Chapter 1513 | Coal Surface Mining

Section 1513.01 | Coal surface mining definitions.

• Effective: June 15, 2009
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 73 - 128th General Assembly

As used in this chapter:

(A) "Approximate original contour" means that surface configuration achieved by backfilling and grading of a mined area so that the reclaimed area, including any terracing or access roads, closely resembles the general surface configuration of the land prior to mining and blends into and complements the drainage pattern of the surrounding terrain, with all highwalls and spoil piles eliminated; water impoundments may be permitted where the chief of the division of mineral resources management determines that they are in compliance with division (A)(8) of section 1513.16 of the Revised Code.

(B) "Coal mining and reclamation operations" means coal mining operations and all activities necessary and incident to the reclamation of such operations.

(C) "Degrees" means inclination from the horizontal.

(D) "Deposition of sediment" means placing or causing to be placed in any waters of the state, in stream beds on or off the land described in an application for a coal mining permit, or upon other lands any organic or inorganic matter that settles or is capable of settling to the bottom of the waters and onto the beds or lands.

(E) "Imminent danger to the health and safety of the public" means the existence of any condition or practice or violation of a permit or other requirement of this chapter or rule adopted thereunder in a coal mining and reclamation operation, which condition, practice, or violation could reasonably be expected to cause substantial physical harm to persons outside the permit area before the condition, practice, or violation can be abated. A reasonable expectation of death or serious injury before abatement exists if a rational person subjected to the same conditions or practices giving rise to the peril would not expose oneself to the danger during the time necessary for abatement.

(F) "Lands eligible for remining" means those lands that otherwise would be eligible for expenditures under division (C)(1) of section 1513.37 of the Revised Code.

(G) "Mountain top removal" means a coal mining operation that will remove an entire coal seam or seams running through the upper fraction of a mountain, ridge, or hill by removing all of the overburden and creating a level plateau with no highwalls remaining instead of restoring to approximate original contour, and is capable of supporting postmining uses in accordance with the requirements established by the chief.

(H) "Operation" or "coal mining operation" means:

(1) Activities conducted on the surface of lands in connection with a coal mine, the removal of coal from coal refuse piles, and surface impacts incident to an underground coal mine. Such activities include excavation for the purpose of obtaining coal, including such common methods as contour, strip, auger, mountaintop removal, box cut, open pit, and area mining; the use of explosives and blasting; in situ distillation or retorting; leaching or other chemical or physical processing; and the cleaning, concentrating, or other processing or preparation of coal. Such activities also include the loading of coal at or near the mine site. Such activities do not include any of the following:

(a) The extraction of coal incidental to the extraction of other minerals if the weight of coal extracted is less than one-sixth the total weight of minerals removed, including coal;

(b) The extraction of coal as an incidental part of federal, state, or local highway or other government-financed construction when approved by the chief;

(c) Coal exploration subject to section 1513.072 of the Revised Code.

(2) The areas upon which such activities occur or where such activities disturb the natural land surface. Such areas include any adjacent land the use of which is incidental to any such activities, all lands affected by the construction of new roads or the improvement or use of existing roads to gain access to the site of such activities, and for hauling, and excavation, workings, impoundments, dams, ventilation shafts, entryways, refuse banks, dumps, stockpiles, overburden piles, spoil banks, culm banks, holes or depressions, repair areas, storage areas, processing areas, shipping areas, and other areas upon which are sited structures, facilities, or other property or materials on the surface, resulting from or incident to such activities. Separation by a stream, roadway, or utility easement does not preclude two or more contiguous tracts of land from being considered contiguous.

(I) "Operator" means any person conducting a coal mining operation.

(J) "Overburden" means all of the earth and other materials, except topsoil, covering a natural deposit of coal, and also means such earth and other materials after removal from their natural state in the process of coal mining.

(K) "Permit" means a permit to conduct coal mining and reclamation operations issued by the chief pursuant to section 1513.07 or 1513.074 of the Revised Code.

(L) "Permit area" means the area of land to be affected indicated on the approved map submitted by the operator with the application required by section 1513.07 or 1513.074 of the Revised Code.

(M) "Person" has the same meaning as in section 1.59 of the Revised Code and also includes any political subdivision, instrumentality, or agency of this state or the United States.

(N) "Pollution" means placing any sediments, solids, or waterborne mining-related wastes, including, but not limited to, acids, metallic cations, or their salts, in excess of amounts prescribed by the chief into any waters of the state or affecting the properties of any waters of the state in a manner that renders those waters harmful or inimical to the public health, or to animal or aquatic life, or to the use of the waters for domestic water supply, industrial or agricultural purposes, or recreation.

(O) "Prime farmland" has the same meaning as that previously prescribed by the secretary of the United States department of agriculture as published in the federal register on August 23, 1977, or subsequent revisions thereof, on the basis of such factors as moisture availability, temperature regime, chemical balance, permeability, surface layer composition, susceptibility to flooding, and erosion characteristics and that historically has been used for intensive agricultural purposes, and as published in the rules adopted pursuant to this chapter.

(P) "Reclamation" means backfilling, grading, resoiling, planting, and other work that has the effect of restoring an area of land affected by coal mining so that it may be used for forest growth, grazing, agricultural, recreational, and wildlife purpose, or some other useful purpose of equal or greater value than existed prior to any mining.

(Q) "Spoil bank" means a deposit of removed overburden.

(R) "Steep slope" means any slope above twenty degrees or such lesser slope as may be defined by the chief after considering soil, climate, and other characteristics of a region.

(S) "Strip mining" means those coal mining and reclamation operations incident to the extraction of coal from the earth by removing the materials over a coal seam, before recovering the coal, by auger coal mining, or by recovery of coal from a deposit that is not in its original geologic location.

(T) "Unwarranted failure to comply" means the failure of a permittee to prevent the occurrence of any violation of any requirement of this chapter due to indifference, lack of diligence, or lack of reasonable care, or the failure to abate any violation of the permit or this chapter due to indifference, lack of diligence, or lack of reasonable care.

(U) "Waters of the state" means all streams, lakes, ponds, marshes, watercourses, waterways, wells, springs, irrigation systems, drainage systems, and other bodies or accumulations of water, surface or underground, natural or artificial, regardless of the depth of the strata in which underground water is located, that are situated wholly or partly within, or border upon, this state, or are within its jurisdiction.

(V) "Public roadway" means a road that is all of the following:

(1) Designated as a public road in the jurisdiction within which it is located;

(2) Constructed in a manner consistent with other public roads within the jurisdiction within which it is located;

(3) Regularly maintained with public funds;

(4) Subject to and available for substantial use by the public.

(W) "Performance security" means a form of financial assurance, including, without limitation, a surety bond issued by a surety licensed to do business in this state; cash; a negotiable certificate of deposit; an irrevocable letter of credit that automatically renews; a negotiable bond of the United States, this state, or a municipal corporation in this state; a trust fund of which the state is the primary beneficiary; or other form of financial guarantee or financial assurance that is acceptable to the chief.

Section 1513.02 | Chief of division of mineral resources management - powers and duties.

• Effective: April 6, 2007
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 443 - 126th General Assembly

(A) The division of mineral resources management shall administer, enforce, and implement this chapter. The chief of the division of mineral resources management shall do all of the following:

(1) Adopt, amend, and rescind rules:

(a) To administer and enforce this chapter;

(b) To implement the requirements of this chapter for the reclamation of lands affected by coal mining, including such rules governing mining practices and procedures, segregation and placement of soil and topsoil, backfilling, grading, terracing, resoiling, soil conditioning and reconditioning, planting, establishment of drainage patterns, construction of impoundments, and the construction, maintenance, and disposition of haul roads, ditches, and dikes, as may be necessary or desirable, under varying conditions of slope, drainage, physical and chemical characteristics of soil and overburden, erodability of materials, season, growth characteristics of plants, and other factors affecting coal mining and reclamation, to facilitate the return of the land to a condition required by this chapter; to prevent pollution or substantial diminution of waters of the state, substantial erosion, substantial deposition of sediment, landslides, accumulation and discharge of acid water, and flooding, both during mining and reclamation and thereafter; to restore the recharge capacity of the mined area to approximate premining conditions; and to ensure full compliance with all requirements of this chapter relating to reclamation, and the attainment of those objectives in the interest of the public health, safety, and welfare to which these reclamation requirements are directed;

(c) To meet the requirements of the "Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977," 91 Stat. 445, 30 U.S.C. 1201.

