Technical Advisory Committee on Diesel-Powered Equipment DEP Cambria Office April 16, 2002
The Technical Advisory Committee on Diesel-Powered Equipment (TAC)
held a regular meeting on April 16 at the DEP Cambria Office in Ebensburg immediately
following a diesel-powered equipmentseminar held in the same location. The meeting
began at 3:15 p.m.
Attendance:
Members Present:
Eugene Davis
Robert DuBreucq
Others Present:
Richard E. Stickler, BDMS
Joseph A. Sbaffoni, BDMS
William B. Bookshar, BDMS
Steven F. Gaida, BDMS
Bob Bohach, RAG Cumberland Resources
Chuck Burggraf, RAG - Baltimore
John Gallick, RAG Emerald Resources
Buck Lovern, Rohmac, Inc.
Terry McDonald, RAG DST
Larry Saver, Brookville Mining Equipment Corp.
Jim Lamont, UMWA International
Bill Kokla, PennAmerican Coal
Don Foster, PennAmerican Coal
Allison D. Gaida, BDMS
Minutes of the January 15 meeting were distributed and reviewed.
There were no changes to the minutes, and Gene Davis and Bob DuBreucq approved
them as submitted.
Old Business: Debriefing – Diesel-Powered Equipment Seminar - Seventy-three (73) individuals
attended the Diesel-Powered Equipment Seminar held on April 16 at the DEP Cambria
Office. TAC members believed that the seminar was a success. Chuck Burggraf
appreciated the explanation of the law and what it meant in reality at the mine.
Jim Lamont expressed an interest to see more seminars in the future. Richard
Stickler said the TAC might be conducting a diesel presentation to the West
Virginia Office of Miners’ Health Safety and Training as a result of a request
to the Bureau.
Richard Stickler recognized RAG for making the diesel seminar a success
and felt it was valuable having the operators participate and contribute as
they did. He also thanked Brookville and Rohmac and expressed appreciation for
the equipment brought in and used for an actual demonstration.
Interpretation of Section 203-A(b)(2): This agenda item will
be tabled until the next TAC meeting on July 16. The TAC is waiting for test
data from the Bureau and cannot make an interpretation until it is received.
Status of Proposed Amendments to Article II-A: Bob DuBreucq
stated that the diesel law amendments have been introduced as House Bill 2452
by Representative Sam Smith and should pass as legislation by the end of summer.
The TAC, Bureau of Deep Mine Safety, and Pennsylvania Coal Association are all
in agreement on these amendments.
New Business:
Rohmac, Inc.’s Proposal: At their request, the TAC and BDMS employees went to
Rohmac, Inc. on March 10 to do a preliminary investigation of the Rohmac UT742
utility tractor. On March 26, Rohmac submitted a proposal to the TAC requesting
an alternate test procedure for diesel emissions relative to Sections 217-A
and 218-A for diesel mining equipment that has a hydrostatic drive system rather
than a transmission. Rohmac also requested an alternate 90 seconds emission
test to comply with Sections 217-A and 218-A for sampling CO levels in order
to eliminate the overheating potential of hydraulic systems. On April 9, an
investigation was made relative to Rohmac’s March 26 request. The TAC submitted
a letter to the Bureau dated April 16 recommending approval of Rohmac Inc.’s
alternate emissions load test procedure for the Mine Rover Model UT742 equipped
with the MSHA-approved Isuzu C240 engine and DST after-treatment system providing
the General Specifications Sheet for the Mine Rover be strictly adhered to.
TAC’s Verification of Alternate 5-Minute Test for Brookville Machines:
The TAC observed the alternate test procedure for carbon monoxide sampling on
February 1 and March 5 for the MWM-D916-6 diesel engine used to power the Brookville
Model D1344C Personnel Carrier and Brookville Model 15S Scoop. Since the Bureau
previously approved an identical alternate test procedure for the Deutz/MWM-D916-6
diesel engine, the purpose of the TAC’s investigation was to verify that the
equipment could not meet the five minute requirement of Section 217-A(13) and
218-A(11), and the previously approved alternate test procedure was required
for this equipment.
The next meeting is scheduled for July 16 at 10 a.m. in the Fayette
County Health Center in Uniontown.
With no further business to discuss, the meeting adjourned at 3:35
p.m.