Petition for Modification of Application of Existing Mandatory Safety Standards, 71380-71381 [2023-22742]
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71380
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 198 / Monday, October 16, 2023 / Notices
Signed at Washington, DC, this 10th day of
October 2023.
Leslie Bennett,
Chief, Division of Management Systems.
[FR Doc. 2023–22760 Filed 10–13–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510–24–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 November 15, 2023.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
identified by Docket No. MSHA–2023–
0035 by any of the following methods:
1. Federal eRulemaking Portal:
https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments
for MSHA–2023–0035.
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
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.
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SUMMARY:
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17:03 Oct 13, 2023
Jkt 262001
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–2023–012–C.
Petitioner: Warrior Met Coal Mining,
LLC, 16243 Highway 216, Brookwood,
Alabama 35444.
Mine: No. 4 Mine, MSHA ID No. 01–
01247, located in Tuscaloosa County,
Alabama. No. 7 Mine, MINE ID No. 01–
01401, located in Jefferson County,
Alabama.
Regulation Affected: 30 CFR 75.900,
Low- and medium-voltage circuits
serving three-phase alternating current
equipment; circuit breakers.
Modification Request: The petitioner
requests a modification of 30 CFR
75.900 to permit use of a contactor or a
Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) in
series with the circuit breaker, in lieu of
a circuit breaker alone.
The petitioner states that:
(a) The mine uses continuous mining
machinery and longwall mining
machinery,
(b) Miners have been injured setting a
circuit breaker which creates a phase-tophase fault resulting in an arc flash.
(c) The alternative method places the
contactor or VFD between the circuit
breaker and load, minimizing the
possibility of closing into a fault. The
use of a vacuum contactor to clear a
fault has no arc flash when the fault is
cleared.
(d) A VFD will control or limit the
inrush current to the connected load as
compared to starting across the line.
This provides less stress on the
electrical system and allows the
operator to set the instantaneous trip on
the circuit breaker at lower than the
maximum allowed setting.
(e) The petitioner currently uses a
combination of a circuit breaker and a
contactor on continuous mining
machine sections to power up
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
continuous mining machines, roof
bolters, feeders, ventilation fans, and
chargers.
(f) The petitioner currently uses a
circuit breaker and VFD combination
out-by on conveyor belt systems.
(g) The combination of circuit
breakers with a contactor or VFD will
provide short circuit, undervoltage,
grounded phase, and overcurrent
protection.
The petitioner proposes the following
alternative method:
(a) The petitioner shall use a contactor
in series with a circuit breaker instead
of a circuit breaker alone. The contactor
shall provide protection from
undervoltage and grounded phase. The
circuit breaker shall provide short
circuit protection and overcurrent
protection (when applicable).
(1) Contactors shall be rated for the
maximum voltage of the circuit being
protected.
(2) Contactors shall be rated for the
continuous full load current of the
equipment.
(3) The nominal voltage of the power
circuits(s) shall not exceed 995 volts.
(4) The nominal voltage of the control
circuit(s) shall not exceed 120 volts.
(5) Contactors and associated
protective relays shall provide
undervoltage protection causing the
contactor to open when an undervoltage
exists.
(6) Undervoltage protection shall be
provided in two ways:
(i) If the supply voltage to the ground
monitor drops below 68 percent, the
ground monitor will trip, dropping out
the GMAUX relay and thereby removing
power from the vacuum contactor coil,
thus opening the contactor. The ground
monitor trip will be a latching fault that
requires a manual reset; and
(ii) In the alternative, undervoltage
protection will be provided by
contactors that will drop out at 50 and
60 percent of supply voltage.
(7) Grounded phase protection shall
be provided using a ground fault relay.
When the relay trips on a ground fault
condition, the contact tips shall open
removing power to the vacuum
contactor coil that shall open the
contactor. The ground fault relay shall
be a latching fault that will require a
manual reset.
(8) Contactors shall be located in the
same main enclosure as the circuit
breaker.
(9) Each circuit breaker installed in
series with a contactor shall be
equipped with devices to provide shortcircuit protection for each piece of
equipment.
