Section 1501:14-2-07 - Certified mine foreperson(A)(1) The operator of a surface mining operation shall employ a certified mine foreperson to be in charge of the conditions and practices at the mine and to be responsible for conducting examinations of the surface mining operation under 30 C.F.R. part 56, as amended.(2) Examinations of surface mining operations for the purposes of 30 C.F.R. part 56, as amended, shall be conducted by one of the following: (a) A certified mine foreperson;(b) A person who is qualified to conduct such examinations as provided in division (D) of section 1514.47 of the Revised Code and paragraph (C) of rule 1501:14-2-08 of the Administrative Code;(c) A person designated by the certified mine foreperson as a competent person.(3) For purposes of this rule, a competent person is a person who has been trained in accordance with 30 C.F.R. part 46 and been determined by a certified mine foreperson to have demonstrated the ability, training, knowledge, or experience necessary to perform the duty to which the person is assigned. A person is not a competent person if the chief demonstrates, with good cause, that the person does not have the ability, training, knowledge, or experience necessary to perform that duty.(4) The operator of a surface mining operation shall maintain records demonstrating that a competent person designated by a certified mine foreperson has the ability, training, knowledge, or experience to perform the duty to which the person is assigned as well as records of the competent person's training in accordance with 30 C.F.R. part 46 . The operator shall make the records available to the chief upon request.(B) Qualifications, fees and procedures governing the examination for certification as a mine foreperson for surface mines.(1) A person who applies for certification as a mine foreperson shall be able to read and write the English language and shall have at least two years' experience working with or under the direction of a certified mine foreperson.(2) Persons may be certified for either or both of the following:(a) Sand and gravel mine foreperson for surface mining operations permitted under Chapter 1514. of the Revised Code and these rules which do not use explosives.(b) Quarry mine foreperson, which shall be valid for all surface mining operations permitted under Chapter 1514. of the Revised Code and these rules.(3) An applicant for certification as a mine foreperson shall file an application for certification with the chief, including a notarized affidavit establishing the applicant's qualifications as set forth in paragraph (B)(1) of this rule, to take the certified mine foreperson examination. An applicant may apply for certification as both a sand and gravel foreperson and a quarry mine foreperson. Such application and affidavit shall be made on a form prescribed by the chief.(4) The chief will conduct mine foreperson certification examinations as often as practical in accordance with these rules.(5) The chief will grade each examination, and certify an applicant attaining a grade of seventy per cent or higher on each portion of the examination.(6) An applicant not attaining a passing grade on one part of the examination may apply to be retested on that part only.(7) An applicant not attaining a passing grade on two or more parts of the examination shall wait at least thirty days before reapplying for examination. An applicant not attaining a passing grade on two or more parts of the examination shall retake the entire examination. (8) A certificate issued under paragraph (B) of this rule after September 29, 2015, shall not expire unless, as provided in division (C)(1) of section 1514.47 of the Revised Code and paragraph (E)(3) of this rule, the certificate holder has not been employed in a surface mining operation for five consecutive years.(C) Temporary certification of mine foreperson. An operator may submit a request to the chief, on a form provided by the chief, asking for temporary certification for one of his or her employees who is within six months of having accumulated the required experience for certification as a sand and gravel foreperson or a quarry mine foreperson so that the employee may act in the capacity of a certified sand and gravel foreperson or a certified quarry mine foreperson on a temporary basis until such time as the applicant has accumulated the minimum necessary experience.(1) The recipient of a temporary certification may apply for and take the examination for certification, administered under paragraph (B) of this rule, during the period within which the individual has a temporary certification. If the applicant passes the examination and, upon completion of all eligibility requirements, submits the required information on a notarized form provided by the chief documenting the accrual of the balance of the required experience, the chief will issue the applicant a mine foreperson certification.(2) Temporary certification as a mine foreperson is valid for a maximum of six months. If the individual holding a temporary certification does not pass the examination by the end of the six-month period, the temporary certification will expire and the applicant shall cease performing all duties of a certified mine foreperson.