4VAC25-150 Virginia Gas and Oil Regulation

REGULATIONS

Vol. 28 Iss. 21 - June 18, 2012

TITLE 4. CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES

DEPARTMENT OF MINES, MINERALS AND ENERGY

Chapter 150

Final Regulation

REGISTRAR'S NOTICE: The Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy is claiming an exemption from the Administrative Process Act in accordance with § 2.2-4006 A 4 a of the Code of Virginia, which excludes regulations that are necessary to conform to changes in Virginia statutory law where no agency discretion is involved. The Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy will receive, consider, and respond to petitions from any interested person at any time with respect to reconsideration or revision.

Titles of Regulations: 4VAC25-35. Certification Requirements for Mineral Miners (amending 4VAC25-35-10, 4VAC25-35-30, 4VAC25-35-40, 4VAC25-35-120).

4VAC25-40. Safety and Health Regulations for Mineral Mining (amending 4VAC25-40-40).

4VAC25-150. Virginia Gas and Oil Regulation (amending 4VAC25-150-250).

Statutory Authority:

4VAC25-35: § 45.1-161.292:19 of the Code of Virginia.

4VAC25-40: §§ 45.1-161.3, 45.1-161.294, and 45.1-161.305 of the Code of Virginia.

4VAC25-150: §§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-361.27 of the Code of Virginia.

Effective Date: July 18, 2012.

Agency Contact: Michael Skiffington, Regulatory Coordinator, Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy, 1100 Bank Street, 8th Floor, Richmond, VA 23219-3402, telephone [phone], FAX [phone], TTY [phone], or email [e-mail].

Summary:

Chapter 803 of the 2012 Acts of Assembly abolishes the Board of Mineral Mining Examiners and transfers its responsibilities to the Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy effective July 1, 2012. This regulatory action amends the regulation to comport with Chapter 803 by removing references to the Board of Mineral Mining Examiners.

Part I
General and Specific Requirements

4VAC25-35-10. Initial certification requirements.

A. Applicants shall submit:

1. The Application for Certification Examination form (BMME-1). An application for certification examination in a form acceptable to the division.

2. A copy of all degrees required for certification and a valid first aid certificate or card or as noted in Part II, Minimum Certification Requirements (4VAC25-35-50 et seq.). When not otherwise specified, first aid cards shall be issued by an organization that uses nationally recognized standards and is approved by the Division of Mineral Mining (DMM), e.g., American Red Cross and National Safety Council.

3. A $10 fee for each examination application received at least five working days prior to an examination. Cash will be accepted if paying in person at a Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy (DMME) department office.

4. A Verification of Work Experience form (BMME-2) Verification of work experience in a form acceptable to the division and documentation of equivalent work experience for approval by DMM the division, if required for the certification. This form Work experience shall be signed verified by a company official who is knowledgeable of the experience of the applicant.

B. Applicants shall fulfill the requirements of 4VAC25-35-10 and accumulate the required years of experience within five years of taking the examination or start the process over including payment of fee.

C. Applicants for the general mineral miner certification shall submit a $10 processing fee with their application.

D. Persons requesting replacement of a lost or destroyed certificate shall submit a letter to DMM with a $1.00 fee. Cash will be accepted if paying in person at a DMME office.

4VAC25-35-30. Reciprocity requirements.

Reciprocity shall be available for certified persons in other states as provided for in § 45.1-161.292:24 of the Code of Virginia. Applicants for reciprocity must submit a current copy of their pocket card or certificate proof of current certification, examination grades, and documentation of equivalent work experience for review and approval by the Board of Mineral Mining Examiners (BMME) department.

4VAC25-35-40. Renewal requirements.

