Kentucky Administrative Regulations › Title 405 - ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT CABINET - DEPARTMENT FOR NATURAL RESOURCES › Chapter 16 - Performance Standards for Surface Mining Activities › Section 405 KAR 16:120 - Use of explosives

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 1, July 1, 2024
RELATES TO:
				KRS 350.430
NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY: KRS Chapter 350 in
				pertinent part requires the cabinet to promulgate rules and administrative
				regulations establishing performance standards for protection of people and
				property, land, water and other natural resources, and aesthetic values, during
				surface mining activities and for restoration and reclamation of surface areas
				affected by mining activities. This administrative regulation sets forth
				specific requirements for the use of explosives for surface blasting, including
				qualified supervision of blasting, preblasting surveys, blasting schedules,
				warning signals, restrictions on timing and location of blasting, limitations
				on air-blast and ground vibration, seismographic measurements, and records of
				blasting operations.
Section 1. General
			 Requirements.
(1) Each permittee and person
			 who conducts blasting operations shall comply with all applicable local, state,
			 and federal laws and regulations in the use of explosives.
(2) Blasts that use more than five (5) pounds
			 of explosives or blasting agents shall be conducted according to the schedule
			 required by Section 3 of this administrative regulation.
(3) Each permittee shall have all blasting
			 operations conducted under the direction of a blaster certified in accordance
			 with
			 405 KAR
			 7:070. A certified blaster and at least one (1) other
			 person shall be present at the firing of a blast. Persons responsible for
			 blasting operations at a blasting site shall be familiar with the blasting plan
			 and site-specific performance standards.
(4)
(a) An
			 anticipated blast design shall be submitted if blasting operations will be
			 conducted within:
1. 1,000 feet of any
			 building used as a dwelling; public building; school; church; or commercial,
			 community or institutional building outside the permit area; or
2. 500 feet of an active or abandoned
			 underground mine.
(b)
			 The blast design shall be presented as part of the permit application or shall
			 be submitted to the department's appropriate regional office at least thirty
			 (30) days prior to initiation of the blast.
(c) The blast design shall contain sketches
			 of the drill patterns, delay periods, and decking; shall indicate the types and
			 amounts of explosives to be used, critical dimensions, and the locations of
			 structures to be protected; shall include a general description of structures
			 to be protected; and shall contain a discussion of design factors to be used,
			 which protect the public and meet the applicable airblast, flyrock, and ground
			 vibration standards in this administrative regulation.
(d) The blast design shall be prepared and
			 signed by a certified blaster.
(e)
			 The cabinet may require changes to the design submitted in order to ensure
			 compliance with KRS Chapter 350; SMCRA; and 405 KAR Chapters 7 through
			 24.