(a) In general.
(1) Each operator shall comply with all applicable state and federal regulations as they relate to blasting by that operator.
(2) The operator shall retain responsibility for all blasting conducted by or for that operator regardless of whether the blasting is done by the operator's personnel, others under direct supervision of the operator's personnel, or others performing as independent subcontractors.
(3) The operator will take all reasonable steps to minimize the impact of blasting operations on the health, safety, and general welfare of the public in addition to complying with the specific work practices and operational standards set forth in this Article.
(4) The Administrator may require the operator to perform isoseismic or other studies necessary or helpful to assess the impact of the blasting operations on the health, safety, or general welfare of the public after giving specific cause to the operator for such additional studies.
(b) Blasting practices.
(1) All blasting in connection with mining shall be limited to the period between 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on weekdays (except on holidays recognized by the State of Indiana where no blasting shall be allowed).
(2) Every effort shall be made by the operator to schedule blasts at the same time of day.
(3) Explosives used in connection with surface mining shall not be detonated at other times, except when necessary to detonate a loaded shot which could not be detonated because of sudden adverse weather or other conditions which could not reasonably be foreseen by the operator, or as required to comply with applicable governmental requirements.
(4) The operator is required to notify the Administrator before any blast that may occur beyond the prescribed time of day limits. This notification must be made in writing, and at least two hours before the blast will occur.
(5) All blasting shall be conducted by individuals trained and experienced in the design and safe use of blasting systems and licensed by the State of Indiana.
(6) No blasting shall be done during adverse weather conditions.
(7) Blasting shall occur no closer than 500 feet (measured horizontally) to the property line of a protected structure, or within 100 feet of any underground pipeline, unless the pipeline company authorizes or confirms, in writing to the Administrator, a lesser distance, provided that such distance shall in no event be less than 25 feet.
(8) Blast hole drillers shall report any cavities encountered during drilling to the blasting supervisor, who shall record such reports in a blasting report.
(9) During loading of explosives, accepted blasting practices shall be used, and the amount of explosives loaded into each hole shall be monitored and recorded to avoid overloading a blast.
(10) Under any blasting conditions, flyrock shall never leave the affected land.
(11) All blasts shall be conducted using electronic blasting systems.
(c) Vibration and airblast limits.
(1) The maximum peak particle velocities for any blast shall comply with the criteria referenced in the former U.S. Bureau of Mines Report of Investigations (RI) 8507, Structural Response and Damage Produced by Ground Vibration from Surface Mine Blasting (Siskind 1980). See Appendix I for the graph of the particle velocity limits versus frequency.
(2) The maximum peak particle velocities for any blast shall be measured at the property line of the affected land from which the blast occurred, and shall not exceed 0.5 inches per second.
(3) Airblast shall be controlled so that the maximum decibel limits are not exceeded at the property line of the affected land from which the blast occurred.
(4) The maximum airblast limits shall be governed by the following table shown in the table below, based on the former U.S. Bureau of Mines RI 8485, Structure Response and Damage Produced by Airblast from Surface Mining (Siskind 1980). However, every effort shall be made by the operator to reduce airblast to 120 dB or less.
0.1 Hz high pass system | 134 dB |
2 Hz high pass system | 133 dB |
5 or 6 Hz high pass system | 129 dB |
C-slow (events not exceeding 2 sec. duration) | 105 dB
|
(5) The vibration and airblast limits contained in this subsection shall be applicable only to those operations involving blasting that exist on or before the effective date.
(d) Monitoring guidelines.
(1) All blasts shall be monitored by an independent third party contractor (the contractor). The contractor shall be retained by and report to the Administrator, but shall be paid for by the operator. The contractor will be responsible for collecting and analyzing the data independent of any review by the operator.
(2) All blasts shall be monitored by properly calibrated seismographs at any monitoring station for both horizontal and vertical ground vibrations and for airblast. The location of the monitoring stations will be made by the Administrator in consultation with the contractor and the operator, and will utilize recommendations from any isoseismic studies along with locations at the closest protected structures.
(3) All equipment for the monitoring of the blasts will be maintained and calibrated by the contractor exclusively. The Administrator may require that additional monitoring stations be located or relocated to or from certain sites based upon the analysis of blast data and/or upon the recommendation of the contractor.
(4) All blasts shall be monitored remotely using satellite technology or other similar technology by the contractor and made available to the Administrator upon request. Portable seismographs may be installed at other locations, and the reporting of the results can be done without using remote capabilities.
(5) Records shall be kept by the operator for each blast. Blasting records shall include but not be limited to the following:
a. The date, time and specific location of each blast;
b. The type of blast, either surface or subsurface;
c. If surface blast, the weather conditions including:
i. Air temperature;
ii. Wind speed and direction;
iii. Cloud cover.
d. Identification of the closest protected structure, and distance from the blast;
e. The name and license number of the person conducting the blast; and
f. The number of holes, diameter and depth of holes, the delay pattern and design, and delay number of detonators used.
(6) Records from each blast, both underground and surface blasts, shall be available for inspection and copying by the Administrator.
(7) An operator shall maintain all records for blasting for underground mining and surface mining. Blast records shall be maintained by the operator at the site for a period not less than three years.
(8) An operator shall provide a blasting report to the Administrator for the preceding year as part of the annual report requirement. The blasting report shall contain:
a. A summary of methods used to protect nearby public and private property from damage by airblast and ground vibration;
b. Blast records for surface and subsurface mining;
c. A drill log reporting of any cavities encountered during drilling;
d. A statement of compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and blasting and explosive industry standards; and
e. A complaint log, listing Blasting complaints and claims for damages.
(Ord. D-1686-04, 4-18-05)