A. Certificates issued by the Board of Examiners (BOE) shall not be accepted as valid after July 1, 1999.

B. DMM A. The division will send renewal notices to the last known address of the certificate holder at least 180 days prior to the expiration of the certificate. Certified persons shall apply for renewal of certificates by submitting the Application for Renewal form (BMME-3) and the Verification of Work Experience form (BMME-2) to DMM an application for renewal and verification of work experience in a form acceptable to the division no more than 180 days prior to the expiration of their certificate. The forms application shall be submitted in time to be received at least five working days prior to the date of the examination or refresher class.

C. B. Certified persons, except mine inspectors, who have worked a cumulative minimum of 24 months in the last five years shall select one of two options to renew their certificates; either take an examination or complete a refresher class on any changes in regulations and law since the initial certification or the certificate was last renewed. No examination or class shall be required if there have been no such changes.

D. C. Certified persons shall take the examination described in 4VAC25-35-20 if their certificate has expired, they have not worked in the area for which they are certified for a cumulative minimum of 24 months in the last five years, or DMM has issued the individual violations that have not been corrected.

E. D. Successful completion of the mine inspector renewal shall suffice for renewing the mine foreman certification.

F. E. Applicants for renewal of certifications shall hold a valid first aid certificate or card to renew their certification.

G. F. Applicants shall submit a $10 fee for the examination or the refresher class which shall be received at least five working days prior to the examination or class. Cash will be accepted if paying in person at a DMME department office.

4VAC25-35-120. General mineral miner.

A. As set forth in § 45.1-161.292:28 of the Code of Virginia, miners commencing work after January 1, 1997, shall have a general mineral miner certification. For the purposes of these regulations, "commencing work" means after employment but before beginning job duties. Persons excluded from the general mineral miner certification are those involved in delivery, office work, maintenance, service and construction work, other than the extraction and processing of minerals, who are contracted by the mine operator. Hazard training as required by 30 CFR Part 46 or 30 CFR Part 48 shall be provided to these persons.

B. Applicants shall complete certification training in first aid and mineral mining regulations and law which is conducted by a training instructor approved by DMM, a certified MSHA instructor, or a certified mine foreman. Training shall include the following topics, subtopics and practical applications:

1. First aid training shall convey a knowledge of first aid practices including identification of trauma symptoms, recognition and treatment of external and internal bleeding, shock, fractures, and exposure to extreme heat or cold. To prove to the BMME that an applicant has knowledge of first aid practices, the training Training shall include a demonstration of skills or passing a written examination, as evidenced by the instructor certification as contained in the BMME-4 form submitted in a form acceptable to the division.

2. Law and regulation training shall convey highlights of the mineral mine safety laws of Virginia and the safety and health regulations of Virginia. Specifically, information shall be provided on miner responsibilities and accountability, certification requirements, violations, penalties, appeals and reporting violations to DMM. To prove to the BMME that an applicant has knowledge of the mineral mine safety laws of Virginia and the safety and health regulations, the training Training shall include a demonstration of skills or passing a written examination, as evidenced by the instructor certification as contained in the BMME-4 form submitted in a form acceptable to the division.

C. The trainer will certify to the BMME department that the training and demonstrations required by § 45.1-161.292:28 B of the Code of Virginia and this section have occurred by completing the BMME-4 form.

D. Applicants who hold a valid first aid card or certificate as noted in 4VAC25-35-10 shall be considered to have met the first aid requirements.

E. Applicants who have completed training may commence work and shall be considered provisionally certified for up to 60 days from the date the instructor completes the training.

F. The instructor shall submit a BMME-4 form verification of certification in a form acceptable to the division and the $10 fee for each applicant who completes the training, together with a class roster of all persons who complete the training, within 30 days of the training date.

G. The mine operator shall maintain the following records for those miners required to obtain a general mineral miner certification and those who qualify for exemption, starting January 1, 1997:

1. The employee name, address, phone number.

2. The job title, employment date and general mineral miner number if applicable.

3. The date training was completed and the instructor providing it for nonexempt employees.

4. If the employee is exempt from the requirements, the date they began working in the mineral mining industry in Virginia.

