25 Pa. Code § 88.136 - Blasting: near underground mines

(a) When a surface mine is operating within 500 feet of an active deep mine, the surface mine operators shall notify the surface mine inspector in advance of his intention to blast. The surface mine inspector shall, in turn, notify the deep mine inspector and together they shall instruct both the surface mine operator and the deep mine operator as to procedure.

(b) Prior to blasting, the surface mine operator shall give sufficient advance notice to the deep mine operator, superintendent or mine foreman of his intention to blast.

(c) The deep mine operator, superintendent or mine foreman shall remove all workmen from the mine. The surface mine operator shall ascertain that all workmen have been removed from the mine before preparations for blasting may begin.

(d) When there is a known or suspected connection between the deep mine and the surface mine, the operator, superintendent or mine foreman of the deep mine shall, after the blast, make or cause to be made sufficient tests to insure the absence of carbon monoxide or other harmful gases before allowing workmen to reenter the mine.

(e) The deep mine operator, superintendent or mine foreman shall make or cause to be made sufficient examinations of the deep mine to determine whether any other danger exists before allowing workmen to reenter the mine, just as other preshift examinations are made.

Notes

25 Pa. Code § 88.136

The provisions of this § 88.136 adopted December 19, 1980, 10 Pa.B. 4789, effective 7/31/1982, 12 Pa.B. 2382; amended January 4, 1985, effective immediately upon the approval by the Secretary of the United States Department of the Interior and publication thereof in the Pennsylvania Bulletin, 15 Pa.B. 13.

This section cited in 25 Pa. Code § 88.493 (relating to minimum environmental protection performance standards).