[Federal Register: October 29, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 209)]
[Notices]               
[Page 58070-58071]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr29oc98-110]

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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration

 
Petitions for Modification

    The following parties have filed petitions to modify the 
application of mandatory safety standards under section 101(c) of the 
Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977.

1. Headache Coal Company, Inc.

[Docket No. M-98-87-C]

    Headache Coal Company, Inc., Route 1, Box 419-A1, Gray, Kentucky 
40734 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 
75.380(f)(4)(i)(escapeways; bituminous and lignite mines) to its Roses 
Creek Mine (I.D. No. 15-17074) located in Whitley County, Kentucky. The 
petitioner proposes to install two 10 pound portable chemical fire 
extinguishers in the operators deck or in the scoop of each Mescher 
Tractor at the mine and have the extinguishers readily accessible to 
the operator; to have the equipment operator inspect each fire 
extinguisher daily before entering the escapeway; to have the equipment 
operator maintain at the mine a record of daily inspections; and to 
have a sufficient number of spare fire extinguishers maintained at the 
mine in case a defective fire extinguisher is detected. The petitioner 
asserts that the proposed alternative method would provide at least the 
same measure of protection as would the mandatory standard.

2. Headache Coal Company, Inc.

[Docket No. M-98-88-C]

    Headache Coal Company, Inc., Route 1, Box 419-A1, Gray, Kentucky 
40734 has filed a petition to modify the application of 30 CFR 75.342 
(methane monitors) to its Roses Creek Mine (I.D. No. 15-17074) located 
in Whitley County, Kentucky. The petitioner proposes to use hand-held 
continuous-duty methane and oxygen indicators instead of machine-
mounted methane monitors on three-wheel tractors with drag bottom 
buckets. The petitioner asserts that the proposed alternative method 
would provide at least the same measure of protection as would the 
mandatory standard.

Request for Comments

    Persons interested in these petitions are encouraged to submit 
comments via e-mail to ``comments@msha.gov'', or on a computer disk 
along with an original hard copy to the Office of Standards,

[[Page 58071]]

Regulations, and Variances, Mine Safety and Health Administration, 4015 
Wilson Boulevard, Room 627, Arlington, Virginia 22203. All comments 
must be postmarked or received in that office on or before November 30, 
1998. Copies of these petitions are available for inspection at that 
address.

    Dated: October 21, 1998.
Carol J. Jones,
Acting Director, Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances.
[FR Doc. 98-29026 Filed 10-28-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-43-P