Knight Hawk Coal Bends Safety Rules: Safer or Just Convenient?
Published Date: 4/3/2026
Notice
Summary
Knight Hawk Coal, LLC wants to change some safety rules for their mine, promising to keep miners just as safe with a new method. This petition affects miners at Knight Hawk’s operations and asks for approval before May 4, 2026. If approved, it could change how safety is managed without extra costs or delays.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
Test Fan Signal Without Stopping Fan
Knight Hawk Coal asked MSHA to allow testing the automatic main-mine fan signal device every 31 days without stopping the fan each time. If approved, this would change how tests are done at the Prairie Eagle Underground Mine (MSHA ID No. 11-03147) in Perry County, IL.
Full Fan Stop Test Every 6 Months
Under the proposed alternative, a full fan-stop test (stopping the fan per 30 CFR 75.312(c)) would still be performed, but at intervals not to exceed 6 months instead of every 31 days. The miner-safety standard would rely on less frequent full fan stoppage checks at the Prairie Eagle Underground Mine.
New Valve and Alarm Equipment Required
The proposed alternative requires installing a lockable ball valve between the pressure transducer and the fan ductwork, another valve between the tubing and atmosphere, and an alarm that activates when fan pressure falls by 2'' W.G. or more. During 31-day checks without stopping the fan, the ductwork valve would be closed and the atmosphere valve opened to cause the transducer pressure to drop and trigger the alarm.
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