Title 30 — Title 30 — Mines And Minerals

Notice of violation; correction of condition constituting violation required; penalty upon failure to comply; continuing violations; authority to close operations; right of appeal. (a) If the inspector or his deputy finds a violation of this act or rules or regulations adopted un…

generally. Accident investigation; rescue; reports; (a) The inspector or his deputy shall proceed immediately to the scene of any mine accident causing loss of life or serious personal injury, any mine fire or any mine explosion, investigate, make recommendations, assist as he de…

Accident investigation; fatal accidents; procedure; coroner's inquest; notification of inquest. (a) The inspector, or his deputy when authorized, shall investigate all fatal accidents occurring in connection with mining operations. In his investigation he may compel the attendanc…

Judicial review of decision of inspector; procedure; payment of costs assessed against inspector; appeal. (a) Any person aggrieved or adversely affected in fact by a decision of the inspector is entitled to judicial review of the decision in the district court for the county in w…

Board of mines renamed mining council; created; composition; qualifications, appointment and term of members; removal; officers; rules; quorum; vacancies; compensation. (a) There is created a state board of mines which is renamed the state mining council within the department of …

inspector. State mining council to act in conjunction with The council shall act in conjunction with the inspector to improve safety, health, training, examinations and certification of miners in mining operations and mines, in the production and the processing of minerals, and i…

Regular and special meetings of mining council; record of proceedings. Regular meetings of the council shall be quarterly at a place within this state determined by the council. Special meetings may be called at any time by the governor, by the president of the council or by the …

Repealed by Laws 1993, ch. 88, § 2.

Repealed by Laws 1993, ch. 88, § 2.

State mining council; examinations for certificates; duty as to examinations generally; meetings; notice of meetings. The state mining council shall examine applicants for certification as mine foreman and mine examiner, and shall issue certificates of competency to qualified app…

State mining council; nature of examination generally; grading; record to be kept; public inspection of record; fees for examination and certificate; replacement. (a) The state mining council shall ascertain the experience, knowledge and understanding of each applicant for the po…

Mine foremen; when required; duties; mines to be supervised by certified personnel. Each underground mine with one (1) or more persons present underground shall be supervised by a certified mine foreman who shall ensure compliance with mining laws regarding his duties and the hea…

Mine foreman and mine examiner certificates; qualifications; certificate required; reciprocity; council duties. (a) No person shall act as mine foreman or safety engineer at any underground mine unless he holds a mine foreman certificate for the type of mineral being mined. To ob…

Temporary permit; when permitted; expiration; subsequent examination required. (a) The inspector, upon consent of the state mining council, may issue to an applicant a temporary permit to operate as a mine foreman or mine examiner without a certificate if the applicant meets the …

Revocation of certificate after notice and hearing; suspension; reexamination; revocation of certificate of inspector or deputy; filing of certificate. (a) Any certificate issued by the council or temporary permit issued by the inspector may be suspended or revoked by the council…

Optional certifications of surface mine foremen and mine examiners; surface mine operators not required to employ. (a) The state mining council may certify a mine foreman, safety engineer or mine examiner desiring to work in a surface mine upon request by an applicant for the cer…

observance. Safety rules; posting; responsibility for All owners, operators and mine site contractors shall post in a conspicuous place and make available to all employees the rules and duties of safety governing their employment. Employees are responsible for the observance of a…

Annual report to inspector; contents. The owner, operator or mine site contractor of any mining operation shall report annually to the inspector before January 31 of each year. The report shall contain the names of the owners, operators and mine site contractors, the post office …

Record of accidents to be kept; inspection of record; reports filed with inspector; report of serious accidents. (a) The owner, operator or mine site contractor shall keep a record of all accidents occurring in connection with mining operations. The record shall be open to the in…

Notification of change in ownership, etc., of mining property. The inspector shall be informed promptly of any change in the name, ownership or operator of any operating mining property.

(a) Notice as to commencement of operations. Repealed By Laws 2005, ch. 106, § 2. (b) The owner or operator of a mine shall notify the inspector whenever a new mine is opened, or whenever an existing mine is either closed or reopened. The notice shall be given immediately before …

leave. Barrier pillars required; penalty for failure to (a) The operator of every mine which has another coal or mineral property contiguous or immediately adjacent to it shall leave barrier pillars at least fifty (50) feet in width along the boundary line of the contiguous coal …

Abandonment or closing down of mine; procedures to be followed. (a) No owner or operator shall abandon or indefinitely close down any underground mine until the inspector performs a final inspection. (b) Upon abandonment or closing down of an underground mine, the owner or operat…

Maps of mines to be made; contents; semiannual revision; maintenance and filing. (a) The owner or operator of each mine shall make an accurate map or plan of the mine and mine workings on a scale not exceeding two hundred (200) feet to the inch or as otherwise approved by the ins…

Survey and platting of underground workings by county surveyor; fees; notice to mine owner; hindering surveyor prohibited; penalty. (a) The county surveyor shall, upon the written request of an adjoining landowner, enter and make a complete, true and accurate survey and plat of t…

Blasting to be done by certified shot-firers or certified trona utility shot-firers; qualifications and examinations; issuance of certificate; revocation of certificate; requirements when work being done. (a) All blasting or shot-firing in mines, including charging and tamping of…

Shots missed or not fired; report; search to recover undetonated explosive. (a) The shot-firer or trona utility shot-firer shall immediately after the completion of his work, report in writing to the proper official, any shots missed or not fired, their location and the reason th…