(10) Ground fault and ground monitor
trips shall not automatically reset and
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ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 198 / Monday, October 16, 2023 / Notices
must require a manual reset before the
contactor can be closed.
(11) Fail-safe ground check circuits
shall cause the contractor to open when
either the ground or pilot wire is
broken.
(12) A monthly examination shall be
conducted on each circuit to ensure
proper operation of the contactor.
(13) The monthly examination shall
include activating undervoltage, ground
fault, and ground monitor trip devices.
The results of the contactor test shall be
recorded with the required circuit
breaker monthly tests.
(b) The petitioner shall use a Variable
Frequency Drive (VFD) in series with a
circuit breaker instead of a circuit
breaker alone. The circuit breaker shall
provide short circuit protection. A
ground fault relay will provide
grounded phase protection which will
cause the circuit breaker to open. The
VFD shall provide protection from
undervoltage and overcurrent.
(1) The VFD shall be rated for the
maximum voltage of the circuit being
protected.
(2) The VFD shall be rated for the
continuous full load current of the
utilization equipment.
(3) The nominal voltage of the control
circuit(s) shall not exceed 120 volts.
(4) The VFD shall provide
undervoltage protection. The VFD shall
trip at 55 percent of the nominal voltage
based on the parameter settings in the
VFD that shall de-energize the output of
the VFD.
(5) The VFD shall provide overcurrent protection to the connected
load. The VFD shall use an internal
algorithm to protect the equipment
based on a rated load. The VFD shall
calculate the motor temperature based
on current draw over time. If the motor
temperature reaches the setpoint for the
defined time, the VFD shall fault
indicating a motor overload. This shall
be a latching fault requires a manual
reset.
(6) A circuit breaker shall provide
short circuit protection for systems
using a VFD. A ground fault relay shall
provide grounded phase protection by
causing the breaker to open.
(7) The VFD shall be located in the
same main enclosure as the circuit
breaker.
(8) Each circuit breaker installed in
series with a VFD shall be equipped
with devices to provide short-circuit
protection for each piece of equipment.
(9) Ground fault and ground monitor
trips shall not automatically reset and
shall require a manual reset before the
VFD would turn the output on.
(10) Fail-safe ground check circuits
shall cause the breaker to open when
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17:03 Oct 13, 2023
Jkt 262001
either the ground or pilot wire is
broken.
(11) A monthly examination shall be
conducted on each circuit to ensure
proper operation of the breaker and
VFD.
(c) Within 60 days after this proposed
decision and order is granted, the
petitioner shall submit proposed
revisions to its part 48 training plant to
the appropriate MSHA District
Official(s), specifying task training for
all miners who are assigned to work in
any pertinent area.
(d) The training shall include the
purpose of the contractor systems and
VFD systems, the potential hazards of
working on or near belt conveyors and
belt conveyor drives, and the
requirements of 30 CFR 75.1725(c) and
(d).
(e) The requirements of 30 CFR 48.3
for approval of proposed revisions to
existing approved training plans shall
apply.
The petitioner provided
documentation to include typical
control schemes, contactor
specifications, VFD specifications,
breaker specifications, ground monitor
specifications, ground fault relay
specifications, and coupler
specifications in support of their
petition.
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. 2023–22742 Filed 10–13–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4520–43–P
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Sunshine Act Meetings
The National Science Board’s
Committee on Oversight hereby gives
notice of the scheduling of a
teleconference for the transaction of
National Science Board business
pursuant to the NSF Act and the
Government in the Sunshine Act.
TIME AND DATE: Wednesday, October 18,
2023, from 10:30–11:30 a.m. EDT.
PLACE: This meeting will be via
videoconference through the National
Science Foundation, 2415 Eisenhower
Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22314.
STATUS: Closed.
MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED: The agenda
is: Committee Chair’s opening remarks
regarding the agenda; Presentation and
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71381
discussion of the Results of NSF Pilots
to Improve Reviewer Training.
CONTACT PERSON FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Point of contact for this meeting is:
Chris Blair, cblair@nsf.gov, 703–292–
7000. Meeting information and updates
may be found at www.nsf.gov/nsb.
Christopher Blair,
Executive Assistant to the National Science
Board Office.
