MINUTES

Pennsylvania Bituminous Mine Safety Advisory Committee

Fayette County Health Center, Uniontown, PA

January 8, 2003

Chairman Robert L. Frantz opened the Pennsylvania Bituminous Mine Safety Advisory Committee (BMSAC) meeting at 10:10 a.m.

Attendance:

Robert L. Frantz, The Pennsylvania State University (PSU)

Thomas Strong, Consolidation Coal Company

George Ellis, PCA, designated alternate for Dave Rebuck

Gerry Finfinger, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)

Paul L. Hummel, DEP, Deep Mine Safety

Matthew A. Bertovich, DEP, Deep Mine Safety

Allison D. Gaida, DEP, Deep Mine Safety

Chairman Robert Frantz opened the business portion of this regular meeting. Minutes of the October 30, 2002, meeting were distributed. A motion was made by Gerry Finfinger and seconded by Tom Strong to approve the minutes as typed. The motion carried.

Pennsylvania Coal Association (PCA) President George Ellis acknowledged to the chairman that he had been designated by PCA member Dave Rebuck to represent him as an alternate at this meeting.

Old Business:

Review of Information Gathered on Future Issues: The BMSAC members were asked at a previous meting to canvas their constituents on appropriate issued for the advisory committee to consider in the future. George Ellis said that PCA members had been canvassed. He stated that the BMSAC was a good idea, but should come after we have a law that relates to contemporary mining. The PCA would like to work with other involved parties to develop an appropriate mechanism and come up with an updated law, and as part of that legislation, have an advisory committee instituted.

George made a motion that future quarterly meetings be postponed and the next meeting of the BMSAC be called at the discretion of the chairman. Gerry Finfinger seconded the motion and all present were in favor. Therefore, a request will be submitted to the Policy Office to cancel the April 9, July 9, and October 8 meetings.

Update on Quecreek Mine/Findings from the Governor’s Commission Report: A general discussion was held on the Governor’s Commission on Abandoned Mine Voids and Mine Safety report and the Bureau of Deep Mine Safety’s preliminary investigation report of the Quecreek Mine. Chairman Frantz believes that this advisory committee could be used at a future date to address some of the recommendations made.

Flame Safety Lamp Issue: Paul Hummel briefed the committee on the Bureau’s progress on addressing the flame safety lamp dilemma. (Mine law requires using lamp, and manufacturer of lamp is discontinuing production.) Draft technical guidance for the use of electronic methane/oxygen detectors in lieu of approved flame safety lamps is being developed and will be published for comments in the near future.

With no further business to discuss, the meeting adjourned at 11:15 a.m.