FORMS (4VAC25-35) (Repealed.)

Application for Certification Examination, DMM-BMME-1 (rev. 7/11).

Verification of Work Experience Form, DMM-BMME-2 (rev. 2/06).

Application for Renewal, DMM-BMME-3 (rev. 2/06).

Verification of Training Completed for General Mineral Miner (GMM) Certification, DMM-BMME-4 (rev. 2/99).

4VAC25-40-40. Certification.

Any person who is responsible for mining or blasting activities shall be certified by the Board of Mineral Mining Examiners department and governed by the Certification Requirements for Mineral Mining, 4VAC25 Chapter 35 4VAC25-35.

4VAC25-150-250. Blasting and explosives.

A. Applicability. This section governs all blasting on gas, oil or geophysical sites, except for:

1. Blasting being conducted as part of seismic exploration where explosives are placed and shot in a borehole to generate seismic waves; or

2. Use of a device containing explosives for perforating a well.

B. Certification.

1. All blasting on gas, oil and geophysical sites shall be conducted by a person who is certified by the Board of Mineral Mining Examiners department, the Board of Coal Mining Examiners, or by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development.

2. The director may accept a certificate issued by another state in lieu of the certification required in subdivision B 1 of this section, provided the Board of Mineral Mining Examiners department, the Board of Coal Mining Examiners, or the Department of Housing and Community Development has approved reciprocity with that state.

C. Blasting safety. Blasting shall be conducted in a manner designed to prevent injury to persons, or damage to features described in the operations plan under 4VAC25-150-100 B.

1. When blasting is conducted within 200 feet of a pipeline or high-voltage transmission line, the blaster shall take due precautionary measures for the protection of the pipeline or high-voltage transmission line, and shall notify the owner of the facility or his agent that such blasting is intended.

2. Flyrock shall not be allowed to fall farther from the blast than one-half the distance between the blast and the nearest inhabited building, and in no case outside of the permitted area.

3. When blasting near a highway, the blaster must ensure that all traffic is stopped at a safe distance from the blast. Blasting areas shall be posted with warning signs.

4. All blasting shall be conducted during daylight hours, one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset, unless approved by the director.

5. Misfires.

a. The handling of a misfired blast shall be under the direct supervision of a certified blaster.

b. When a misfire occurs, the blaster shall wait for at least 15 minutes or the period of time recommended by the manufacturer of the explosives and the detonator, whichever is longer, before allowing anyone to return to the blast site.

6. Blasting signals.

a. Before a blast is fired, a warning signal audible to a distance of at least one-half mile shall be given by the blaster in charge, who shall make certain that all surplus explosives are in a safe place and that all persons are at a safe distance from the blast site or under sufficient cover to protect them from the effects of the blast.

b. A code of warning signals shall be established and posted in one or more conspicuous places on the permitted site, and all employees shall be required to conform to the code.

7. Explosives and detonators shall be placed in substantial, nonconductive, closed containers (such as those containers meeting standards prescribed by the Institute of Makers of Explosives) when brought on the permitted site. Explosives and detonators shall not be kept in the same container. Containers shall be posted with warning signs.

8. Storage of explosives and detonators on gas, oil or geophysical sites is allowed only with prior approval by the director.

9. The permittee shall report to the Division of Gas and Oil by the quickest means possible any theft or unaccounted-for loss of explosives. When reporting such a theft or loss, the permittee shall indicate other local, state and federal authorities contacted.

10. Damaged or deteriorated explosives and detonators shall be destroyed by a certified blaster in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations.

D. Ground vibration.

1. The ground-vibration limits in this subsection shall not apply on surface property owned or leased by the permittee, or on property for which the surface owner gives a written waiver specifically releasing the operator from the limits.