[FR Doc. 2023–22911 Filed 10–12–23; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 7555–01–P
NUCLEAR REGULATORY
COMMISSION
[Docket No. 50–483; NRC–2023–0158]
Union Electric Company, dba Ameren
Missouri; Callaway Plant; Unit No. 1
Nuclear Regulatory
Commission.
ACTION: Exemption; issuance.
AGENCY:
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission (NRC) has issued an
exemption in response to an exemption
request from Union Electric Company
doing business as Ameren Missouri (the
licensee) submitted by letter dated
October 12, 2022, as supplemented by
letters dated December 1, 2022, May 9,
2023, June 21, 2023, and August 3,
2023.
SUMMARY:
The exemption was issued on
October 5, 2023.
ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID
NRC–2023–0158 when contacting the
NRC about the availability of
information regarding this document.
You may obtain publicly available
information related to this document
using any of the following methods:
• Federal Rulemaking Website: Go to
https://www.regulations.gov and search
for Docket ID NRC–2023–0158. Address
questions about Docket IDs in
Regulations.gov to Stacy Schumann;
telephone: 301–415–0624; email:
Stacy.Schumann@nrc.gov. For technical
questions, contact the individual listed
in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT section of this document.
• NRC’s Agencywide Documents
Access and Management System
(ADAMS): You may obtain publicly
available documents online in the
ADAMS Public Documents collection at
https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/
adams.html. To begin the search, select
‘‘Begin Web-based ADAMS Search.’’ For
problems with ADAMS, please contact
the NRC’s Public Document Room (PDR)
reference staff at 1–800–397–4209, at
301–415–4737, or by email to
PDR.Resource@nrc.gov. The request for
DATES:
E:\FR\FM\16OCN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 198 (Monday, October 16, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71380-71381]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-22742]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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 November 15,
2023.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by Docket No. MSHA-2023-
0035 by any of the following methods:
1. Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. Follow
the instructions for submitting comments for MSHA-2023-0035.
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-2023-012-C.
Petitioner: Warrior Met Coal Mining, LLC, 16243 Highway 216,
Brookwood, Alabama 35444.
Mine: No. 4 Mine, MSHA ID No. 01-01247, located in Tuscaloosa
County, Alabama. No. 7 Mine, MINE ID No. 01-01401, located in Jefferson
County, Alabama.
Regulation Affected: 30 CFR 75.900, Low- and medium-voltage
circuits serving three-phase alternating current equipment; circuit
breakers.
Modification Request: The petitioner requests a modification of 30
CFR 75.900 to permit use of a contactor or a Variable Frequency Drive
(VFD) in series with the circuit breaker, in lieu of a circuit breaker
alone.
The petitioner states that:
(a) The mine uses continuous mining machinery and longwall mining
machinery,
(b) Miners have been injured setting a circuit breaker which
creates a phase-to-phase fault resulting in an arc flash.
(c) The alternative method places the contactor or VFD between the
circuit breaker and load, minimizing the possibility of closing into a
fault. The use of a vacuum contactor to clear a fault has no arc flash
when the fault is cleared.
(d) A VFD will control or limit the inrush current to the connected
load as compared to starting across the line. This provides less stress
on the electrical system and allows the operator to set the
instantaneous trip on the circuit breaker at lower than the maximum
allowed setting.
(e) The petitioner currently uses a combination of a circuit
breaker and a contactor on continuous mining machine sections to power
up continuous mining machines, roof bolters, feeders, ventilation fans,
and chargers.
(f) The petitioner currently uses a circuit breaker and VFD
combination out-by on conveyor belt systems.
(g) The combination of circuit breakers with a contactor or VFD
will provide short circuit, undervoltage, grounded phase, and
overcurrent protection.
The petitioner proposes the following alternative method:
(a) The petitioner shall use a contactor in series with a circuit
breaker instead of a circuit breaker alone. The contactor shall provide
protection from undervoltage and grounded phase. The circuit breaker
shall provide short circuit protection and overcurrent protection (when
applicable).
(1) Contactors shall be rated for the maximum voltage of the
circuit being protected.
(2) Contactors shall be rated for the continuous full load current
of the equipment.
(3) The nominal voltage of the power circuits(s) shall not exceed
995 volts.
