Mines / permit/license / governing agency?

[Soundguy]

Long story short. The GC i work for just aquired an old limerock mine. Pit has been inactive for some time, but had begun to be re-opened by the prev owner when he decided to sell out. County listed the mines status as active, and we have a letter from the zoning board acknowledging that the mine is considered active, and is grandfathered in, and -can- be mined by us.

This was somebody else's project in another office but has been dropped in my lap with little work having been done by the previous person.

Anyone here operating a mine? Got any clue as to what, if any special permits are needed? / what governing agency covers this.

I see the beaureau of mines was abolished in 96 or so.

Only other mine exp I've worked with was a sand mine our company had a while back but sold.

I've already contacted our ins. co, and have the workers comp codes for the workers that will be in the mine.. etc.. so that facet is covered.. I'm more concerned about finding out if I need any kind of state/federal permit.. etc. Obviously county is taken care of as far as they are concerned. i tried making a few calls but keep getting dead ends.. no one's sure what, if any, other permits i may need. ( I do know if i use the rock on a state/fed job that I will need to get it DOT certified.. that's no problem.. I'v already talked to the testing company.. etc.. )

Any help is appreciated.

Soundguy

 

[ToadHill]

Is it a underground mine, or an open pit quarry? I used to do safety inspections in a Gypsum mine, and I know their are a bunch of OSHA regulations for underground mines, I'm not familiar with open pit operations.

 

[SnowRidge]

Call the Department Of The Interior and ask them if any of their bureaus regulate that kind of mine. I tend to think not, but DOI will know for sure.

I would also contact EPA and ask them. I suspect they have some authority, but may have delegated it to the state.

Good luck.

 

[Soundguy]

Thanks for the ideas guys.

Yes, as with our sand mine, it is an open pit quarry. I don't recall us having -any- special permitting requirements past some county stuff for our sand mine we used to have.. which was also just an open pit quarry.

Soundguy

 

[tommu56]

Soundguy

try this link they were opening a quarry around us and tthis is were all the protesters were telling every one to complain too

Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) - U.S. Department of Labor

tom

 

[dmccarty]

Soundguy,

There has been a long running fight about opening a quarry about 30 miles to our west. I have only seen the state and county governments involved in the fighting. Both had to provide permits and I'm sure the state has some regulations as well. The Federales have not be dragged into the mess from what I can see. But one would think OSHA would have a bunch of regs.

Later,
Dan

 

[Soundguy]

Thanks for the links guys. i've got lots of reading to do now, to see where we fall in...

Soundguy

 

[milkman]

Thanks for the links guys. i've got lots of reading to do now, to see where we fall in...

Soundguy

BAD choice of words when you're talking open pit mining.

 

[Soundguy]

Pun intended (wink)

Soundguy

 

[California]

Just a hunch: That pit may cut down through the water table. You might want to ask the local water district whether they will impose some conditions on you.

As for OSHA, I expect your insurance company would know what worker-safety standards apply, since they are the ones who would pay a claim.