Explosion Pressure Design Criteria for New Seals in U.S. Coal Mines

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Explosion Pressure Design Criteria for New Seals in U.S. Coal Mines

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Peer Reviewers’ Comments & NIOSH Response

Required Elements for Initial Public Posting

Title: Explosion Pressure Design Criteria for New Seals in U.S. Coal Mines

Subject: This report proposes new explosion pressure design criteria for seals in coal mines.

Purpose: Before the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response (MINER) Act of 2006, seals were required to withstand a 20 psi explosion pressure. According to the recent MINER Act, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) should increase this design standard by the end of 2007. NIOSH is developing an engineering-science basis for new standards in support of MSHA’s mandate under the MINER Act.

Timing of Review: February 2007

Primary Disciplines or Expertise Needed for Review: Gas explosion physics, structural dynamics, and mining engineering

Type of Review: Individual

Number of Reviewers: More than 10

Reviewers Selected by: NIOSH

Public Nominations Requested for Reviewers: Yes

Opportunities for the Public to Comment: Yes

Peer Reviewers Provided with Public Comment Before Their Review: No

Peer Reviewers:

A.J.S. (Sam) Spearing
Organizational Affiliation: Excel Mining Systems, Inc.
Areas of Expertise, Discipline, or Relevant Experience: Mining engineering and mine safety engineering
Recommended by: NIOSH

J Arguello
Organizational Affiliation: Sandia National Laboratories
Areas of Expertise, Discipline, or Relevant Experience: Structural analysis and structural dynamics
Recommended by: NIOSH

Melvin Baer
Organizational Affiliation: Sandia National Laboratories
Areas of Expertise, Discipline, or Relevant Experience: Gas explosions and explosion physics
Recommended by: NIOSH

Tim Baker
Organizational Affiliation: United Mine Workers of America
Areas of Expertise, Discipline, or Relevant Experience:
Recommended by: NIOSH

Chris Barbee
Organizational Affiliation: International Union of Operating Engineers
Areas of Expertise, Discipline, or Relevant Experience:
Recommended by: NIOSH

David Beerbower
Organizational Affiliation: Peabody Energy Co.
Areas of Expertise, Discipline, or Relevant Experience: Mining engineering and mine safety analysis
Recommended by: NIOSH

Stephen Bessinger
Organizational Affiliation: San Juan Coal Company
Areas of Expertise, Discipline, or Relevant Experience: Mining engineering, mine ventilation, and mine safety analysis
Recommended by: NIOSH

Alan Campoli
Organizational Affiliation: Minova USA, Inc.
Areas of Expertise, Discipline, or Relevant Experience: Mining engineering and seal engineering
Recommended by: NIOSH

Doug Conaway
Organizational Affiliation: Arch Coal, Inc.
Areas of Expertise, Discipline, or Relevant Experience:
Recommended by: NIOSH

William Denning
Organizational Affiliation: MSHA Coal Mine Safety and Health District 9
Areas of Expertise, Discipline, or Relevant Experience:
Recommended by: NIOSH

Zdzslaw Dyduch
Organizational Affiliation: Central Mining Research Institute, Poland
Areas of Expertise, Discipline, or Relevant Experience: Explosion modeling and explosion physics
Recommended by: NIOSH

Stewart Gillies
Organizational Affiliation: The Minserve Group, Australia
Areas of Expertise, Discipline, or Relevant Experience: Mine ventilation and mining engineering
Recommended by: NIOSH

R Grayson
Organizational Affiliation: Professor, University of Missouri, Rolla
Areas of Expertise, Discipline, or Relevant Experience: Mining engineering and mine safety analysis
Recommended by: NIOSH

Olav Hansen
Organizational Affiliation: GexCon AS, Norway
Areas of Expertise, Discipline, or Relevant Experience: Gas explosions and explosion modeling
Recommended by: NIOSH

Tim Harvey
Organizational Affiliation: AngloCoal, Australia
Areas of Expertise, Discipline, or Relevant Experience: Mining engineering and mine ventilation
Recommended by: NIOSH

Walter Hermulheim
Organizational Affiliation: Deutsche Steinkohle, Germany
Areas of Expertise, Discipline, or Relevant Experience: Mining engineering and mine safety analysis
Recommended by: NIOSH

Francois Heuze
Organizational Affiliation: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Areas of Expertise, Discipline, or Relevant Experience: Structural analysis
Recommended by: NIOSH

Allen Kuhl
Organizational Affiliation: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Areas of Expertise, Discipline, or Relevant Experience: Gas explosions and explosion physics
Recommended by: NIOSH

Braden Lusk
Organizational Affiliation: University of Kentucky
Areas of Expertise, Discipline, or Relevant Experience: Mining engineering and seal engineering
Recommended by: NIOSH

Brian Lyne
Organizational Affiliation: Queensland Miners Inspectorate, Australia
Areas of Expertise, Discipline, or Relevant Experience: Mining engineering, mine ventilation, and mine safety engineering
Recommended by: NIOSH

Tommy McNider
Organizational Affiliation: Jim Walter Resources
Areas of Expertise, Discipline, or Relevant Experience: Mining engineering and mine ventilation
Recommended by: NIOSH

Kevin Schiefelbein
Organizational Affiliation: AngloCoal, Australia
Areas of Expertise, Discipline, or Relevant Experience: Mining engineering and mine ventilation
Recommended by: NIOSH

Erik Sherer
Organizational Affiliation: MSHA Coal Mine Safety and Health
Areas of Expertise, Discipline, or Relevant Experience: Mining engineering and mine safety engineering
Recommended by: NIOSH

Mark Skiles
Organizational Affiliation: MSHA Technical Support
Areas of Expertise, Discipline, or Relevant Experience: Mining engineering, mine safety engineering, and structural mechanics
Recommended by: NIOSH

Carol Tasillo
Organizational Affiliation: MSHA Technical Support
Areas of Expertise, Discipline, or Relevant Experience: Mining safety engineering
Recommended by: NIOSH

Andrew Wala
Organizational Affiliation: University of Kentucky
Areas of Expertise, Discipline, or Relevant Experience: Mining engineering and mine safety engineering
Recommended by: NIOSH

Bruce Watzman
Organizational Affiliation: National Mining Association
Areas of Expertise, Discipline, or Relevant Experience: Gas explosions
Recommended by: NIOSH

Michael Wieland
Organizational Affiliation: Uncertainty link
Areas of Expertise, Discipline, or Relevant Experience: Explosion physics
Recommended by: NIOSH

Bill Worthington
Organizational Affiliation: Sick Maihak
Areas of Expertise, Discipline, or Relevant Experience: Gas analysis
Recommended by: NIOSH

Charge to Peer Reviewers:

No specific instructions were provided. We simply requested review and comment on all matters pertinent to our report. Reviewers tended to concentrate their comments within their specific areas of expertise.