(4) The nominal voltage of the control circuit(s) shall not exceed
120 volts.
(5) Contactors and associated protective relays shall provide
undervoltage protection causing the contactor to open when an
undervoltage exists.
(6) Undervoltage protection shall be provided in two ways:
(i) If the supply voltage to the ground monitor drops below 68
percent, the ground monitor will trip, dropping out the GMAUX relay and
thereby removing power from the vacuum contactor coil, thus opening the
contactor. The ground monitor trip will be a latching fault that
requires a manual reset; and
(ii) In the alternative, undervoltage protection will be provided
by contactors that will drop out at 50 and 60 percent of supply
voltage.
(7) Grounded phase protection shall be provided using a ground
fault relay. When the relay trips on a ground fault condition, the
contact tips shall open removing power to the vacuum contactor coil
that shall open the contactor. The ground fault relay shall be a
latching fault that will require a manual reset.
(8) Contactors shall be located in the same main enclosure as the
circuit breaker.
(9) Each circuit breaker installed in series with a contactor shall
be equipped with devices to provide short-circuit protection for each
piece of equipment.
(10) Ground fault and ground monitor trips shall not automatically
reset and
[[Page 71381]]
must require a manual reset before the contactor can be closed.
(11) Fail-safe ground check circuits shall cause the contractor to
open when either the ground or pilot wire is broken.
(12) A monthly examination shall be conducted on each circuit to
ensure proper operation of the contactor.
(13) The monthly examination shall include activating undervoltage,
ground fault, and ground monitor trip devices. The results of the
contactor test shall be recorded with the required circuit breaker
monthly tests.
(b) The petitioner shall use a Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) in
series with a circuit breaker instead of a circuit breaker alone. The
circuit breaker shall provide short circuit protection. A ground fault
relay will provide grounded phase protection which will cause the
circuit breaker to open. The VFD shall provide protection from
undervoltage and overcurrent.
(1) The VFD shall be rated for the maximum voltage of the circuit
being protected.
(2) The VFD shall be rated for the continuous full load current of
the utilization equipment.
(3) The nominal voltage of the control circuit(s) shall not exceed
120 volts.
(4) The VFD shall provide undervoltage protection. The VFD shall
trip at 55 percent of the nominal voltage based on the parameter
settings in the VFD that shall de-energize the output of the VFD.
(5) The VFD shall provide over-current protection to the connected
load. The VFD shall use an internal algorithm to protect the equipment
based on a rated load. The VFD shall calculate the motor temperature
based on current draw over time. If the motor temperature reaches the
setpoint for the defined time, the VFD shall fault indicating a motor
overload. This shall be a latching fault requires a manual reset.
(6) A circuit breaker shall provide short circuit protection for
systems using a VFD. A ground fault relay shall provide grounded phase
protection by causing the breaker to open.
(7) The VFD shall be located in the same main enclosure as the
circuit breaker.
(8) Each circuit breaker installed in series with a VFD shall be
equipped with devices to provide short-circuit protection for each
piece of equipment.
(9) Ground fault and ground monitor trips shall not automatically
reset and shall require a manual reset before the VFD would turn the
output on.
(10) Fail-safe ground check circuits shall cause the breaker to
open when either the ground or pilot wire is broken.
(11) A monthly examination shall be conducted on each circuit to
ensure proper operation of the breaker and VFD.
(c) Within 60 days after this proposed decision and order is
granted, the petitioner shall submit proposed revisions to its part 48
training plant to the appropriate MSHA District Official(s), specifying
task training for all miners who are assigned to work in any pertinent
area.
(d) The training shall include the purpose of the contractor
systems and VFD systems, the potential hazards of working on or near
belt conveyors and belt conveyor drives, and the requirements of 30 CFR
75.1725(c) and (d).
(e) The requirements of 30 CFR 48.3 for approval of proposed
revisions to existing approved training plans shall apply.
The petitioner provided documentation to include typical control
schemes, contactor specifications, VFD specifications, breaker
specifications, ground monitor specifications, ground fault relay
specifications, and coupler specifications in support of their
petition.
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. 2023-22742 Filed 10-13-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4520-43-P