(2) Issue orders to enforce this chapter and rules adopted under it;

(3) Adopt rules for the internal management of the division that do not affect private rights;

(4) Adopt programs, rules, and procedures designed to assist the coal operator in this state with the permitting process and complying with the environmental standards of this chapter. Upon request of the applicant for a permit, the chief shall make a determination of the probable hydrologic consequences required in division (B)(1)(k) of section 1513.07 of the Revised Code within sixty days after a permit has been submitted to the division for those applications requesting the chief to perform the study. The chief shall perform the chemical analysis of test borings or core samplings for operators who have a total annual production of coal at all locations that does not exceed one hundred thousand tons.

(5) Adopt programs, rules, and procedures designed to ensure that reclamation is performed on operations for which the performance security has been forfeited pursuant to section 1513.16 of the Revised Code;

(6) Receive, administer, and expend moneys obtained from the United States department of the interior and other federal agencies to implement the state's permanent coal regulatory program;

(7)(a) Regulate the beneficial use of coal combustion byproducts at coal mining and reclamation operations and abandoned mine lands that are regulated under this chapter and rules adopted under it. The beneficial use of coal combustion byproducts at such coal mining and reclamation operations and abandoned mine lands is subject to all applicable performance standards and requirements established under this chapter and rules adopted under it, including, without limitation, standards and requirements established under section 1513.16 of the Revised Code and rules adopted pursuant to it.

The beneficial use of coal combustion byproducts that is authorized at coal mining and reclamation operations and abandoned mine lands that are regulated under this chapter and rules adopted under it is not subject to the following provisions of Chapters 3734. and 6111. of the Revised Code and rules adopted under those provisions:

(i) Permit and license requirements for solid waste facilities established under sections 3734.02 and 3734.05 of the Revised Code;

(ii) The prohibition against the open dumping of solid wastes established in section 3734.03 of the Revised Code;

(iii) Solid waste generation and disposal fees established under sections 3734.57 to 3734.574 of the Revised Code;

(iv) Permit to install and plan approval requirements established under sections 6111.03, 6111.44, and 6111.45 of the Revised Code.

Nothing in division (A)(7) of this section shall be construed to limit any other requirements that are applicable to the beneficial use of coal combustion byproducts and that are established under Chapter 3704., 3714., 3734., or 6111. of the Revised Code or under local or federal laws, including, without limitation, requirements governing air pollution control permits, hazardous waste, national pollutant discharge elimination system permits, and section 401 water quality certifications.

(b) As used in division (A)(7) of this section:

(i) "Coal combustion byproducts" means fly ash, bottom ash, coal slag, flue gas desulphurization and fluidized bed combustion byproducts, air or water pollution control residues from the operation of a coal-fired electric or steam generation facility, and any material from a clean coal technology demonstration project or other innovative process at a coal-fired electric or steam generation facility.

(ii) "Beneficial use" means the use of coal combustion byproducts in a manner that is not equivalent to the establishment of a disposal system or a solid waste disposal facility and that is unlikely to affect human health or safety or the environment adversely or to degrade the existing quality of the land, air, or water. "Beneficial use" includes, without limitation, land application uses for agronomic value; land reclamation uses; and discrete, controlled uses for structural fill, pavement aggregate, pipe bedding aggregate, mine sealing, alternative drainage or capping material, and pilot demonstration projects.

(iii) "Structural fill" means the discrete, controlled use of a coal combustion byproduct as a substitute for a conventional aggregate, raw material, or soil under or immediately adjacent to a building or structure. "Structural fill" does not include uses that involve general filling or grading operations or valley fills.

(iv) "Pavement aggregate" means the discrete, controlled use of a coal combustion byproduct as a subbase material or drainage layer under or immediately adjacent to a paved road or a paved parking lot where the coal combustion byproduct is a substitute for a conventional aggregate, raw material, or soil.

(v) "Pipe bedding aggregate" means the discrete, controlled use of a coal combustion byproduct as a substitute for a conventional aggregate, raw material, or soil under, around, or immediately adjacent to a water, sewer, or other pipeline.

(vi) "Coal-fired electric or steam generation facility" includes any boiler that is fired with coal or with coal in combination with petroleum coke, oil, natural gas, or any other fossil fuel.

(vii) "Solid waste disposal facility" means a facility for the disposal of solid wastes as provided in Chapter 3734. of the Revised Code and rules adopted under it.

(viii) "Disposal system" has the same meaning as in section 6111.01 of the Revised Code.

(8) Establish programs and adopt rules and procedures governing terms, limitations, and conditions for the use of diesel equipment in an underground coal mine.

(B) The chief, by rule, may designate as unsuitable for coal mining natural areas maintained on the registry of natural areas of the department of natural resources pursuant to Chapter 1517. of the Revised Code, wild, scenic, or recreational river areas designated pursuant to that chapter, publicly owned or dedicated parks, and other areas of unique and irreplaceable natural beauty or condition, or areas within specified distances of a public road, occupied dwelling, public building, school, church, community, or institutional building, public park, or cemetery. Such a designation may include land adjacent to the perimeters of those areas that may be necessary to protect their integrity.

(C)(1) The adoption, amendment, and rescission of rules under divisions (A)(1), (4), (5), and, (8), (B), and (J) of this section are subject to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.

(2) The issuance of orders under division (A)(2) of this section and appeals therefrom are not governed by or subject to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, but are governed by this chapter.

(D)(1) When the chief or an authorized representative of the chief determines that any condition or practice exists or that any permittee is in violation of any requirement of this chapter or any permit condition required by this chapter, which condition, practice, or violation creates an imminent danger to the health or safety of the public or is causing, or can reasonably be expected to cause, significant, imminent environmental harm to land, air, or water resources, the chief or the authorized representative immediately shall order the cessation of coal mining and reclamation operations or the portion thereof relevant to the condition, practice, or violation. The cessation order shall remain in effect until the chief or the authorized representative determines that the condition, practice, or violation has been abated or until the order is modified, vacated, or terminated by the chief or the authorized representative pursuant to division (D)(4) of this section or by the reclamation commission pursuant to section 1513.13 of the Revised Code. When the chief or the authorized representative finds that the ordered cessation of coal mining and reclamation operations or any portion thereof will not completely abate the imminent danger to the health or safety of the public or the significant, imminent environmental harm to land, air, or water resources, the chief or the authorized representative, in addition to the cessation order, shall order the operator to take whatever steps the chief or the authorized representative considers necessary to abate the imminent danger or the significant environmental harm.

(2) When the chief or an authorized representative of the chief determines that any person is in violation of any requirement of this chapter or any permit condition required by this chapter, but the violation does not create an imminent danger to the health or safety of the public or cannot reasonably be expected to cause significant, imminent environmental harm to land, air, or water resources, the chief or the authorized representative shall issue a notice of violation to the person or the person's agent fixing a reasonable time for the abatement of the violation, provided that the time afforded a person to abate the violation shall not exceed the time limitations prescribed by the secretary of the interior in 30 C.F.R. Part 843 for an approvable state regulatory program under the "Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977," 91 Stat. 445, 30 U.S.C. 1201.

