WorldWide Drilling Resource

Type 5 Magazine Clarification Part 1 Adapted from Information by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Industry members have asked the Explosives Industry Programs Branch of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) whether there is a conflict between the ATF explosives regulations at 27 CFR, Part 555 and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) regulations at 30 CFRPart 56 (metal/nonmetal), and Part 77 (aboveground coal), for the placarding of Type 5magazines at regulatedmining sites. Regulations at 27 CFR Part 555 state, placards required by Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations at 49 CFR Part 172, subpart F, for the trans- portation of blasting agents shall be dis- played on all magazines . This regulation was implemented to ensure emergency personnel responding to a fire at a mag- azine site would be aware of the contents of a Type 5 magazine (used for blasting agents). ATF does not require similar signage for other types of magazines, because the materials in Types 1-4 mag- azines could be sensitive to bullet impact, and DOT placards are often seen as an enticement for firearms enthusiasts to use them as targets. The MSHA metal/nonmetal regula- tions at 30 CFR Part 56 requires mag- azines be, posted with the appropriate United States Department of Transportation placards or other appropriate warning signs that indicate the contents and are visible from each approach, so located that a bullet passing through any of the signs will not strike the magazine . Addi- tionally, MSHA coal regulations at 30 CFR Part 77 states magazines must be post- ed with suitable danger signs so located that a bullet passing through the face of a sign will not strike the magazine . These regulations may create the impression signage (including placards) for all magazines must not be placed on the side of the magazine. However, this interpretation conflicts with the ATF re- quirement for Type 5 magazines to be posted with blasting agent placards. MSHAmetal/nonmetal regulations at 30 CFR Part 56 define a “magazine” as, A bullet-resistant, theft-resistant, fire-resis- tant, weather-resistant, ventilated facility for the storage of explosives and deto- nators (ATF Type 1 or Type 2 facility) . It also restricts the placement of signage to (ATF) Type 1 or Type 2 facilities. Astorage facility, in contrast, is defined as, the entire class of structures used to store explosive materials . So, the storage facility used to store blasting agents corresponds to an ATF Type 4 or 5 storage facility. Additionally, the MSHA regulation at 30 CFR Part 56 pertains primarily to ex- plosive material storage facilities and re- quires, among other things: j Packaged blasting agents be stored in a magazine or other facility. j Facilities other than magazines used to store blasting agents must 32 AUGUST 2013 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® contain only blasting agents. j Facilities, bins, or tanks must be posted with DOT placards or other warning signs that indicate the con- tents, and visible fromeach approach. The part of Section 56 which addresses explosive material storage facilities does not prohibit the placement of the sign (or placard) on the side of the facility, bin, or tank. So, explosives storage facilities (Type 5 containing bulk blasting agents) may meet the ATF requirement for being posted with placards and still remain compliant with MSHAmetal/non- metal regulations pertaining to signage. We will cover the regulations at 30 CFR Part 77 for aboveground coal mines next month. New Addition for Fecon Drill Rig Adapted from Information by Fecon Incorporated Fecon is introducing the EX55 sup- port crawler, a rubber track compact crawler designed as a support unit for the EX300S drill rig. The EX55 is built with the same qual- ity components and maneuverability as the EX300S and is equipped with a drill rod holder, steel/plywood lined locking boxes, and fold down bedrails, all mount- ed on a ½-inch steel platform. The EX55 carries all the drilling essentials necessary, eliminating the need for heavy support equipment to haul supplies to drill sites. It has the capability to haul sensitive materials and supplies needed in seismic drilling work, and is outfitted for that ap- plication. Size and ground speed are matched to the drills and make an effi- cient seismic drilling operation. The EX300S and EX55 are a matched pair providing unmatched ease of operation, maneuverability, and min- imal disturbance to drill sites. The EX55’s base carrier can also be used as a uni- versal platform for many configurations including a dump body, flatbed, spraying equipment, or firefighting carrier.