MINUTES

Technical Advisory Committee on Diesel-Powered Equipment
Fayette County Health Center, Uniontown, PA
January 22, 1999

 

The Technical Advisory committee on Diesel-Powered Equipment (TAC) held a regularly scheduled meeting on January 22 at 10 a.m. at the Fayette County Health Center in Uniontown.

Attendance:

Members Present:
Eugene Davis
Robert DuBreucq

Others Present:

Richard E. Stickler, DEP, Bureau of Deep Mine Safety
Matthew A. Bertovich, DEP, Bureau of Deep Mine Safety
Joseph A. Sbaffoni, DEP, Bureau of Deep Mine Safety
William B. Bookshar, DEP, Bureau of Deep Mine Safety
Alan L. Martin, DEP, Bureau of Deep Mine Safety
Frank H Neely, Jr., DEP, Bureau of Deep Mine Safety

Minutes of the October 19, 1998, meeting were approved as submitted.

New Business:

The TAC reported on an informational meeting held on December 22, 1998, with Rohmac, Inc. Bureau of Deep Mine Safety representatives were present at the meeting. Rohmac has been developing some alternate emission control technology and were providing preliminary data for discussion. No formal requests for a TAC opinion has been submitted to date.

The TAC recommends approving a request by Brookville Mining Equipment, Inc. to use an alternate emissions test, which was observed at Brookville on December 29, 1998. A letter to the Department is forthcoming.

The TAC reported that Brookville would be shipping their new diesel tractor to Southwest Research Testing facility in San Antonio, Texas, for a complete ISO 8178-1 emissions test.

Discussion was held on the November 6, 1998, letter from the Bureau concerning the affects of the Federal MSHA ventilation standards and Act 182. The members recommended that the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) and the Pennsylvania Coal Association (PCA) be given the opportunity to meet and work on a legislative solution to this issue. It was noted by Bob DuBreucq that this needs to be done in a timely fashion. If these parties are unable to act in a timely manner, DEP should then make a formal request to the TAC for an interpretation.

The TAC members reported on their participation in a November 18, 1998, proposed diesel regulations hearing by MSHA in Beckley, WV. Both members presented testimony relative to Pennsylvania Act 182.

The meeting adjourned at 11:30 a.m. The next regularly scheduled meeting will be held on April 21 at 10 a.m. in Uniontown.