CHAPTER 310

An Act to amend and reenact §§ 45.1-56 and 45.1-68, of the Code of
Virginia, relating respectively to the volume of air in mines and the
percentage of gas allowable in mines.

[ & a ata Y a tn |
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §§ 45.1-56 and 45.1-68 of the Code of Virginia be amended and
reenacted as follows: ;

45.1-56. Volume of air; bleeders——(a) The quantity of air pass-
ing through the last open crosscut in any pair or set of active entries shall
be not less than six thousand cubic feet per minute; provided, however,
that the quantity of air reaching the last crosscut in any pair or set of
entries in pillar-recovery sections may be less than six thousand cubic
feet per minute if at least six thousand cubic feet of air per minute 1s
being delivered to the intake end of the pillar line.

(c) The air current at working faces shall under all conditions have
a sufficient volume and velocity to readily dilute and carry away smoke
from blasting and any flammable or harmful gases.

(d) At least once each week, a properly certified person shall measure
the volume of air entering the main intakes and leaving the main returns,
the volume passing through the last open crosscut in each active entry,
the volume being delivered to the intake end of each pillar line, and the
volume at the intake, and return of each split. A record of such measure-
ments shall be kept in a book on the surface, and the record shall be open
for inspection by interested persons.

(e) In gassy mines a system of bleeder openings or air courses
designed to provide positive movement of air through and/or around
abandoned or caved areas, sufficient to prevent dangerous accumulation of
gas in such areas and to minimize the effect of variations in atmospheric
pressure, shall be made a part of pillar recovery plans projected hereafter
[after June twenty-seven, nineteen hundred sixty-six]. Mines not having
bleeders established must provide them as soon as practicable.

§ 45.1-638. Classification of mines; procedure upon detection of accu-
mulation of gas; face equipment for use in gaseous and gassy mines.—
(a) Any mine in which the percentage of explosive gas exceeds one-fourth
of one per centum * when detected twelve inches from the roof, rib, or
face in open workings shall be classified as a gassy mine.

(b) Any mine in which methane has been detected by a flame safety
lamp twelve inches from roof, rib, or face, or in which there is a record
of methane having been ignited, shall be classified as gassy.

(c) When a mine has been classified as gaseous or gassy, it may be
reclassified by the Chief on request of the operator and recommended by
two or more mine inspectors, provided the mine has met the standards
for another classification for two years continuously, and there is no
reason for the Chief to consider the mine potentially gaseous or gassy to
any greater extent than other mines operating in similar seam condition
under lower classification.

(d) Face work must be stopped, power to face equipment cut off,
and the employees ordered and required to withdraw until ventilation is
improved whenever gas can be detected on a permissible flame safety lamp
or approved detectors at any point not less than twelve inches from the
roof, face or ribs. This does not apply to other faces in the entry or slope
in which work can be safely continued.

(e) When because of gas accumulations entries or faces are stopped
waiting for ventilation to be improved, only employees designated to work
on improving the ventilation under competent direction may be permitted
in the affected area. Power shall not be restored until ventilation is
improved.

(f) Face equipment purchased for use in gaseous mines shall be of
the permissible type. The Chief may, if he considers it necessary, require
that face equipment purchased for use in gassy mines or sections thereof
be of the permissible type.