45.1-161.222 - Actions for excessive methane.
§ 45.1-161.222. Actions for excessive methane.
A. Tests for methane concentration under this section shall be made bycertified or qualified persons trained in the use of an approved detectingdevice which is properly maintained and calibrated. Tests shall be made atleast twelve inches from the roof, face, ribs, and floor.
B. When one percent or more methane is present in a working place or anintake air course, including an air course in which a belt conveyor islocated, or in an area where mining equipment is being installed or removed,work shall cease and electrical power shall be de-energized in the affectedworking place at the equipment except intrinsically safe atmosphericmonitoring systems (AMS). Changes or adjustments shall be made to theventilation system to reduce the concentration to below one percent. Onlywork to reduce the concentration of methane below one percent shall bepermitted. This does not apply to other faces in the entry or slope in whichwork can be safely continued.
C. When one and one-half percent or more methane is present in a workingplace or an intake air course, including an air course in which a beltconveyor is located, or an area where mining equipment is being installed orremoved, only work necessary to reduce the methane concentration to less thanone and one-half percent will be permitted and all other personnel shall bewithdrawn from the affected area. Electrically powered equipment in theaffected area shall be de-energized and other mechanized equipment shall beshut off except for intrinsically safe atmospheric monitoring systems (AMS).
D. When one percent or more methane is present in a return or split betweenthe last working place on a working section and where that split of air meetsanother split of air, or the location at which the split is used to ventilateseals or worked-out areas, changes or adjustments shall be made to theventilation system to reduce the concentration of methane in the return airto less than one percent.
E. When one and one-half percent or more methane is present in a return airsplit between the last working place on a working section and where thatsplit of air meets another split of air or the location where the split isused to ventilate seals or worked-out areas, everyone except those personsrequired to perform necessary work to correct the problem shall be withdrawnfrom the affected area. Other than intrinsically safe atmospheric monitoringsystems (AMS), all equipment in the affected area shall be de-energized atthe source. No other work shall be permitted in the affected area until theconcentration of methane in the return air is less than one percent.
F. An alternative methane level up to one and one-half percent may be allowedin the return air split where the following precautions are met: (i) thequantity of air in the split ventilating the active workings is at least27,000 cubic feet per minute in the last open crosscut; (ii) the methanecontent of the air in the split is continuously monitored during miningoperations by an intrinsically safe atmospheric monitoring system (AMS) thatgives a visual and audible signal on the working section when the methane inthe return air reaches one and one-half percent; and (iii) rock dust iscontinuously applied with a mechanical duster to the return air course duringcoal production at a location in the air course immediately outby the mostinby monitoring point or inby such point provided the mechanical duster ismaintained in a permissible condition and does not adversely affect the AMS.When one and one-half percent or more methane is present where a return airalternative is applied, all persons shall be withdrawn, except thosenecessary to improve ventilation, and changes or adjustments shall be made toreduce the concentration of methane in the return air to below one andone-half percent as set forth in subsection E.
G. The concentration of methane in a bleeder split of air immediately beforethe air in the split joins another split of air, or in a return air courseother than described in subsections D and E, shall not exceed two percent.
(Code 1950, § 45-60.3; 1954, c. 191; 1966, c. 594, § 45.1-58; 1978, c. 120;1994, c. 28; 1996, c. 774; 1999, c. 256.)