If, upon expiration of the period of time as originally fixed or subsequently extended for good cause shown and upon the written finding of the chief or the authorized representative, the chief or the authorized representative finds that the violation has not been abated, the chief or the authorized representative immediately shall order the cessation of coal mining and reclamation operations or the portion thereof relevant to the violation. The cessation order shall remain in effect until the chief or the authorized representative determines that the violation has been abated or until the order is modified, vacated, or terminated by the chief or the authorized representative pursuant to division (D)(4) of this section or by the reclamation commission pursuant to section 1513.13 of the Revised Code. In a cessation order issued under division (D)(2) of this section, the chief or the authorized representative shall prescribe the steps necessary to abate the violation in the most expeditious manner possible.

(3) When in the judgment of the chief or an authorized representative of the chief a pattern of violations of any requirements of this chapter or any permit conditions required by this chapter exists or has existed and the violations are caused by the unwarranted failure of the permittee to comply with any requirements of this chapter or any permit conditions or are willfully caused by the permittee, the chief or the authorized representative immediately shall issue an order to the permittee to show cause why the permit should not be suspended or revoked. If a hearing is requested, the chief shall inform all interested parties of the time and place of the hearing and conduct the hearing pursuant to division (D) of section 1513.13 of the Revised Code. Upon the permittee's failure to show cause why the permit should not be suspended or revoked, the chief or the authorized representative immediately shall suspend or revoke the permit.

(4) Notices of violation and orders issued pursuant to this section shall set forth with reasonable specificity the nature of the violation and the remedial action required, the period of time established for abatement, and a reasonable description of the portion of the coal mining and reclamation operation to which the notice or order applies. Each notice or order issued under this section shall be given promptly to the alleged violator or the agent of the alleged violator by the chief or an authorized representative of the chief who issues the notice or order. Notices and orders shall be in writing and shall be signed by the chief or the authorized representative and may be modified, vacated, or terminated by the chief or the authorized representative. Any notice or order issued pursuant to this section that requires cessation of mining by the operator shall expire within thirty days after actual notice to the operator unless a public hearing pursuant to section 1513.13 of the Revised Code is held at the site or within such reasonable proximity to the site that any viewings of the site can be conducted during the course of the public hearing.

(E)(1) A person who violates a permit condition or any other provision of this chapter may be assessed a civil penalty by the chief, except that if the violation leads to the issuance of a cessation order under division (D) of this section, the civil penalty shall be assessed for each day until the person initiates the necessary corrective steps. The penalty shall not exceed five thousand dollars for each violation. Each day of continuing violation may be deemed a separate violation for purposes of penalty assessments. In determining the amount of the penalty, consideration shall be given to the person's history of previous violation at the particular coal mining operation; the seriousness of the violation, including any irreparable harm to the environment and any hazard to the health or safety of the public; whether the person was negligent; and the demonstrated diligence of the person charged in attempting to achieve rapid compliance after notification of the violation.

(2) A civil penalty shall be assessed by the chief only after the person charged with a violation under division (E)(1) of this section has been given an opportunity for a public hearing. If a person charged with such a violation fails to avail oneself of the opportunity for a public hearing, a civil penalty shall be assessed by the chief after the chief has determined that a violation did occur, and the amount of the penalty that is warranted, and has issued an order requiring that the penalty be paid.

(3) Upon the issuance of a notice or order charging that a violation of this chapter has occurred, the chief shall inform the operator within thirty days of the proposed amount of the penalty and provide opportunity for an adjudicatory hearing pursuant to section 1513.13 of the Revised Code. The person charged with the penalty then shall have thirty days to pay the proposed penalty in full or, if the person wishes to contest either the amount of the penalty or the fact of the violation, file a petition for review of the proposed assessment with the secretary of the reclamation commission pursuant to section 1513.13 of the Revised Code. If, after the hearing, the commission affirms or modifies the proposed amount of the penalty, the person charged with the penalty then shall have thirty days after receipt of the written decision to pay the amount in full or file an appeal with the court of appeals in accordance with section 1513.14 of the Revised Code. At the time the petition for review of the proposed assessment is filed with the secretary, the person shall forward the amount of the penalty to the secretary for placement in the reclamation penalty fund, which is hereby created. The fund shall be in the custody of the treasurer of state, but shall not be a part of the state treasury. Pursuant to administrative or judicial review of the penalty, the secretary, within thirty days, shall remit the appropriate amount of the penalty to the person, with interest, if it is determined that no violation occurred or that the amount of the penalty should be reduced, and the secretary shall forward the balance of the penalty or, if the penalty was not reduced, the entire amount of the penalty, with interest, to the chief for deposit in the reclamation forfeiture fund created in section 1513.18 of the Revised Code. Failure to forward the money to the secretary within thirty days after the chief informs the operator of the proposed amount of the penalty shall result in a waiver of all legal rights to contest the violation or the amount of the penalty. Within fifteen days after being informed of the penalty, the person charged with the penalty may request in writing an informal assessment conference to review the amount of the penalty. The conference shall be presided over by the chief or an individual appointed by the chief other than the inspector that issued the notice of violation or order upon which the penalty is based. The chief shall adopt rules governing procedures to be followed in informal conferences. Time allowed for payment of the penalty or appeal to the commission shall be tolled while the penalty is being reviewed in an informal conference.

(4) An operator who fails to correct a violation for which a notice of violation or order has been issued under division (D) of this section within the period permitted for its correction shall be assessed a civil penalty of not less than seven hundred fifty dollars for each day during which the failure or violation continues. However, a civil penalty shall not be assessed under division (E)(4) of this section if the commission orders the suspension of the abatement requirement after determining, based upon the findings of an expedited hearing held under section 1513.13 of the Revised Code at the request of the operator, that the operator will suffer irreparable loss or damage from the application of the abatement requirement or if the court orders suspension of the abatement requirement pursuant to review proceedings held under section 1513.14 of the Revised Code at the request of the operator.

(F) The chief may enter into a cooperative agreement with the secretary of the interior to provide for state regulation of coal mining and reclamation operations on federal lands within the state.

(G) The chief may prohibit augering if necessary to maximize the utilization, recoverability, or conservation of the solid fuel resources or to protect against adverse water quality impacts.

(H) The chief shall transmit copies of all schedules submitted under section 1513.07 of the Revised Code pertaining to violations of air or water quality laws and rules adopted and orders issued under those laws in connection with coal mining operations to the director of environmental protection for verification.

(I) For the purposes of sections 1513.18, 1513.24, 1513.37, and 1514.06 of the Revised Code, the chief triennially shall determine the average wage rate for companies performing reclamation work for the division under those sections by averaging the wage rate paid by all companies performing such reclamation work during the three years immediately preceding the determination. However, in making the initial determination under this division, the chief shall average the wage rate paid by all companies performing such reclamation work during the ten years immediately preceding October 29, 1995.

(J) If this state becomes covered by a state programmatic general permit issued by the United States army corps of engineers for the discharge of dredged or fill material into the waters of the United States by operations that conduct surface and underground coal mining and reclamation operations and the restoration of abandoned mine lands, the chief may establish programs and adopt rules and procedures designed to implement the terms, limitations, and conditions of the permit. The purpose of the programs, rules, and procedures shall be to enable the state to reduce or eliminate duplicative state and federal project evaluation, simplify the regulatory approval process, provide environmental protection for aquatic resources that is equivalent to federal protection, and satisfy the requirements of the United States army corps of engineers regulatory program under which the permit is issued and that is established under section 404 of the "Federal Water Pollution Control Act," 86 Stat. 48 (1972), 33 U.S.C. 1344, as amended by the "Clean Water Act of 1977," 91 Stat. 1600, 33 U.S.C. 1344; section 10 of the "Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899," 30 Stat. 1151, 33 U.S.C. 403; and section 103 of the "Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972," 86 Stat. 1055, 33 U.S.C. 1413.

Last updated August 16, 2024 at 10:02 AM

Section 1513.03 | Mineral resources inspectors - right of entry.