(3) If the individual holding a temporary certification has applied to take the examination for certification and the application to take the examination has been postmarked by midnight of the expiration date of the temporary certification, the temporary certification remains in effect until the date of the next certification examination scheduled by the division of mineral resources management. The division will notify the applicant of the examination date. If the applicant does not take the next scheduled examination or does not pass that examination, the temporary certification will expire and the applicant shall cease performing all duties of a certified mine foreperson.(4) No person is eligible to receive temporary certification more than one time unless the chief determines that exigent circumstances warrant otherwise.(5) The chief may waive any part of the requirements for temporary certification if the chief determines exigent circumstances so warrant.(D) A copy of each mine foreperson certificate and temporary certificate shall be kept at the mine site and made available to the chief upon request.(E) Qualifications, fees and procedures governing the reissuance and expiration of mine foreperson certification. (1) If a person holds a certificate issued under paragraph (B) of this rule that has not expired prior to September 29, 2015, the chief, upon request, will reissue to the person a certificate that does not expire.(2) If a person holds a certificate issued under this rule that expired on or after April 7, 2012, and has not been issued a new certificate prior to September 29, 2015, the chief, upon request, will issue to that person a certificate that does not expire, provided that the person is in compliance with all other applicable requirements established in Chapter 1514. of the Revised Code and rules adopted under it. An applicant for reissuance of a mine foreperson certification pursuant to this paragraph shall file an application for reissuance with the chief, on a form prescribed by the chief.(3) A mine foreperson certificate issued pursuant to section 1514.47 of the Revised Code and this rule shall not expire unless the certificate holder has not been employed in a surface mining operation for five consecutive years. If the certificate holder has not been employed in a surface mining operation for five consecutive years, the certificate holder may retake the mine foreperson examination and fulfill the other certification requirements of division (B) of section 1514.47 of the Revised Code and paragraph (B) of this rule, or may petition the chief to accept past employment history in lieu of being employed in a surface mining operation for five consecutive years. The petition shall be made on a form prescribed by the chief and include a notarized affidavit establishing the certificate holder's qualifications as set forth in paragraph (B)(1) of this rule. The certificate holder shall submit with the petition copies of training records verifying that within the past twelve months the certificate holder has received annual refresher training as required in rules adopted and incorporated by reference pursuant to division (A) of section 1514.40 of the Revised Code. The chief will grant or deny the petition by issuance of an order. If the chief denies the petition, the certificate holder may apply for a new certificate by retaking the mine foreperson examination and fulfilling the other certification requirements of division (B) of section 1514.47 of the Revised Code and paragraph (B) of this rule.(4) If a certificate holder has not been employed in a surface mining operation for five consecutive years, they shall not perform the duties of a certified mine foreperson unless the chief reissues their certificate pursuant to division (C)(1) of section 1514.47 of the Revised Code and paragraph (E)(3) of this rule or the chief issues him or her a new certificate pursuant to division (B) of section 1514.47 of the Revised Code and paragraph (B) of this rule.(F)(1) If a certificate, including a temporary certificate, issued under this rule is suspended, the certificate will not be renewed or reissued until the suspension period expires and the person whose certificate is suspended successfully completes all actions required by the chief. If an applicant's license, certificate, or similar authority that is issued by another state to perform specified mining duties is suspended or revoked by that state, the applicant shall be ineligible for a certification test or for renewal or reissuance of a certificate, including a temporary certificate, in this state during that period of suspension or revocation.(2) A certificate, including a temporary certificate, issued under this rule that has been revoked will not be renewed or reissued.(G) If a person who has been certified by the chief under section 1514.47 of the Revised Code and this rule purposely violates Chapter 1514. of the Revised Code or Chapters 1501:14-1 to 1501:14-6 of the Administrative Code, the chief may suspend or revoke the certificate after an investigation and hearing conducted in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code are completed.Ohio Admin. Code 1501:14-2-07
Effective: 2/1/2024
Five Year Review (FYR) Dates: 11/15/2023 and 02/01/2029
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: 1514.40, 1514.47
Rule Amplifies: 1514.47
Prior Effective Dates: 09/17/2010, 08/22/2016, 12/18/2017