Title 27 — Minerals, Oil and Gas

In this article, unless the context otherwise requires: 1. "Aggregate" means cinder, crushed rock or stone, decomposed granite, gravel, pumice, pumicite and sand. 2. "Mineral resources" means all metallic, nonmetallic and energy resources, including aggregate, coal, oil, natural …

A. The Arizona geological survey is established within the university of Arizona with offices located in proximity to the university of Arizona in Tucson. The state geologist shall administer the Arizona geological survey and shall serve at the pleasure of the Arizona board of re…

The objectives of the Arizona geological survey are to: 1. Serve as a primary source of geologic information in this state to enhance public understanding of the state's geologic character, geologic hazards and limitations and mining and mineral resources. 2. Inform, advise and a…

Qualifications of employees working with the Arizona geological survey shall be prescribed by the Arizona board of regents. Neither the state geologist nor any employee working with the Arizona geological survey shall: 1. Acquire a pecuniary interest in any mineral resources prop…

Any claim or action against the Arizona geological survey, the state geologist or any other officer, employee or volunteer working with the geological survey in the person's official capacity must be brought against the state of Arizona and not against the geological survey, stat…

A. Under the operation, management and authority of the university of Arizona, the Arizona geological survey shall: 1. Map and describe the bedrock and related geologic materials and processes in this state, as follows: (a) Prepare geologic maps that show the distribution of rock…

A. The university of Arizona shall: 1. Establish administrative functions and offices as necessary to achieve the purposes of this article. 2. Direct the work of the Arizona geological survey and the formulation of its program and policies. 3. Adopt rules as necessary to carry ou…

A. The Arizona board of regents, through the state geologist, may publish, in the form of bulletins, circulars, maps and other related series, or otherwise make available to state agencies, government officials, industry and the public the results of geological and related resear…

A. The Arizona board of regents may receive and accept geologic, engineering and feasibility studies and other economic and technical information that is considered a trade secret in the mineral industry. B. Trade secret information obtained under this section is confidential and…

1. The state geologist or the state geologist's designee. 2. One member representing the livestock industry. 3. Two members representing the mining industry. 4. One member representing the agriculture industry. 5. One member representing the tourism industry. 6. One member repres…

B. On request of the state mine inspector, the state geologist shall update the maps and inventories of the aggregate resources of this state and include areas of aggregate resources discovered since the previous publication.

A. The state mine inspector shall be a resident of this state at least two years before election, be at least thirty years of age and have been practically engaged in and acquainted with mines and mining in this state. The state mine inspector shall have at least eight years' exp…

Subject to title 41, chapter 4, article 4, the state mine inspector may appoint and assign such deputy inspectors to perform the duties of the state mine inspector as prescribed by law. All deputies shall receive compensation as determined pursuant to section 38-611.

A. The state mine inspector may adopt and collect education and training fees for the purpose of training miners in this state. B. The state mine inspector shall credit monies received for education and training purposes to the federal education and training fund, designated as t…

A. The mine inspector shall inspect, at least once every three months, every active underground mine in the state employing fifty or more persons, and at least once each year, every other mine. The inspector shall inspect the operation, conditions, safety appliances, machinery, e…

After every inspection the inspector shall fill out and leave with the operator a preliminary inspection report that lists the inspection party, the part of the operation inspected, the type of inspection and every violation of the state mining code observed during the inspection…

A. The mine inspector on March 31 each year shall make and file with the governor a statistical summary and report of the work during the year ending December 31. The report shall contain a statement showing the number of persons employed in each mine, and, separately, the number…

A. No inspector, deputy or employee shall make a report with respect to a mining property or prospect, except an official report to his superior officer or to the governor, nor shall he make public or reveal to any other person knowledge or information obtained by him in the exer…

A. The state mine inspector or a deputy inspector shall inspect each mine in the state as frequently as necessary to determine whether any hazardous dust condition exists therein. There shall be a prompt inspection of any mine in which he or a deputy inspector has reason to belie…

A. Subject to legislative appropriation, the state mine inspector shall establish a program to locate, inventory, classify and eliminate public safety hazards at abandoned mines as defined in section 27-301. The state mine inspector shall spend state appropriated monies to locate…

A. Notwithstanding section 27-129, subsection D, the abandoned mines safety fund is established consisting of: 1. Gifts, grants and contributions specifically designated for the fund. 2. Monies that may be appropriated by the legislature to the fund to match the gifts, grants and…