Mine Operator Requests Standard Safety Exemption
Published Date: 6/24/2026
Notice
Summary
Iron Cumberland, LLC wants to change some safety rules at their mine to use a different method that keeps workers just as safe. They’ve asked the Mine Safety and Health Administration to review their plan, and everyone has until July 24, 2026, to share their thoughts. If approved, this could mean safer or more efficient work without extra costs or delays.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Mine may mine inside 300-ft well barriers
If MSHA approves the petition, Iron Cumberland could mine within the 300-foot diameter safety barrier around six Daddy Long Legs Marcellus gas wells at the Cumberland Mine in Greene County, Pennsylvania. The request covers six specific wells (API #37-059-26887(1H) through #37-059-26892(11H)) and applies to all types of underground coal mining at that mine. Comments on the petition must be received by July 24, 2026.
Detailed well-plugging and testing rules
The petitioned alternative would require detailed cleaning, testing, and plugging steps before mining within the 300-foot barrier: a diligent attempt to remove casing (minimum 150% of casing string weight or at least three spear attempts), perforations at least every 50 feet from 400 feet below the coal seam to 100 feet above, placement of a mechanical bridge plug at least 400 feet below the base of the lowest mineable coal seam, and placement of a minimum of 400 feet of expanding cement below the coal seam with cement pumped at a pressure of at least 200 pounds per square inch. The operator must keep logs and records (caliper, bond, deviation, gamma surveys, invoices) and provide them to the District Manager or MSHA upon request.
Mandatory safety checks and miner training
The petition requires safety procedures and training for miners before and during well intersections, including handheld methane tests at least every 10 minutes when the face is within 30 feet of the well, calibration of methane monitors on the shift prior to intersection, no open flames until methane is below 1.0 percent, and that miners be trained on the MSHA Proposed Decision and Order and on revised emergency evacuation and firefighting plans. Proposed training-plan revisions must be submitted within 30 days after the PDO becomes final, and miners must be trained before mining within 150 feet of the well.
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Key Dates
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Previous: 2026-12661 — Petition for Modification of Application of Existing Mandatory Safety Standards
Fossil Rock Resources, LLC asked to change some mine safety rules to use a different method that keeps miners just as safe. This affects their Fossil Rock Mine and could change how safety checks are done, possibly saving time or money. Everyone has until July 24, 2026, to share their thoughts before a decision is made.
Next: 2026-12663 — Petition for Modification of Application of Existing Mandatory Safety Standards
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