Section 1816.64  Use of Explosives: Public Notice of Blasting Schedule

a)         All blasting shall be conducted from sunrise to sunset, and at times announced in the blasting schedule.  The Department shall limit the area covered, timing and sequence of blasting, as listed in the schedule, if such limitations are necessary and reasonable in order to protect public health, safety or welfare.

b)         Unscheduled blasting may be conducted only where public or operator health and safety so require.  When an operator conducts an unscheduled blast, the operator, using audible warning signals, shall notify residents within one-half mile of the blasting site and document the reason(s) for the unscheduled blast in accordance Section 1816.68(a)(17).  Unscheduled blasting does not include nighttime blasting, which is prohibited at all times.

c)         Blasting schedule publication

1)         Each person who conducts surface mining activities shall publish a blasting schedule at least ten days, but not more than 30 days, before beginning a blasting program in which blasts that use more than five pounds of explosive or blasting agent are detonated.  The blasting schedule shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the locality of the blasting site.

2)         Copies of the schedule shall be distributed by mail to local governments and public utilities and mailed or delivered to each residence within one-half mile of the proposed blasting area and to every other person within or outside such area to whom the Department requires to be mailed, and daily notices shall be provided to such persons prior to any blasting.

3)         The person who conducts the surface mining activities shall republish and redistribute the schedule by mail at least every 12 months and revise and republish the schedule at least ten days but not more than 30 days before blasting in areas not covered in the current schedule or if the actual blasting times differ from the time periods listed in the current schedule for more than 20% of the blasts fired.

d)         The blasting schedule shall contain at a minimum:

1)         Identification of the specific areas in which blasting will take place;

2)         Dates and time periods when explosives are to be detonated;

3)         Methods to be used to control access to the blasting area;

4)         Types of audible warnings and all-clear signals to be used before and after blasting; and

5)         Name, address, and telephone number of operator.

e)         Public notice of changes in blasting schedules

            Before blasting in areas or at times not in a previous schedule, the person who conducts the surface mining activities shall prepare a revised schedule according to the procedures in subsections (c) and (d).

(Source:  Amended at 22 Ill. Reg. 20228, effective November 5, 1998)