Communications and Tracking Approvals Past – Present - Future MSHA Communications and Tracking Workshop March 17, 2010

Communication and Tracking Systems Approved under 30 CFR Part 23 Regulations date from the 1930’s Franklin Roosevelt was President

1930’s State of the Art Technology Telephone Walkie-Talkie

Challenge to apply these regulations to 21 st Century Communications

Past Applications Since 2006 A&CC has approved: 55 new approvals 80 revisions to approval

Systems Currently Approved Page and trolley phones Leaky feeder systems Peripherals (e.g., portable hand-held radios) One way text messaging system (PED) Node-based communications and tracking systems RFID tracking

MSHA Approvals Since January Approvals in 2006 and 2007 including: –Kenwood portable radio –Tunnel Radio Leaky feeder system 33 in 2008 including: –Becker enhanced leaky feeder –Venture Design node-based tracking and text messaging system –Matrix Design Group RFID tracking system –NLTech IEEE node over fiber –IWT and L3 node-based communication and tracking –Motorola Portable Radio

MSHA Approvals Since January in 2009 and 2010 including: –Minecom (Pyott Boone) Leaky Feeder System –Active Control Node System and Handset –Matrix Text Messaging Device –L-3 Tracking System and Tag –Becker Tracking Tag –AMR Tracking System and Text Messenger –Kutta Medium Frequency System –Koehler-Bright Star Tracking Tag –Rajant Portable Wireless Mesh System –Mine Site Wireless Access Node –Tunnel Radio RFID Tracking System –Modifications to Previous Approvals

RF near Blasting Circuits Battery box Enclosures Battery Off Gassing in Explosion-proof or Dust-tight enclosures Protection of 120 VAC cable Encapsulation to exclude gas Active Power Supplies Issues Addressed with Approvals

Present Applications 48 Applications 34 Applications for new approvals 14 Applications for revisions to approval numbers All but one assigned to investigators

MSHA Communications Applications Currently Under Evaluation 48 applications currently under investigation (14 RAMPS) –14 RFID Tracking (readers/tags) –9 Node based (new and RAMP) –5 Leaky Feeder (new and RAMP) –9 Peripherals (PDA, text messenger, VoIP Phones, radios) –5 Legacy (page phone, face communications, etc.) –1 Medium Frequency –3 Cap Lamp with tag/radio/collision avoidance –1 Through the Earth –2 Repeaters

Expediting the Process Educate applicants in our approval process and our technical requirements Respond to discrepancies in a timely manner Prioritize the communications and tracking applications Encourage increased use of Part 6

Future Applications The future is difficult to predict, in the next year we expect: A limited number of new systems focusing on new technology such as Through the Earth. Address issues after the installation of the systems –RF interference with radio remote controls –RF interference with CO detectors

Future Applications Revisions to existing systems i.To correct system deficiencies –Enclosure changes to improve durability –Circuit changes to improve reliability ii.To improve the system –Increased Standby Power iii.To expand the system capabilities –Integrate Mine Wide Monitoring with Communications

Questions? Contact Info for Electrical Safety Division: Kenneth Porter Phone: (304) Kevin Dolinar Phone: (304)