Laserfiche WebLink
<br />adequately sealed to prevent damage to the Federal coal resource <br />via oxidation. He asked if any regulatory body (DMG, OSM, or <br />MSHA) was on site during portal sealing to ensure that the seals <br />were properly installed. I told him that both DMG and OSM rely <br />on MSHA performance standards, and that no one is required to <br />observe. I noted that if BLM wants to be present, they may have <br />to place that requirement in their lease stipulations. <br />Note: I discovered an incorrect cross-reference to MSHA <br />regs in OSM's rules at 30 CFR 817.15. I advised OSM HQ <br />(Bryson). The correct reference should be to 30 CFR 75.1711. <br />In reviewing portal sealing issues in the permit, I found <br />that the seal certification in the permit was unclear as to <br />which sealing method was used on which portals. Dan Mathews <br />subsequently required a permit revision to clarify this. <br />I obtained a complete set of final mine maps (from MSHA) <br />for BLM, so that they have in their office the necessary <br />information in case any future operator wants to remine any of <br />the Federal coal resource. <br />I am still trying to find out from MSHA whether their <br />inspectors observed any of the portal seals being installed (no <br />requirement for them to be present, but maybe they were). <br />There has been a fire at the Cameo #1 portal area, caused <br />by sparks from fan demolition igniting methane escaping from the <br />portal; apparently, some coal was ignited. I will try to obtain <br />MSHA's report on this for Bruce Fowler. <br />