Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 37, September 13, 2024
Section 36-6-4 - Plans for Longwall Mining; Approval by Office of Miners' Health, Safety and Training4.1. After the effective date of these rules and regulations, no longwall mining shall be started in any coal mine until required plans for longwall mining have been filed and approved by the Office of Miners' Health, Safety and Training, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld. All revisions to such approved plans shall be resubmitted for approval to the Office of Miners' Health, Safety and Training. 4.2. Longwall mining plans submitted for approval to the Office of Miners' Health, Safety and Training shall include the following: 4.2.5. Telephone Number (Mine)4.2.6. Name, title and telephone number of person submitting plan. 4.2.8. Longwal Mining Roof Control Plan (All approved roof control plans for longwall mining sections shall include a plan indicating the roof support to be used and the working procedures to be followed when a cavity is encountered over chocks.)4.2.9. Longwall shields and chocks shall be lowered and/or depressurized by the use of a hydraulic pump, and shall not be lowered and depressurized manually. Methods for lowering and depressurizing such as, but not limited to, removing hoses or releasing yield valves are prohibited. Longwall shields and chocks shall not be lowered or depressurized by any other means unless approved by the Director if it is determined that safety is not diminished.4.2.10. Ventilation Plan, which shall include the complete section and face ventilation controls and bleeder systems.4.2.11. Methane and Dust Control Plan.4.3. After approval of submitted plans has been obtained from the Office of Miners' Health, Safety and Training as required in Section 4.1. and 4.2 of these rules and regulations, additional approvals for new longwall sections will not be necessary; providing required plans initially approved and/or revised are complied with.4.4. In coal mines where retreat longwall mining section operations are in progress prior to the effective date of these rules and regulations, no new longwall mining sections shall be started until required plans for longwall mining have been filed and approved by the Office of Miners' Health, Safety and Training, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld.