Ala. Admin. Code r. 480-3-3-.29

Current through Register Vol. 43, No. 1, October 31, 2024

Section 480-3-3-.29 - Maps

(1) The operator of every mine shall make or maintain or cause to be made or maintained by a competent engineer or surveyor, a clear and accurate map or maps on a legible scale, with sections if necessary, showing clearly all workings of such mine. At least once in every calendar year or oftener, if necessary, the operator of each mine shall cause to be shown clearly and accurately on the map or maps of such mine, all the excavations made therein during the time elapsed since such excavations were last shown on such map or maps, and all parts of said mine that have been worked out or abandoned during said elapsed period of time shall be clearly indicated on said map or maps, and all underground workings shall be surveyed and mapped before they are allowed to become inaccessible.

(2) A print or copy of such map, certified by the superintendent or operator, shall be filed in the office of the Department annually. This map shall not be made available to any person other than the Department, without the authorization of the owner of the property. Such maps shall show the exact position of the mine in reference to the section lines or sub-division of the section; the accurate position of any branches, creeks, rivers, and railroads under which said mine workings extend; and the approximate location of contiguous workings or adjacent mines. Such maps shall show all shafts, slopes, tunnels, or other openings to the surface or to the workings of a contiguous mine; the location of the fan and the direction of the air currents, stoppings, undercasts or overcasts; the location of permanent pumps, electrical sub-stations and transformers, hoisting engines, hoisting planes, abandoned workings, fire walls and standing water; the approximate boundary line of any surface outcrop of any seam. Such map shall also show by elevation in feet and decimals thereof the rise and dip of seam from the opening in either direction to the face of the workings. Said maps shall be certified and signed by the engineer making the map.

(3) Before any mine, having underground workings, is abandoned, the operator of such mine shall cause to be made by a competent engineer or surveyor and file with the Department, a map on a legible scale, showing all underground workings.

(4) An additional survey shall be made between the regular survey periods, of the workings of any mines, the results to be extended on the maps of the same and the copies thereof, whenever, in the judgment of the Department, the safety of the workmen, the support of the surface, and the conservation of the property or the safety of an adjoining mine, require it.

(5) Subsequent to the effective date of these rules, in no case shall the workings of any mine be driven nearer than fifty (50') feet to the boundary line of the mineral rights of the owner of said mine, except for the purpose of establishing an underground communication between contiguous mines. By mutual consent of adjacent property owners, this distance may be reduced, increased, or eliminated entirely, and any operator working up to an abandoned mine may be permitted to work up to his property line, if approved by the Department.

Author: Marcus Davis, Workers' Compensation Examiner.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 480-3-3-.29

Statutory Authority:Code of Ala. 1975, § 25-2-13(2).