude sonic booms over multiple, geographically dispersed communities. Responses were voluntary. The new X-plane is designed to produce low amplitude sonic booms. Ultimately, flight testing of the X-plane is intended to (1) demonstrate and validate the technology necessary for civil supersonic flights that create low PO 00000 Frm 00144 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 amplitude sonic booms, and (2) assess community response to the new, quieter, sonic booms. II. Methods of Collection Telephone. III. Data Title: Pilot Testing of Telephone Interviewing Approaches to Assess Community Response to New, Quieter Boom Experiences. OMB Number: 2700–0166. Type of review: Reinstatement. Affected Public: Individuals. Estimated Annual Number of Activities: 5,000. Estimated Number of Respondents per Activity: 1. Annual Responses: 5,000. Estimated Time per Response: 3 minutes. Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 250. IV. Request for Comments Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of NASA, including whether the information collected has practical utility; (2) the accuracy of NASA’s estimate of the burden (including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including automated collection techniques or the use of other forms of information technology. Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and included in the request for OMB approval of this information collection. They will also become a matter of public record. William Edwards-Bodmer, NASA PRA Clearance Officer. [FR Doc. 2023–13132 Filed 6–20–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7510–13–P NATIONAL CREDIT UNION ADMINISTRATION Sunshine Act Meetings 10:00 a.m., Thursday, June 22, 2023. PLACE: Board Room, 7th Floor, Room 7B, 1775 Duke Street (All visitors must use Diagonal Road Entrance), Alexandria, VA 22314–3428. STATUS: Open. MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED: 1. Request for Comment, Operating Fee Schedule Methodology. TIME AND DATE: E:\FR\FM\21JNN1.SGM 21JNN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 118 (Wednesday, June 21, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40335-40336]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-13174]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 
party listed below.

DATES: All comments on the petition must be received by MSHA's Office 
of Standards, Regulations, and Variances on or before July 21, 2023.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by Docket No. MSHA-2023-
0028 by any of the following methods:
    1. Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. Follow 
the instructions for submitting comments for MSHA-2023-0028.
    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-2023-014-C.
    Petitioner: Peter Shingara Jr. Mining, 315 Shingara Lane, Sunbury, 
Pennsylvania 17801.
    Mine: No. 1 Slope Operation, MSHA ID No. 36-10008, located in 
Northumberland County, Pennsylvania.
    Regulation Affected: 30 CFR 75.1002(a), Installation of electric 
equipment and conductors; permissibility.
    Modification Request: The petitioner requests a modification of 30 
CFR 75.1002(a) to permit use of non-permissible electric equipment, 
including drags and battery locomotives, within 150 feet of the pillar 
line.
    The petitioner states that:
    (a) The mine is a pitching anthracite mine.
    (b) The use of drags on less than moderate pitching veins (less 
than 20 degrees pitch) is the only practical system of mining for the 
mine.

[[Page 40336]]

    (c) Permissible drags are not commercially available and 
permissible locomotives are not commercially available, partly due to 
their small size.
    (d) Because of low daily production rates and full timbering 
support, in-rushes of methane resulting from pillar falls are unlikely 
to occur.
    (e) Recovery of the pillars above the first miner heading is 
usually accomplished on the advance within 150 feet of the section 
intake (gangway) and the remaining minable pillars are recovered from 
the deepest point of penetration outby.
    The petitioner proposes the following alternative method:
    (a) The equipment shall be operated in the working section's only 
intake entry (gangway) which is regularly traveled and examined.
    (b) Methane testing shall occur on an hourly basis and the test 
results shall be recorded in the on-shift examination record.
    (c) Equipment operation shall be suspended if the methane 
concentration at the equipment reaches 0.5 percent methane when found 
during a pre-shift examination or during operation.
    (d) The required intake air flow of 5,000 cubic feet per minute 
shall be measured just outby the non-permissible equipment, with the 
ventilating air passing over the equipment to ventilate the pillar 
being mined.
    (e) The electrical equipment shall be monitored during operation 
and shall be de-energized at the intersection of the working gangway 
and intake slope.
    (f) Where more than one active line of pillar breast recovery 
exists, the locomotive may travel to a point just outby the deepest 
active chute/breast (room) workings or last open crosscut in developing 
set of entries.
    The petitioner asserts that the alternate method proposed will at 
all times guarantee no less than the same measure of protection 
afforded the miners under the mandatory standard.

Song-ae Aromie Noe,
Director, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances.
[FR Doc. 2023-13174 Filed 6-20-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4520-43-P

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