U.S. Department of Labor

Mine Safety and Health Administration 1100 Wilson Boulevard Arlington, Virginia 22209-3939

FROM:           KEVIN G. STRICKLIN
                        Administrator for
                       Coal Mine Safety and Health

SUBJECT:      Installation of Permanent Stoppings on Working Sections

Scope
This Procedure Instruction Letter (PIL) applies to Coal Mine Safety and Health (CMS&H) District Managers, Supervisors, Specialists and Inspectors.

Purpose
The purpose of this PIL is to provide instruction for district personnel regarding the installation of permanent stoppings on working sections providing separation of intake, return, belt and trolley haulage entries.

Procedure Instructions
The standards are specific regarding the installation of these permanent ventilation controls and each requirement states a specific location where they shall be built and maintained. Unless the mine operator can provide a valid justification for the District Manager to approve a greater number of open crosscuts in the mine's ventilation plan, permanent stoppings installed to separate intake and return air courses must be completed in the third crosscut outby the face by the time the face crosscut is cleaned, bolted, and ready for travel. Permanent stoppings installed to separate an intake air course or the primary escapeway from the belt haulageway are to be completed as part of the belt move and prior to the resumption of mining.

Background
Section 75.333(b)(1) of Title 30 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) requires that permanent stoppings or other permanent ventilation control devices constructed after November 15, 1992, shall be built and maintained "[b]etween intake and return air courses…[u]nless otherwise approved in the ventilation plan, these stoppings or controls shall be maintained to and including the third connecting crosscut outby the working face." Section 75.333(b)(3) also requires that permanent stoppings or other permanent ventilation control devices constructed after November 15, 1992, shall be built and maintained "[t]o separate belt conveyor haulageways from intake air courses when the air in the intake air courses is used to provide air to active working places."

In addition, 30 CFR 75.380(g) requires that "[e]xcept where separation of belt and trolley haulage entries from designated escapeways did not exist before November 15, 1992, and except as provided in Section 75.350(c), the primary escapeway must be separated from belt and trolley haulage entries for its entire length, to and including the first connecting crosscut outby each loading point except when a greater or lesser distance for this separation is specified and approved in the mine ventilation plan and does not pose a hazard to miners."

Authority
Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977.

Issuing Office and Contact Person
Coal Mine Safety and Health, Safety Division
Michael G. Kalich, (202) 693-9714
E-mail: Kalich.Michael@dol.gov

Internet Availability
This instruction letter may be viewed on the Internet by accessing the MSHA Home Page (www.msha.gov and then choosing "Compliance Info" and Procedure Instruction Letters.

Distribution
MSHA Program Policy Manual Holders