eLaws | eCases | Virginia Code | Virginia Courts | Counties & Cities of Virginia | Code of Federal Regulations |
 Virginia Administrative Code (Last Updated: January 10, 2017)
 Title 4. Conservation and Natural Resources
 Agency 25. Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy
 Chapter 90. Regulations Governing the Use of Diesel-Powered Equipment in Underground Coalmines

  Section 50. Ventilation of diesel equipment  

Latest version.

  • A. The ventilating air in all active areas where diesel-powered equipment is operated shall not have combustible or other contaminating gases in such concentration that may affect combustion in the diesel engine by materially increasing toxic, poisonous or other objectionable constituents in the engine exhaust.

    B. The air supplied for ventilation where diesel-powered equipment is used shall contain less than 1.0% by volume of methane.

    C. The minimum ventilating air quantity maintained in the last open crosscut of each working section where units of diesel-powered equipment are operated must be at least the sum of that specified on the approval plates of all the diesel-powered equipment to be operated in these areas.

    D. The minimum ventilating air quantity maintained in the intake reaching the working face of each longwall and at the intake end of any pillar line where units of diesel-powered equipment are operated on the working section must be at least the sum of that specified on the approval plates of all the diesel-powered equipment to be operated in these areas.

    E. The minimum ventilating air quantity for an individual unit of diesel-powered equipment being operated outby the working section shall be at least that specified on the approval plate for that equipment. Such air quantity shall be maintained:

    1. In any entry where the equipment is being operated in areas of the mine developed on or after July 18, 2001;

    2. In any air course with single or multiple entries where the equipment is being operated in areas of the mine developed prior to July 18, 2001; and

    3. At any other location as the chief may require.

    F. The quantity of ventilating air supplied to the active areas where diesel-powered equipment is operated must be adequate to dilute and carry away constituents of the engine exhaust so that the composition of the air meets the air quality standards set forth in 4VAC25-90-70.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 17, Issue 20, eff. July 18, 2001.

Statutory Authority

§§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1-161.106 and 45.1-161.206 of the Code of Virginia.