Section 1817.61  Use of Explosives: General Requirements

a)         Sections 1817.61 through 1817.68 apply only to surface blasting activities incident to undergoing mining, including, but not limited to, initial rounds of slopes and shafts that are within 50 vertical feet of the original ground surface.

b)         Each person who conducts surface mining activities shall comply with all applicable State and Federal laws in the use of explosives.

c)         All blasting operations shall be conducted by persons certified by the Department in accordance with 62 Ill. Adm. Code 1850.

d)         Blast design.

1)         An anticipated blast design shall be submitted if blasting operations will be conducted within:

A)        1,000 feet of any building used as a dwelling, public building, school, church, or community or institutional building outside the permit area; or

B)        500 feet of an active or abandoned underground mine.

2)         The blast design may be presented as part of the permit application or at a time, before the blast, approved by the Department.

3)         The blast design shall contain sketches of the drill patterns, delay periods, and decking and shall indicate the type and amount of explosives to be used, critical dimensions, and the location and general description of structures to be protected, as well as a discussion of design factors to be used, which protect the public and meet the applicable air blast, flyrock, and ground vibration standards in Section 1817.67.

4)         The blast design shall be prepared and signed by a certified blaster.

(Source:  Amended at 22 Ill. Reg. 20197, effective November 5, 1998)