The Technical Advisory Committee on Diesel-Powered Equipment (TAC) held a regularly scheduled meeting on October 20 at the Fayette County Health Center in Uniontown. The meeting began at 10:10 a.m.

Eugene Davis
Robert DuBreucq

Others Present:

Richard E. Stickler, DEP, Bureau of Deep Mine Safety (BDMS)
Matthew A. Bertovich, DEP, Bureau of Deep Mine Safety
Joseph A. Sbaffoni, DEP, Bureau of Deep Mine Safety
Allison D. Gaida, DEP, Bureau of Deep Mine Safety
Larry Steinhoff, UMWA Safety Committee, Local 2258
Buck Lovern, Rohmac, Inc.
David Rohrbaugh, Rohmac, Inc.
Larry Conrad, Brookville Mining Equipment
John Gallick, RAG Emerald Resources
Norbert Paas, Paas Technologies
Larry Patts, Consol, Inc.
Pramod Thakur, Consol, Inc.

Minutes of the August 13 meeting were approved after correcting two typographical errors.

Old Business:

Rohmac Inc.’s Diesel Application: A letter to Bureau Director Richard Stickler dated 10/20/99 from TAC was circulated. Gene Davis announced that the TAC recommended approval of Rohmac’s application with the addition of the "G" setting or altitude adjustment check be added to the 100-hour test. The Rohmac application dated August 31 was complete except for the "G" setting, which was added in the new application dated 10/20/99. Gene Davis noted that Rohmac demonstrated both the ability to show a filter capable of a 95% reduction in diesel particulate matter (DPM) emissions and also DMP emission below .12mg/m³. It was noted that this approval is only a recommendation from the TAC to Mr. Stickler. Rohamc will be dealing with the Bureau from now on.

MSHA Part 7 Quantity Adjustment: TAC has formally submitted to Bureau Director Richard Stickler their recommendations in a letter dated 10/20/99 concerning alternative methods to calculate emissions and ventilation rates based upon MSHA’s new Part 7 regulations. The Sections affected are 201-A(c), 203-A(1), and 204-A(d). Mr. Stickler will prepare a formal response to this letter, which will be sent to the industry.

Potential Application of Caterpillar 3304 Diesel w/DST: Gene Davis reported that additional information was needed on the Caterpillar 3304 to review this application. Larry Conrad requested that TAC investigate the MWM-916 Diesel w/ DST technology for Brookville. He will follow up with a formal letter to the TAC.

TAC opened the floor for discussion of new business. Larry Steinhoff, UMWA Local 2258 Safety Committee brought several issues to the table. These issues were diesel equipment traveling through airlocks, build up of diesel fumes in airlocks, excessive idling in the sections, running engines when hoisting out of the slope to use the brakes, possible build up of fumes, and fuel spillage. The TAC believes these are enforcement issues and have directed them to the Bureau.

2000 Meeting Dates: The following dates were established for next year’s meetings. All meetings will be held at the Fayette County Health Center in the BDMS training room in Uniontown beginning at 10 a.m.

January 19, 2000
April 19, 2000
July 19, 2000
October 18, 2000

The meeting adjourned at 11:24 a.m. The next regularly scheduled meeting will be held on January 19, 2000, at 10 a.m. in Uniontown.