Fayette County Health Center
100 New Salem Road, Room 167
Uniontown, PA 15401
October 20, 1999

Richard E. Stickler, Director
Bureau of Deep Mine Safety
Fayette County Health Center
100 New Salem Road, Room 167
Uniontown, PA 15401

Re: Rohmac Diesel Exhaust Conditioning System Dated October 20, 1999

Dear Mr. Stickler:

Article II-A of the Pennsylvania Bituminous Coal Mine Act of 1961 provides for the use of diesel-powered equipment in underground bituminous coal mines. Section 224-A created a Technical Advisory Committee on Diesel-Powered Equipment (TAC) for the purpose of advising the Secretary regarding implementation of

Article  II-A and evaluation of alternative technology or methods meeting the requirements for diesel-powered equipment as set forth in Article II-A.

Rohmac, Inc. has submitted the enclosed information to the TAC relative to a Lister Petter LPU 2 MSHA Part 32 approved engine equipped with a D.E.C. system, which will be used on a MicroTraxx Tractor Model MT-436.

Upon review of this information and application to the TAC, we believe that this application meets all the requirements of Act 182 except for Section 203-A(b)(1) which requires a filter capable of an average 95% reduction of diesel particulate matter (DPM) emissions.

The data submitted by Rohmac includes actual ISO 8178-1 data that shows an average of 90.95% reduction in DPM down to an average concentration of .105 mg over M to the third power when diluted by 50% of the MSHA approval plate ventilation rate for that diesel engine.

Section 203-A(b)(1) of the Act requires a DPM filter capable of an average of 95% or greater reduction of DPM emissions. The data submitted by Rohmac shows that the filter is capable of 95% reduction in DPM emissions. However, doing so would result in an increase in DPM concentration to .12 mg over M to the third power when diluted by 50% of the MSHA approval plate ventilation rate for that diesel engine and would result in a 12% increase in DPM emission relative to the system for which approval is requested.

Accordingly, the TAC recommends approval of this application by the Secretary provided that the following conditions are met. The Specifications for the Diesel-Powered Equipment Package, which was part of the application dated October 20, 1999, be complied with at all times and that the altitude adjustment or "G" setting be checked and verified at each 100-hour test. Using the gauge block that will be supplied with the engine will accomplish this. NOTE: The "G" setting must be verified to insure the engine is running at the tested HP of 16.2.