Peabody Mine Petitions to Bend Safety Rules Without Risking Miners
Published Date: 3/3/2025
Notice
Summary
Peabody Twentymile Mining wants to change some safety rules at their mine, promising to keep miners just as safe with new methods. This affects miners at their site and could change how safety checks are done, but won’t cut corners on protection. Everyone has until April 2, 2025, to share their thoughts, so speak up if you care about mine safety!
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Request to Use Drager X-plore 8700 PAPR
Peabody Twentymile Mining asked MSHA to let the Foidel Creek Mine (about 150 underground miners) use the Drager X-plore 8700 powered air purifying respirator (PAPR) as an alternative to the MSHA-permissible equipment required by 30 CFR 75.500(d). The company says the Drager unit is intrinsically safe, is certified to international standards, and will not be used until MSHA inspects it and it meets the terms of any Decision and Order (PDO).
Methane Limits and Monitoring Rule
Under the proposed alternative, the Drager X-plore 8700 PAPR must be de-energized and removed if methane is detected at or above 1.0 percent. A qualified person must continuously monitor for methane immediately before and during PAPR use, and all hand-held methane detectors used must be MSHA-approved and alarm at or above 1.0 percent methane.
Training, Records, and Use Conditions
Peabody proposes specific training and recordkeeping if the Drager PAPR is allowed: miners must be trained before any Drager unit is used in permissible areas, all affected personnel must be trained under 30 CFR 48.7 within 60 days after the PDO becomes final, an MSHA Certificate of Training (Form 5000-23) must document the training, and annual retraining is required under 30 CFR 48.8.
Lithium Battery and Maintenance Requirements
The petition would require using only specified Li‑Ion batteries that meet UL 1642 or IEC 62133 standards, charging batteries only on the surface in monitored areas with the manufacturer's charger, removing batteries from service when run time falls below 80% of new run time, and keeping service/inspection logs. Batteries must not be charged near combustible material or stored outside manufacturer temperature limits.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2025-03392, Petition for Modification of Application of Existing Mandatory Safety Standards
Canyon Fuel Company wants to change some safety rules at their mine to use a different method that keeps miners just as safe. This petition affects miners and the company, with a chance to comment by April 2, 2025. If approved, it could save time or money while still protecting workers.
Next: 2025-03394, Petition for Modification of Application of Existing Mandatory Safety Standards
Peabody Twentymile Mining, LLC asked to change some safety rules at their mine to use a different way that keeps miners just as safe. This could affect how safety checks are done and might save time or money without risking anyone’s well-being. People have until April 2, 2025, to share their thoughts on this change with the Mine Safety and Health Administration.