Bituminous Mine Safety Advisory Committee
Fayette County Health Center, Uniontown, PA
December 13, 1995
The meeting was convened by Chairman Thomas J. Ward, Jr. at 10:15 a.m. All Bituminous
Mine Safety Advisory Committee groups were represented except the Mine Safety
and Health Administration.
Attendance
Members Present:
Thomas J. Ward, Jr., DEP, Bureau of Deep Mine Safety
Carl Trickett, Consolidation Coal Company
Robert Frantz, The Pennsylvania State University
Tony Brnusak, United Mine Workers of America (designated representative)
Others Present:
Matt Hindman, RoxCoal, Inc.
David Flick, RoxCoal, Inc.
Denny Hellgren, Rochester & Pittsburgh Coal Company
Jerry Taylor, Maple Creek Mining
Jim McCaffrey, Enlow Fork
Jack Holt, Consol, Inc.
John F. Burr, Consol, Inc.
Leonard L. Barone, Mon View Mining Company
Matthew A. Bertovich, DEP, Deep Mine Safety
Joseph A. Sbaffoni, DEP, Deep Mine Safety
Allison Trader, DEP, Deep Mine Safety
J. Anthony Ercole, Pennsylvania Coal Association
Wayne Duerr, U. S. Bureau of Mines
John Kovac, U. S. Bureau of Mines
Bob Stein, NIOSH
Explanation of New Advisory Board Procedures
Several new procedures on how DEP's advisory boards and committees are to operate were discussed with the Advisory Committee. The requirement to publish the meetings and obtain approval of agendas was noted. It was agreed at the November 2 meeting that the format of the Advisory Committee not be changed. A letter to that effect was written to Deputy Secretary Dolence by committee member Robert Frantz and sent on November 13.
Diesel Equipment
Due to the fact that Bob Scaramozzino and Jeff Duncan could not attend this meeting, UMWA Representative Tony Brnusak asked that a status report be given at the next meeting. During the last year, the subcommittee has held several meetings at West Virginia University (WVU).
Chairman Tom Ward outlined Pennsylvania's progress in the development of criteria for the use of diesel equipment. The criteria will contain the following items: storage and handling, fuel quality, equipment maintenance, training requirements, and certification of those who work on or operate diesel equipment. Denny Hellgren questioned whether the training program for diesel mechanics would be developed and conducted by Deep Mine Safety or if the Bureau would approve a company program. Chairman Ward replied that the Bureau of Deep Mine Safety would approve plans submitted by companies as long as the criteria is met. Mr. Hellgren also asked when this criteria might be approved. Chairman Ward stated that he could not give a date for the approval of the criteria. He informed the Committee that his intentions were to provide a copy of the diesel criteria to the committee once it is approved. An informational meeting would also be held for the coal operators. Members of the Diesel Subcommittee are: Thomas Ward, Jeff Duncan, Tom Strong, Robert Frantz, John DeMichiei, Pete Turcic, Robert Waytulonis, and Robert Peluso.
Mine Rescue
Bob Stein gave a background on the Advisory Committee's November meeting. The subcommittee had drafted a letter of recommendations to be submitted to Deputy Secretary Dolence and was circulated for comments prior to this meeting. Following a discussion of the contents of the draft letter, it was decided that there were additional issues that needed to be agreed upon before the letter could be finalized and sent. The entire subcommittee will meet on January 16 to reevaluate the contents of the letter and the recommendations. UMWA comments on the "draft" letter were read by Tony Brnusak and are attached. The subcommittee will provide some recommendations to the entire Advisory committee at the next meeting. Members of the Mine Rescue Subcommittee are: Jeff Duncan, Carl Trickett, Matt Bertovich, John Gallick, Jeff Kravitz (replacing Roger Uhazie), John Kovac, Dennis Hellgren, John Cool, Larry Stowinsky, and Jack Holt.
Hazards Associated With Remote Controlled Mining Methods
Tony Brnusak asked that the United Mine Workers of America issues that were brought up at the last meeting be tabled until the next meeting since neither Bob Scaramozzino nor Jeff Duncan were able to attend. This was agreed on and will be brought up at that time.
At this point in the meeting, the agenda items were either discussed or tabled. Chairman Ward opened the meeting to the committee for suggested topics for future meetings.
Mine Officials Certification
Carl Trickett requested that mine officials certification be put on the next agenda and requested an update on what Deep Mine Safety was presently doing. An update was provided. Notices of the upcoming examination, gas detection classes, and ventilation classes were sent out by Deep Mine Safety on November 16. The Bituminous Mine Officials Examination will be held at California University of Pennsylvania on March 12 and 13 for Mine Foreman and March 14 for Mine Examiner/Mine Electrician. The oral examination is scheduled for May 7, 8, and 9. Another examination is planned for the fall, but the date and location are not known at this time. The Pennsylvania State University will be sending out a questionnaire to the industry on the value of the Study Guides that were developed a few years ago.
The Certification Subcommittee will discuss the certification issues before the next Advisory Committee Meeting. Members of the existing subcommittee are: Matthew Bertovich, Bob Frantz, and Gerald Mountain.
Flame Safety Lamps
Chairman Ward would like to see Pennsylvania's use of flame safety lamps added to the next meeting's agenda. Pennsylvania law states that exams must be made with flame safety lamps. He questioned if it is necessary for miner operators and roof bolters to carry a flame safety lamp since there are other dependable instruments available. The Advisory Committee will bring ideas to the next meeting.
Meetings for 1996 will be held at the Fayette County Health Center in Uniontown at 10 a.m. on February 14, April 10, June 12, August 14, October 9, and December 11.
Suggested agenda items for the next meeting on February 14 are:
The Chairman thanked the members for their support of mine safety and wished everyone present and their families a Merry Christmas and successful 1996.
With no further business to discuss, the meeting adjourned at 11:30 a.m.