• Effective: July 1, 2007
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 187 - 126th General Assembly

The chief of the division of mineral resources management shall designate certain employees of the division as mineral resources inspectors for the purpose of enforcing the coal mining laws and the surface mining laws. Those inspectors may enter upon and inspect any coal or surface mining operation at any time, and, upon entering the permit area, an inspector shall notify the operator and shall furnish proper identification. After the final maps have been approved, the inspector shall notify the nearest mine office of the operator and advise of the inspection. Inspectors may serve and execute warrants and other processes of law issued in the enforcement of this chapter and Chapter 1514. of the Revised Code and the rules adopted under them.

The inspectors, while in the normal, lawful, and peaceful pursuit of their duties, may enter upon, cross over, and remain upon privately owned lands for such purposes, and shall not be subject to arrest for trespass while so engaged or for such cause thereafter.

Before a person, other than a person who was an inspector of coal or surface mining operations or oil and gas operations on July 1, 1999, is eligible for appointment as a mineral resources inspector, the person shall pass an examination prepared and administered by the department of administrative services and shall serve for a probationary period of six months to the satisfaction of the chief. The chief may hire, pending the administration of a civil service examination and establishment of a civil service eligibility list, a person as a mineral resources inspector, who shall have the same authority as an inspector hired from an eligible list. This section does not affect the status of any person employed as an inspector of coal or surface mining operations or oil and gas operations prior to July 1, 1999.

Section 1513.04 | Prohibited acts.

• Effective: September 1, 1981
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1051 - 113th General Assembly

No employee of the state performing any function or duty under Chapter 1513. or 1514. of the Revised Code shall:

(A) Engage in coal or surface mining operations as a sole proprietor or as a partner;

(B) Be an officer, director, stockholder, owner, or part-owner of any corporation engaged in coal or surface mining operations;

(C) Be employed as an attorney, agent, or in any other capacity by any person engaged in coal or surface mining operations;

(D) Have a direct or indirect financial interest in any coal mining or reclamation operation.

Any person who violates this section shall be removed from office or dismissed from employment.

Section 1513.05 | Reclamation commission.

• Effective: September 26, 2003
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 95 - 125th General Assembly

There is hereby created a reclamation commission consisting of seven members appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate. For the purposes of hearing appeals under section 1513.13 of the Revised Code that involve mine safety issues, the reclamation commission shall consist of two additional members appointed specifically for that function by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate. All terms of office shall be for five years, commencing on the twenty-ninth day of June and ending on the twenty-eighth day of June. Each member shall hold office from the date of appointment until the end of the term for which the appointment was made. Each vacancy occurring on the commission shall be filled by appointment within sixty days after the vacancy occurs. Any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of the term for which the member's predecessor was appointed shall hold office for the remainder of such term. Any member shall continue in office subsequent to the expiration date of the member's term until the member's successor takes office, or until a period of sixty days has elapsed, whichever occurs first.

Two of the appointees to the commission shall be persons who, at the time of their appointment, own and operate a farm or are retired farmers. Notwithstanding section 1513.04 of the Revised Code, one of the appointees to the commission shall be a person who, at the time of appointment, is the representative of an operator of a coal mine. One of the appointees to the commission shall be a person who, by reason of the person's previous vocation, employment, or affiliations, can be classed as a representative of the public. One of the appointees to the commission shall be a person who, by reason of previous training and experience, can be classed as one learned and experienced in modern forestry practices. One of the appointees to the commission shall be a person who, by reason of previous training and experience, can be classed as one learned and experienced in agronomy. One of the appointees to the commission shall be either a person who, by reason of previous training and experience, can be classed as one capable and experienced in earth-grading problems, or a civil engineer. Beginning not later than five years after the effective date of this amendment, at least one of the seven appointees to the commission shall be an attorney at law who is admitted to practice in this state and is familiar with mining issues. Not more than four members shall be members of the same political party.

The two additional members of the commission who are appointed specifically to hear appeals that involve mine safety issues shall be individuals who, because of previous vocation, employment, or affiliation, can be classified as representatives of employees currently engaged in mining operations. One shall be a representative of coal miners, and one shall be a representative of aggregates miners. Prior to making the appointment, the governor shall request the highest ranking officer in the major employee organization representing coal miners in this state to submit to the governor the names and qualifications of three nominees and shall request the highest ranking officer in the major employee organization representing aggregates miners in this state to do the same. The governor shall appoint one person nominated by each organization to the commission. The nominees shall have not less than five years of practical experience in dealing with mine health and safety issues and at the time of the nomination shall be employed in positions that involve the protection of the health and safety of miners. The major employee organization representing coal miners and the major employee organization representing aggregates miners shall represent a membership consisting of the largest number of coal miners and aggregates miners, respectively, in this state compared to other employee organizations in the year prior to the year in which the appointments are made.

When the commission hears an appeal that involves a coal mining safety issue, one of the commission members who owns and operates a farm or is a retired farmer shall be replaced by the additional member who is a representative of coal miners. When the commission hears an appeal that involves an aggregates mining safety issue, one of the commission members who owns and operates a farm or is a retired farmer shall be replaced by the additional member who is a representative of aggregates miners. Neither of the additional members who are appointed specifically to hear appeals that involve mine safety issues shall be considered to be members of the commission for any other purpose, and they shall not participate in any other matters that come before the commission.

The commission may appoint a secretary to hold office at its pleasure. A commission member may serve as secretary. The secretary shall perform such duties as the commission prescribes, and shall receive such compensation as the commission fixes in accordance with such schedules as are provided by law for the compensation of state employees.

The commission shall appoint one or more hearing officers who shall be attorneys at law admitted to practice in this state to conduct hearings under this chapter.

Four members constitute a quorum, and no action of the commission shall be valid unless it has the concurrence of at least four members. The commission shall keep a record of its proceedings.

Each member shall be paid as compensation for work as a member one hundred fifty dollars per day when actually engaged in the performance of work as a member and when engaged in travel necessary in connection with such work. In addition to such compensation each member shall be reimbursed for all traveling, hotel, and other expenses, in accordance with the current travel rules of the office of budget and management, necessarily incurred in the performance of the member's work as a member.

Annually one member shall be elected as chairperson and another member shall be elected as vice-chairperson for terms of one year.

The governor may remove any member of the commission from office for inefficiency, neglect of duty, malfeasance, misfeasance, or nonfeasance, after delivering to the member the charges against the member in writing with at least ten days' written notice of the time and place at which the governor will publicly hear the member, either in person or by counsel, in defense of the charges against the member. If the member is removed from office, the governor shall file in the office of the secretary of state a complete statement of the charges made against the member and a complete report of the proceedings. The action of the governor removing a member from office is final.

The commission shall adopt rules governing procedure of appeals under section 1513.13 of the Revised Code and may, for its own internal management, adopt rules that do not affect private rights.

Section 1513.07 | Coal mining and reclamation permit - application or renewal - reclamation plan.

• Effective: December 29, 2023
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 131 - 134th General Assembly

(A)(1) No operator shall conduct a coal mining operation without a permit for the operation issued by the chief of the division of mineral resources management.

(2) All permits issued pursuant to this chapter shall be issued for a term not to exceed five years, except that, if the applicant demonstrates that a specified longer term is reasonably needed to allow the applicant to obtain necessary financing for equipment and the opening of the operation and if the application is full and complete for the specified longer term, the chief may grant a permit for the longer term. A successor in interest to a permittee who applies for a new permit within thirty days after succeeding to the interest and who is able to obtain the performance security of the original permittee may continue coal mining and reclamation operations according to the approved mining and reclamation plan of the original permittee until the successor's application is granted or denied.

(3) A permit shall terminate if the permittee has not commenced the coal mining operations covered by the permit within three years after the issuance of the permit, except that the chief may grant reasonable extensions of the time upon a showing that the extensions are necessary by reason of litigation precluding the commencement or threatening substantial economic loss to the permittee or by reason of conditions beyond the control and without the fault or negligence of the permittee, and except that with respect to coal to be mined for use in a synthetic fuel facility or specified major electric generating facility, the permittee shall be deemed to have commenced coal mining operations at the time construction of the synthetic fuel or generating facility is initiated.