2. Blasting without seismographic monitoring. Blasting may be conducted by a certified blaster without seismographic monitoring provided the maximum charge is determined by the formula W = (D/D_s)² where W is the maximum weight of explosive in pounds per delay (eight milliseconds or greater); D is the actual distance in feet from the blast location to the nearest inhabited building; and D_s is the scaled distance factor to be applied without seismic monitoring, as found in Table 1.25.D-1.

TABLE 1.25.D-1: MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE PEAK VELOCITY
Distance (D) from blasting site in feet	Maximum allowable peak particle velocity (Vmax) for ground vibration, in inches/second	Scaled Distance Factor (Ds) to be applied without seismic monitoring
0 to 300	1.25	50
301 to 5000	1.00	55
5001 and beyond	0.75	65

3. Blasting with seismographic monitoring.

a. A permittee may use the ground-vibration limits in Table 1.25.D-2 to determine the maximum allowable peak particle velocity. If Table 1.25.D-2 is used, a seismographic record including both particle velocity and vibration-frequency levels shall be provided for each blast. The method for the analysis of the predominant frequency contained in the blasting records shall be approved by the director before implementation of this alternative blasting level.

b. The permittee may choose to record every blast. As long as the seismographic records indicate particle velocities have remained within the limits prescribed in Tables 1.25.D-1 or 1.25.D-2, the permittee shall be considered to be in compliance with this subsection.

c. Ground vibration shall be measured as the particle velocity. Particle velocity shall be recorded in three mutually perpendicular directions. The maximum allowable peak particle velocity shall apply to each of the three measurements.

d. All seismic tests carried out for the purposes of this section shall be analyzed by a qualified seismologist.

e. All seismic tests carried out for the purposes of this section shall be conducted with a seismograph that has an upper-end flat frequency response of at least 200 Hz.

E. Airblast shall not exceed the maximum limits prescribed in Table 1.25.E-1 at the location of any inhabited building. The 0.1 Hz or lower, flat response or C-weighted, slow response shall be used only when approved by the director.

Table 1.25.E-1: AIRBLAST LIMITS
Lower Frequency Limit of measuring system, in Hz (+3db)		Measurement Level, in db
0.1 Hz or Lower	Flat Response	134 Peak
2 Hz or Lower	Flat Response	133 Peak
6 Hz or Lower	Flat Response	129 Peak
C-weighted	Slow Response	105 Peak

F. If the director concludes that blasting on a particular site has potential to create unsafe conditions, then he may:

1. Require the permittee to monitor ground vibration and airblast for all blasts on the site for a specified period of time;

2. Impose more stringent limits on ground vibration and airblast levels than those specified in this section. The director may order the permittee to obtain an evaluation of the blast site by a vibration consultant or a technical representative of the explosives manufacturer before imposing a more stringent limit. Blasting may not resume on the site being evaluated until the evaluation and recommendations are submitted to the director, and the director has given his approval.

G. Records.

1. The permittee shall keep records of all blasts, and these records shall contain the following:

a. Name of company or contractor;

b. Location, date, and time of the blast;

c. Name, signature, and certification number of the blaster in charge;

d. Type of material blasted;

e. Number of holes; their burden and spacing;

f. Diameter and depth of the holes;

g. Types of explosives used;

h. Total amount of explosives used per hole;

i. Maximum weight of explosives per delay period;

j. Method of firing and the type of circuit;

k. Direction and distance in feet to the nearest inhabited building;

l. Weather conditions (including wind directions, etc.);

m. Height or length of stemming;

n. Description of any mats or other protection used;

o. Type of detonators and delay periods used; and

p. Any seismograph reports, including:

(1) The name and signature of the person operating the seismograph;

(2) The name of the person analyzing the seismograph record;

(3) The exact location of the seismograph in relation to the blast;

(4) The date and time of the reading; and

(5) The seismograph reading.

2. The permittee shall retain all records of blasting, including seismograph reports, for at least three years. On request, the permittee shall make these records available for inspection by the director.

VA.R. Doc. No. R12-3201; Filed May 16, 2012, 3:34 p.m.