Regulators in West Virginia have approved the experimental use of diesel-powered equipment at two Peabody Coal operations, ending a longtime ban on the use of internal combustion engines in underground mines.
West Virginia is the last state to allow the use of diesel-powered equipment in its mines. Although a commission created by the West Virginia legislature has been studying the equipment since 1997, the Peabody operations are the first to clear the regulatory hurdles and win a majority vote on the six-member diesel commission.
Peabody, which is based in St. Louis, Mo., will soon begin training diesel equipment operators at the two West Virginian mines.
Neither piece of diesel equipment will be used in production. One is a diesel-powered mantrip, which transports miners from the surface to the working areas. The other is a grader, which keeps underground passages clear of mud and other debris. Both will be situated near the mines’ ventilation system, ensuring that exhaust fumes will be blown away from the working areas. Also, both engines are designed to have nearly zero exhaust emissions.
The diesel-powered equipment will replace battery-powered devices. A spokesman for Peabody says that battery-powered equipment worked well on small jobs but could not keep up with the demands of larger operations.
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