(4)(a) Any permit issued pursuant to this chapter shall carry with it the right of successive renewal upon expiration with respect to areas within the boundaries of the permit. The holders of the permit may apply for renewal and the renewal shall be issued unless the chief determines by written findings, subsequent to fulfillment of the public notice requirements of this section and section 1513.071 of the Revised Code through demonstrations by opponents of renewal or otherwise, that one or more of the following circumstances exists:

(i) The terms and conditions of the existing permit are not being satisfactorily met.

(ii) The present coal mining and reclamation operation is not in compliance with the environmental protection standards of this chapter.

(iii) The renewal requested substantially jeopardizes the operator's continuing responsibilities on existing permit areas.

(iv) The applicant has not provided evidence that the performance security in effect for the operation will continue in effect for any renewal requested in the application.

(v) Any additional, revised, or updated information required by the chief has not been provided. Prior to the approval of any renewal of a permit, the chief shall provide notice to the appropriate public authorities as prescribed by rule of the chief.

(b) If an application for renewal of a valid permit includes a proposal to extend the mining operation beyond the boundaries authorized in the existing permit, the portion of the application for renewal of a valid permit that addresses any new land areas shall be subject to the full standards applicable to new applications under this chapter.

(c) A permit renewal shall be for a term not to exceed the period of the original permit established by this chapter. Application for permit renewal shall be made at least one hundred twenty days prior to the expiration of the valid permit.

(5) A permit issued pursuant to this chapter does not eliminate the requirements for obtaining a permit to install or modify a disposal system or any part thereof or to discharge sewage, industrial waste, or other wastes into the waters of the state in accordance with Chapter 6111. of the Revised Code.

(B)(1) The permit application shall be submitted in a manner satisfactory to the chief and shall contain, among other things, all of the following:

(a) The names and addresses of all of the following:

(i) The permit applicant;

(ii) Every legal owner of record of the property, surface and mineral, to be mined;

(iii) The holders of record of any leasehold interest in the property;

(iv) Any purchaser of record of the property under a real estate contract;

(v) The operator if different from the applicant;

(vi) If any of these are business entities other than a single proprietor, the names and addresses of the principals, officers, and statutory agent for service of process.

(b) The names and addresses of the owners of record of all surface and subsurface areas adjacent to any part of the permit area;

(c) A statement of any current or previous coal mining permits in the United States held by the applicant, the permit identification, and any pending applications;

(d) If the applicant is a partnership, corporation, association, or other business entity, the following where applicable: the names and addresses of every officer, partner, director, or person performing a function similar to a director, of the applicant, the name and address of any person owning, of record, ten per cent or more of any class of voting stock of the applicant, a list of all names under which the applicant, partner, or principal shareholder previously operated a coal mining operation within the United States within the five-year period preceding the date of submission of the application, and a list of the person or persons primarily responsible for ensuring that the applicant complies with the requirements of this chapter and rules adopted pursuant thereto while mining and reclaiming under the permit;

(e) A statement of whether the applicant, any subsidiary, affiliate, or persons controlled by or under common control with the applicant, any partner if the applicant is a partnership, any officer, principal shareholder, or director if the applicant is a corporation, or any other person who has a right to control or in fact controls the management of the applicant or the selection of officers, directors, or managers of the applicant:

(i) Has ever held a federal or state coal mining permit that in the five-year period prior to the date of submission of the application has been suspended or revoked or has had a coal mining bond, performance security, or similar security deposited in lieu of bond forfeited and, if so, a brief explanation of the facts involved;

(ii) Has been an officer, partner, director, principal shareholder, or person having the right to control or has in fact controlled the management of or the selection of officers, directors, or managers of a business entity that has had a coal mining or surface mining permit that in the five-year period prior to the date of submission of the application has been suspended or revoked or has had a coal mining or surface mining bond, performance security, or similar security deposited in lieu of bond forfeited and, if so, a brief explanation of the facts involved.

(f) A copy of the applicant's advertisement to be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the locality of the proposed site at least once a week for four successive weeks, which shall include the ownership of the proposed mine, a description of the exact location and boundaries of the proposed site sufficient to make the proposed operation readily identifiable by local residents, and the location where the application is available for public inspection;

(g) A description of the type and method of coal mining operation that exists or is proposed, the engineering techniques proposed or used, and the equipment used or proposed to be used;

(h) The anticipated or actual starting and termination dates of each phase of the mining operation and number of acres of land to be affected;

(i) An accurate map or plan, to an appropriate scale, clearly showing the land to be affected, the land upon which the applicant has the legal right to enter and commence coal mining operations, and the land for which the applicant will acquire the legal right to enter and commence coal mining operations during the term of the permit, copies of those documents upon which is based the applicant's legal right to enter and commence coal mining operations or a notarized statement describing the applicant's legal right to enter and commence coal mining operations, and a statement whether that right is the subject of pending litigation. This chapter does not authorize the chief to adjudicate property title disputes.

(j) The name of the watershed and location of the surface stream or tributary into which drainage from the operation will be discharged;

(k) A determination of the probable hydrologic consequences of the mining and reclamation operations, both on and off the mine site, with respect to the hydrologic regime, providing information on the quantity and quality of water in surface and ground water systems including the dissolved and suspended solids under seasonal flow conditions and the collection of sufficient data for the mine site and surrounding areas so that an assessment can be made by the chief of the probable cumulative impacts of all anticipated mining in the area upon the hydrology of the area and particularly upon water availability, but this determination shall not be required until hydrologic information of the general area prior to mining is made available from an appropriate federal or state agency; however, the permit shall not be approved until the information is available and is incorporated into the application;

(l) When requested by the chief, the climatological factors that are peculiar to the locality of the land to be affected, including the average seasonal precipitation, the average direction and velocity of prevailing winds, and the seasonal temperature ranges;

(m) Accurate maps prepared by or under the direction of and certified by a qualified registered professional engineer, registered surveyor, or licensed landscape architect to an appropriate scale clearly showing all types of information set forth on topographical maps of the United States geological survey of a scale of not more than four hundred feet to the inch, including all artificial features and significant known archeological sites. The map, among other things specified by the chief, shall show all boundaries of the land to be affected, the boundary lines and names of present owners of record of all surface areas abutting the permit area, and the location of all buildings within one thousand feet of the permit area.

(n)(i) Cross-section maps or plans of the land to be affected including the actual area to be mined, prepared by or under the direction of and certified by a qualified registered professional engineer or certified professional geologist with assistance from experts in related fields such as hydrology, hydrogeology, geology, and landscape architecture, showing pertinent elevations and locations of test borings or core samplings and depicting the following information: the nature and depth of the various strata of overburden; the nature and thickness of any coal or rider seam above the coal seam to be mined; the nature of the stratum immediately beneath the coal seam to be mined; all mineral crop lines and the strike and dip of the coal to be mined within the area to be affected; existing or previous coal mining limits; the location and extent of known workings of any underground mines, including mine openings to the surface; the location of spoil, waste, or refuse areas and topsoil preservation areas; the location of all impoundments for waste or erosion control; any settling or water treatment facility; constructed or natural drainways and the location of any discharges to any surface body of water on the land to be affected or adjacent thereto; profiles at appropriate cross sections of the anticipated final surface configuration that will be achieved pursuant to the operator's proposed reclamation plan; the location of subsurface water, if encountered; the location and quality of aquifers; and the estimated elevation of the water table. Registered surveyors shall be allowed to perform all plans, maps, and certifications under this chapter as they are authorized under Chapter 4733. of the Revised Code.

(ii) A statement of the quality and locations of subsurface water. The chief shall provide by rule the number of locations to be sampled, frequency of collection, and parameters to be analyzed to obtain the statement required.