Prohibited acts. (a) No person shall alter or change any drill hole after it has been approved by the shot-firer or the trona utility shot-firer. (b) No shot-firer or trona utility shot-firer, whether voluntarily or by command or request of any person, shall fire any unlawful sho…

Sale of explosives; date of manufacture to be marked; sale within 12 months of manufacture. All nitroglycerine, powder or other high explosive sold in this state shall be properly marked with the date of manufacture on each stick of powder. No nitroglycerine, powder or other high…

Storage of flammable materials; smoking restricted; fire doors. (a) Surface storage of oils, grease and other flammable materials shall be in a storage area located at a safe distance from the powder magazine. Flammable materials shall be removed from the storage area for use onl…

lamps. Flammable liquids; flame safety and electric (a) Naphtha or other flammable liquids in lamp houses shall be kept in approved containers or other safe dispensers approved by the inspector. (b) Flame safety lamps shall be permissible and maintained in permissible condition. …

Requirements as to surface magazines; storage of explosives; explosion-proof illumination; use of nonmetallic tools. (a) Separate surface magazines shall be provided for the storage of explosives and detonators. (b) Surface magazines for storing and distributing high explosives s…

Requirements as to underground magazines; use of nonmetallic tools. (a) Underground magazines shall be of substantial construction and placed in a crosscut or idle room neck at least twenty-five (25) feet from roadways or trolley wires and in a reasonably dry and well-rock-dusted…

underground. Requirements as to explosives carried (a) Permissible explosives or detonators carried underground shall be in individual containers constructed of substantial nonconductive material, maintained in good condition and kept closed. (b) When explosives or detonators are…

Only permissible explosives or blasting devices to be used; requirements as to use. (a) Only permissible explosives or permissible blasting devices shall be used in all underground coal mines for the blasting of coal or other blasting operations, except as otherwise provided by l…

Applicability of W.S. 30-3-101 through 30-3-509. (a) W.S. 30-3-101 through 30-3-509 apply to all mines and mining operations except where: (i) A statute refers to a specific type of mine or mining operation; or (ii) By the nature of the mine or mining operation, a statute can hav…

Reasonable safety regulations and precautions; enumeration of general safety rules; hazards to be posted; care of tools. (a) Reasonable safety regulations and precautions shall be observed in all phases of all mining activities to provide a safe place for persons to work and to a…

Protective gear and clothing to be worn; clothing and devices to meet safety standards. (a) Repealed by Laws 1995, ch. 31, § 2. (b) Repealed by Laws 1995, ch. 31, § 2. (c) Repealed by Laws 1995, ch. 31, § 2. (d) Repealed by Laws 1995, ch. 31, § 2. (e) Repealed by Laws 1995, ch. 3…

Working alone prohibited; exception. No person shall be required to work alone in any hazardous place where his life might be endangered, unless he can communicate with others, can be heard or can be seen.

Bulletin boards to be maintained for posting rules and regulations. Bulletin boards shall be maintained at central locations in all mining operations and notices pertaining to safety rules and regulations and operations shall be posted on them. It shall be the responsibility of e…

Permissible methane detector required; permissible methods of testing for methane; examination of underground mine by mine examiners; procedure; written record. (a) At least two (2) permissible methane detectors in proper working condition shall be kept available at each mine for…

Inspections for safety hazards. The operator of each mine, or some competent person designated by the operator, shall make inspections for safety hazards at least once, or oftener if necessary for safety, during each working shift, of all those parts of the operations which are t…

Requirements as to buildings generally; fire resistant structures required. (a) Buildings shall be constructed and located in a manner consistent with recognized good mining practice. (b) The inspector shall establish by rule requirements for fire resistant structures for areas i…

Check-in and check-out system. Each mine shall have a check-in and check-out system that will identify every individual underground. An accurate record of persons in the mine consisting of a written record or a check board shall be kept on the surface in a place that will not be …

Pits and quarries. (a) Reasonable precautions shall be taken to insure the safety of all persons working in and about open excavations, pits and quarries. (b) Overhanging banks shall not be permitted in any excavation, pit or quarry. Sides and banks shall be sloped to an angle, i…

Stairways and platforms. (a) Stairways, elevated platforms and runways shall be equipped with handrails. (b) Elevated platforms and stairways shall be provided with toeboards where necessary, kept clear of refuse and maintained in good repair.

inspection. Roofs of mines; minimum standards; supports; (a) Minimum standards for systematic roof control suitable to the roof conditions and mining system of each mine shall be adopted and complied with. A copy of any roof control plan approved by federal authorities shall be s…

Rock dusting in coal mines. (a) Repealed by Laws 1995, ch. 31, § 2. (b) Repealed by Laws 1995, ch. 31, § 2. (c) Repealed by Laws 1995, ch. 31, § 2. (d) The inspector shall establish by rule for underground coal mines, areas in which rock dusting is required, required levels of in…

track. Construction, installation and maintenance of (a) The roadbed, rails, joints, switches, frogs and other elements of the track of all haulage roads shall be constructed, installed and maintained in a manner consistent with speed and type of haulage operations being conducte…

(a) Haulage roads; clearance space; shelter holes. Repealed by Laws 1995, ch. 31, § 2. (b) Repealed by Laws 1995, ch. 31, § 2. (c) Repealed by Laws 1995, ch. 31, § 2. (d) Repealed by Laws 1995, ch. 31, § 2. (e) Ample clearance shall be provided at all points where supplies are lo…