(o) A statement of the results of test borings or core samplings from the permit area, including logs of the drill holes, the thickness of the coal seam found, an analysis of the chemical properties of the coal, the sulfur content of any coal seam, chemical analysis of potentially acid or toxic forming sections of the overburden, and chemical analysis of the stratum lying immediately underneath the coal to be mined, except that this division may be waived by the chief with respect to the specific application by a written determination that its requirements are unnecessary. If the test borings or core samplings from the permit area indicate the existence of potentially acid forming or toxic forming quantities of sulfur in the coal or overburden to be disturbed by mining, the application also shall include a statement of the acid generating potential and the acid neutralizing potential of the rock strata to be disturbed as calculated in accordance with the calculation method established under section 1513.075 of the Revised Code or with another calculation method.

(p) For those lands in the permit application that a reconnaissance inspection suggests may be prime farmlands, a soil survey shall be made or obtained according to standards established by the secretary of the United States department of agriculture in order to confirm the exact location of the prime farmlands, if any;

(q) A certificate issued by an insurance company authorized to do business in this state certifying that the applicant has a public liability insurance policy in force for the coal mining and reclamation operations for which the permit is sought or evidence that the applicant has satisfied other state self-insurance requirements. The policy shall provide for personal injury and property damage protection in an amount adequate to compensate any persons damaged as a result of coal mining and reclamation operations, including the use of explosives, and entitled to compensation under the applicable provisions of state law. The policy shall be maintained in effect during the term of the permit or any renewal, including the length of all reclamation operations. The insurance company shall give prompt notice to the permittee and the chief if the public liability insurance policy lapses for any reason including the nonpayment of insurance premiums. Upon the lapse of the policy, the chief may suspend the permit and all other outstanding permits until proper insurance coverage is obtained.

(r) The business telephone number of the applicant;

(s) If the applicant seeks an authorization under division (E)(7) of this section to conduct coal mining and reclamation operations on areas to be covered by the permit that were affected by coal mining operations before August 3, 1977, that have resulted in continuing water pollution from or on the previously mined areas, such additional information pertaining to those previously mined areas as may be required by the chief, including, without limitation, maps, plans, cross sections, data necessary to determine existing water quality from or on those areas with respect to pH, iron, and manganese, and a pollution abatement plan that may improve water quality from or on those areas with respect to pH, iron, and manganese.

(2) Information pertaining to coal seams, test borings, core samplings, or soil samples as required by this section shall be made available by the chief to any person with an interest that is or may be adversely affected, except that information that pertains only to the analysis of the chemical and physical properties of the coal, excluding information regarding mineral or elemental content that is potentially toxic in the environment, shall be kept confidential and not made a matter of public record.

(3)(a) If the chief finds that the probable total annual production at all locations of any operator will not exceed three hundred thousand tons, the following activities, upon the written request of the operator in connection with a permit application, shall be performed by a qualified public or private laboratory or another public or private qualified entity designated by the chief, and the cost of the activities shall be assumed by the chief, provided that sufficient moneys for such assistance are available:

(i) The determination of probable hydrologic consequences required under division (B)(1)(k) of this section;

(ii) The development of cross-section maps and plans required under division (B)(1)(n)(i) of this section;

(iii) The geologic drilling and statement of results of test borings and core samplings required under division (B)(1)(o) of this section;

(iv) The collection of archaeological information required under division (B)(1)(m) of this section and any other archaeological and historical information required by the chief, and the preparation of plans necessitated thereby;

(v) Pre-blast surveys required under division (B)(5) of section 1513.161 of the Revised Code;

(vi) The collection of site-specific resource information and production of protection and enhancement plans for fish and wildlife habitats and other environmental values required by the chief under this chapter.

(b) A coal operator that has received assistance under division (B)(3)(a) of this section shall reimburse the chief for the cost of the services rendered if the chief finds that the operator's actual and attributed annual production of coal for all locations exceeds three hundred thousand tons during the twelve months immediately following the date on which the operator was issued a coal mining and reclamation permit.

(4) Each applicant for a permit shall submit to the chief as part of the permit application a reclamation plan that meets the requirements of this chapter.

(5) Each applicant for a coal mining and reclamation permit shall file a copy of the application for a permit, excluding that information pertaining to the coal seam itself, for public inspection with the county recorder or an appropriate public office approved by the chief in the county where the mining is proposed to occur.

(6) Each applicant for a coal mining and reclamation permit shall submit to the chief as part of the permit application a blasting plan that describes the procedures and standards by which the operator will comply with section 1513.161 of the Revised Code.

(C) Each reclamation plan submitted as part of a permit application shall include, in the detail necessary to demonstrate that reclamation required by this chapter can be accomplished and in the detail necessary for the chief to determine the estimated cost of reclamation if the reclamation has to be performed by the division of mineral resources management in the event of forfeiture of the performance security by the applicant, a statement of:

(1) The identification of the lands subject to coal mining operations over the estimated life of those operations and the size, sequence, and timing of the subareas for which it is anticipated that individual permits for mining will be sought;

(2) The condition of the land to be covered by the permit prior to any mining, including all of the following:

(a) The uses existing at the time of the application and, if the land has a history of previous mining, the uses that preceded any mining;

(b) The capability of the land prior to any mining to support a variety of uses, giving consideration to soil and foundation characteristics, topography, and vegetative cover and, if applicable, a soil survey prepared pursuant to division (B)(1)(p) of this section;

(c) The productivity of the land prior to mining, including appropriate classification as prime farmlands as well as the average yield of food, fiber, forage, or wood products obtained from the land under high levels of management.

(3) The use that is proposed to be made of the land following reclamation, including information regarding the utility and capacity of the reclaimed land to support a variety of alternative uses, the relationship of the proposed use to existing land use policies and plans, and the comments of any owner of the land and state and local governments or agencies thereof that would have to initiate, implement, approve, or authorize the proposed use of the land following reclamation;

(4) A detailed description of how the proposed postmining land use is to be achieved and the necessary support activities that may be needed to achieve the proposed land use;

(5) The engineering techniques proposed to be used in mining and reclamation and a description of the major equipment; a plan for the control of surface water drainage and of water accumulation; a plan, where appropriate, for backfilling, soil stabilization, and compacting, grading, and appropriate revegetation; a plan for soil reconstruction, replacement, and stabilization, pursuant to the performance standards in section 1513.16 of the Revised Code, for those food, forage, and forest lands identified in that section; and a statement as to how the permittee plans to comply with each of the requirements set out in section 1513.16 of the Revised Code;

(6) A description of the means by which the utilization and conservation of the solid fuel resource being recovered will be maximized so that reaffecting the land in the future can be minimized;

(7) A detailed estimated timetable for the accomplishment of each major step in the reclamation plan;

(8) A description of the degree to which the coal mining and reclamation operations are consistent with surface owner plans and applicable state and local land use plans and programs;

(9) The steps to be taken to comply with applicable air and water quality laws and regulations and any applicable health and safety standards;

(10) A description of the degree to which the reclamation plan is consistent with local physical, environmental, and climatological conditions;

(11) A description of all lands, interests in lands, or options on such interests held by the applicant or pending bids on interests in lands by the applicant, which lands are contiguous to the area to be covered by the permit;

(12) The results of test borings that the applicant has made at the area to be covered by the permit, or other equivalent information and data in a form satisfactory to the chief, including the location of subsurface water, and an analysis of the chemical properties, including acid forming properties of the mineral and overburden; except that information that pertains only to the analysis of the chemical and physical properties of the coal, excluding information regarding mineral or elemental contents that are potentially toxic in the environment, shall be kept confidential and not made a matter of public record;

(13) A detailed description of the measures to be taken during the mining and reclamation process to ensure the protection of all of the following:

(a) The quality of surface and ground water systems, both on- and off-site, from adverse effects of the mining and reclamation process;

(b) The rights of present users to such water;

(c) The quantity of surface and ground water systems, both on- and off-site, from adverse effects of the mining and reclamation process or, where such protection of quantity cannot be assured, provision of alternative sources of water.

(14) Any other requirements the chief prescribes by rule.

(D)(1) Any information required by division (C) of this section that is not on public file pursuant to this chapter shall be held in confidence by the chief.

(2) With regard to requests for an exemption from the requirements of this chapter for coal extraction incidental to the extraction of other minerals, as described in division (H)(1)(a) of section 1513.01 of the Revised Code, confidential information includes and is limited to information concerning trade secrets or privileged commercial or financial information relating to the competitive rights of the persons intending to conduct the extraction of minerals.

(E)(1) Upon the basis of a complete mining application and reclamation plan or a revision or renewal thereof, as required by this chapter, and information obtained as a result of public notification and public hearing, if any, as provided by section 1513.071 of the Revised Code, the chief shall grant, require modification of, or deny the application for a permit and notify the applicant in writing in accordance with division (I)(3) of this section. An application is deemed to be complete as submitted to the chief unless the chief, within fourteen days of the submission, identifies deficiencies in the application in writing and subsequently submits a copy of a written list of deficiencies to the applicant. An application shall not be considered incomplete or denied by reason of right of entry documentation, provided that the applicant documents the applicant's legal right to enter and mine at least sixty-seven per cent of the total area for which coal mining operations are proposed.

A decision of the chief denying a permit shall state in writing the specific reasons for the denial.

The applicant for a permit or revision of a permit has the burden of establishing that the application is in compliance with all the requirements of this chapter. Within ten days after the granting of a permit, the chief shall notify the boards of township trustees and county commissioners, the mayor, and the legislative authority in the township, county, and municipal corporation in which the area of land to be affected is located that a permit has been issued and shall describe the location of the land. However, failure of the chief to notify the local officials shall not affect the status of the permit.

(2) No permit application or application for revision of an existing permit shall be approved unless the application affirmatively demonstrates and the chief finds in writing on the basis of the information set forth in the application or from information otherwise available, which shall be documented in the approval and made available to the applicant, all of the following:

(a) The application is accurate and complete and all the requirements of this chapter have been complied with.

(b) The applicant has demonstrated that the reclamation required by this chapter can be accomplished under the reclamation plan contained in the application.

(c)(i) Assessment of the probable cumulative impact of all anticipated mining in the general and adjacent area on the hydrologic balance specified in division (B)(1)(k) of this section has been made by the chief, and the proposed operation has been designed to prevent material damage to hydrologic balance outside the permit area.

(ii) There shall be an ongoing process conducted by the chief in cooperation with other state and federal agencies to review all assessments of probable cumulative impact of coal mining in light of post-mining data and any other hydrologic information as it becomes available to determine if the assessments were realistic. The chief shall take appropriate action as indicated in the review process.

(d) The area proposed to be mined is not included within an area designated unsuitable for coal mining pursuant to section 1513.073 of the Revised Code or is not within an area under study for such designation in an administrative proceeding commenced pursuant to division (A)(3)(c) or (B) of section 1513.073 of the Revised Code unless in an area as to which an administrative proceeding has commenced pursuant to division (A)(3)(c) or (B) of section 1513.073 of the Revised Code, the operator making the permit application demonstrates that, prior to January 1, 1977, the operator made substantial legal and financial commitments in relation to the operation for which a permit is sought.

(e) In cases where the private mineral estate has been severed from the private surface estate and surface disturbance will result from the applicant's proposed use of a strip mining method, the applicant has submitted to the chief one of the following:

(i) The written consent of the surface owner to the surface disturbance that will result from the extraction of coal by the applicant's proposed strip mining method;

(ii) A conveyance that expressly grants or reserves the right to extract the coal by strip mining methods that cause surface disturbance;

(iii) If the conveyance does not expressly grant the right to extract coal by strip mining methods that cause surface disturbance, the surface-subsurface legal relationship concerning surface disturbance shall be determined under the law of this state. This chapter does not authorize the chief to adjudicate property rights disputes.

(3)(a) The applicant shall file with the permit application a schedule listing all notices of violations of any law, rule, or regulation of the United States or of any department or agency thereof or of any state pertaining to air or water environmental protection incurred by the applicant in connection with any coal mining operation during the three-year period prior to the date of application. The schedule also shall indicate the final resolution of such a notice of violation. Upon receipt of an application, the chief shall provide a schedule listing all notices of violations of this chapter pertaining to air or water environmental protection incurred by the applicant during the three-year period prior to receipt of the application and the final resolution of all such notices of violation. The chief shall provide this schedule to the applicant for filing by the applicant with the application filed for public review, as required by division (B)(5) of this section. When the schedule or other information available to the chief indicates that any coal mining operation owned or controlled by the applicant is currently in violation of such laws, the permit shall not be issued until the applicant submits proof that the violation has been corrected or is in the process of being corrected to the satisfaction of the regulatory authority, department, or agency that has jurisdiction over the violation and that any civil penalties owed to the state for a violation and not the subject of an appeal have been paid. No permit shall be issued to an applicant after a finding by the chief that the applicant or the operator specified in the application controls or has controlled mining operations with a demonstrated pattern of willful violations of this chapter of a nature and duration to result in irreparable damage to the environment as to indicate an intent not to comply with or a disregard of this chapter.

(b) For the purposes of division (E)(3)(a) of this section, any violation resulting from an unanticipated event or condition at a surface coal mining operation on lands eligible for remining under a permit held by the person submitting an application for a coal mining permit under this section shall not prevent issuance of that permit. As used in this division, "unanticipated event or condition" means an event or condition encountered in a remining operation that was not contemplated by the applicable surface coal mining and reclamation permit.

(4)(a) In addition to finding the application in compliance with division (E)(2) of this section, if the area proposed to be mined contains prime farmland as determined pursuant to division (B)(1)(p) of this section, the chief, after consultation with the secretary of the United States department of agriculture and pursuant to regulations issued by the secretary of the interior with the concurrence of the secretary of agriculture, may grant a permit to mine on prime farmland if the chief finds in writing that the operator has the technological capability to restore the mined area, within a reasonable time, to equivalent or higher levels of yield as nonmined prime farmland in the surrounding area under equivalent levels of management and can meet the soil reconstruction standards in section 1513.16 of the Revised Code.

(b) Division (E)(4)(a) of this section does not apply to a permit issued prior to August 3, 1977, or revisions or renewals thereof.

(5) The chief shall issue an order denying a permit after finding that the applicant has misrepresented or omitted any material fact in the application for the permit.

(6) The chief may issue an order denying a permit after finding that the applicant, any partner, if the applicant is a partnership, any officer, principal shareholder, or director, if the applicant is a corporation, or any other person who has a right to control or in fact controls the management of the applicant or the selection of officers, directors, or managers of the applicant has been a sole proprietor or partner, officer, director, principal shareholder, or person having the right to control or has in fact controlled the management of or the selection of officers, directors, or managers of a business entity that ever has had a coal mining license or permit issued by this or any other state or the United States suspended or revoked, ever has forfeited a coal or surface mining bond, performance security, or similar security deposited in lieu of bond in this or any other state or with the United States, or ever has substantially or materially failed to comply with this chapter.

(7) When issuing a permit under this section, the chief may authorize an applicant to conduct coal mining and reclamation operations on areas to be covered by the permit that were affected by coal mining operations before August 3, 1977, that have resulted in continuing water pollution from or on the previously mined areas for the purpose of potentially reducing the pollution loadings of pH, iron, and manganese from discharges from or on the previously mined areas. Following the chief's authorization to conduct such operations on those areas, the areas shall be designated as pollution abatement areas for the purposes of this chapter.

The chief shall not grant an authorization under division (E)(7) of this section to conduct coal mining and reclamation operations on any such previously mined areas unless the applicant demonstrates to the chief's satisfaction that all of the following conditions are met:

(a) The applicant's pollution abatement plan for mining and reclaiming the previously mined areas represents the best available technology economically achievable.

(b) Implementation of the plan will potentially reduce pollutant loadings of pH, iron, and manganese resulting from discharges of surface waters or ground water from or on the previously mined areas within the permit area.

(c) Implementation of the plan will not cause any additional degradation of surface water quality off the permit area with respect to pH, iron, and manganese.

(d) Implementation of the plan will not cause any additional degradation of ground water.

(e) The plan meets the requirements governing mining and reclamation of such previously mined pollution abatement areas established by the chief in rules adopted under section 1513.02 of the Revised Code.

(f) Neither the applicant; any partner, if the applicant is a partnership; any officer, principal shareholder, or director, if the applicant is a corporation; any other person who has a right to control or in fact controls the management of the applicant or the selection of officers, directors, or managers of the applicant; nor any contractor or subcontractor of the applicant, has any of the following:

(i) Responsibility or liability under this chapter or rules adopted under it as an operator for treating the discharges of water pollutants from or on the previously mined areas for which the authorization is sought;

(ii) Any responsibility or liability under this chapter or rules adopted under it for reclaiming the previously mined areas for which the authorization is sought;

(iii) During the eighteen months prior to submitting the permit application requesting an authorization under division (E)(7) of this section, had a coal mining and reclamation permit suspended or revoked under division (D)(3) of section 1513.02 of the Revised Code for violating this chapter or Chapter 6111. of the Revised Code or rules adopted under them with respect to water quality, effluent limitations, or surface or ground water monitoring;

(iv) Ever forfeited a coal or surface mining bond, performance security, or similar security deposited in lieu of a bond in this or any other state or with the United States.

(8) In the case of the issuance of a permit that involves a conflict of results between various methods of calculating potential acidity and neutralization potential for purposes of assessing the potential for acid mine drainage to occur at a mine site, the permit shall include provisions for monitoring and record keeping to identify the creation of unanticipated acid water at the mine site. If the monitoring detects the creation of acid water at the site, the permit shall impose on the permittee additional requirements regarding mining practices and site reclamation to prevent the discharge of acid mine drainage from the mine site. As used in division (E)(8) of this section, "potential acidity" and "neutralization potential" have the same meanings as in section 1513.075 of the Revised Code.

(F)(1) During the term of the permit, the permittee may submit an application for a revision of the permit, together with a revised reclamation plan, to the chief.

(2) An application for a revision of a permit shall not be approved unless the chief finds that reclamation required by this chapter can be accomplished under the revised reclamation plan. The revision shall be approved or disapproved within ninety days after receipt of a complete revision application. The chief shall establish, by rule, criteria for determining the extent to which all permit application information requirements and procedures, including notice and hearings, shall apply to the revision request, except that any revisions that propose significant alterations in the reclamation plan, at a minimum, shall be subject to notice and hearing requirements.

(3) Any extensions to the area covered by the permit except incidental boundary revisions shall be made by application for a permit.

(4) Documents or a notarized statement that form the basis of the applicant's legal right to enter and commence coal mining operations on land that is located within an area covered by the permit and that was legally acquired subsequent to the issuance of the permit for the area shall be submitted with an application for a revision of the permit.

(G) No transfer, assignment, or sale of the rights granted under a permit issued pursuant to this chapter shall be made without the written approval of the chief.

(H) The chief, within a time limit prescribed in the chief's rules, shall review outstanding permits and may require reasonable revision or modification of a permit. A revision or modification shall be based upon a written finding and subject to notice and hearing requirements established by rule of the chief.

(I)(1) If an informal conference has been held pursuant to section 1513.071 of the Revised Code, the chief shall issue and furnish the applicant for a permit, persons who participated in the informal conference, and persons who filed written objections pursuant to division (B) of section 1513.071 of the Revised Code, with the written finding of the chief granting or denying the permit in whole or in part and stating the reasons therefor within sixty days of the conference, provided that the chief shall comply with the time frames established in division (I)(3) of this section.

(2) If there has been no informal conference held pursuant to section 1513.071 of the Revised Code, the chief shall submit to the applicant for a permit the written finding of the chief granting or denying the permit in whole or in part and stating the reasons therefor within the time frames established in division (I)(3) of this section.

(3) The chief shall grant or deny a permit not later than two hundred forty days after the submission of a complete application for the permit. Any time during which the applicant is making revisions to an application or providing additional information requested by the chief regarding an application shall not be included in the two hundred forty days. If the chief determines that a permit cannot be granted or denied within the two-hundred-forty-day time frame, the chief, not later than two hundred ten days after the submission of a complete application for the permit, shall provide the applicant with written notice of the expected delay.

(4) If the application is approved, the permit shall be issued. However, the permit shall prohibit the commencement of coal mining operations on any land that is located within an area covered by the permit if the permittee has not provided to the chief documents that form the basis of the permittee's legal right to enter and conduct coal mining operations on that land. If the application is disapproved, specific reasons therefor shall be set forth in the notification. Within thirty days after the applicant is notified of the final decision of the chief on the permit application, the applicant or any person with an interest that is or may be adversely affected may appeal the decision to the reclamation commission pursuant to section 1513.13 of the Revised Code.

(5) Any applicant or any person with an interest that is or may be adversely affected who has participated in the administrative proceedings as an objector and is aggrieved by the decision of the reclamation commission, or if the commission fails to act within the time limits specified in this chapter, may appeal in accordance with section 1513.14 of the Revised Code.

Last updated December 29, 2023 at 7:24 AM

Section 1513.071 | Submission of advertisement and notice of application for permit or significant revision.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

(A) Simultaneously with the filing of an application for a permit or significant revision of an existing permit under section 1513.07 of the Revised Code, the applicant shall submit to the chief of the division of mineral resources management a copy of the applicant's advertisement of the ownership, precise location, and boundaries of the land to be affected. At the time of submission, the advertisement shall be placed by the applicant in a newspaper of general circulation in the locality of the proposed coal mine at least once a week for four consecutive weeks. The chief shall notify, in each county or part of a county in which a proposed area to be permitted is located, the board of county commissioners, the board of township trustees, the legislative authorities of municipal corporations, private water companies, regional councils of governments, and the boards of directors of conservancy districts informing them of the operator's intention to conduct a coal mining operation on a particularly described tract of land and indicating the permit application number and where a copy of the proposed mining and reclamation plan may be inspected. The chief shall also notify the planning commissions with jurisdiction over all or part of the area to be permitted. These agencies, authorities, or companies may submit written comments on the application with respect to the effects of the proposed operation on the environment that are within their area of responsibility in quadruplicate to the chief within thirty days after notification by the chief of receipt of the application. The chief shall immediately transmit these comments to the applicant and make them available to the public at the same locations at which the mining application is available for inspection.

(B) A person having an interest that is or may be adversely affected or the officer or head of any federal, state, or local governmental agency or authority may file written objections to the proposed initial or revised application for a coal mining and reclamation permit with the chief within thirty days after the last publication of the notice required by division (A) of this section. The objections shall immediately be transmitted to the applicant by the chief and shall be made available to the public. If written objections are filed and an informal conference requested, the chief or the chief's representative shall then hold an informal conference on the application for a permit within a reasonable time in the county where the largest area of the area to be permitted is located. The date, time, and location of the informal conference shall be advertised by the chief in a newspaper of general circulation in the locality at least two weeks prior to the scheduled conference date. The chief may arrange with the applicant, upon request by any objecting party, access to the proposed mining area for the purpose of gathering information relevant to the proceeding. An electronic record shall be made of the conference proceeding unless waived by all parties. The record shall be maintained and shall be accessible to the parties until final release of the applicant's performance security. If all parties requesting the informal conference stipulate agreement prior to the requested informal conference and withdraw their request, the informal conference need not be held.

Last updated August 9, 2023 at 12:18 PM

Section 1513.072 | Administrative rules for coal exploration operations.

• Effective: June 14, 2000
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 601 - 123rd General Assembly

(A) Coal exploration operations that substantially disturb the natural land surface shall be conducted in accordance with exploration rules adopted by the chief of the division of mineral resources management. The rules shall include, at a minimum:

(1) The requirement that prior to conducting any exploration under this section, any person shall file with the chief notice of intention to explore, which shall include a description of the exploration area and period of proposed exploration;

(2) Provisions for reclamation in accordance with the performance standards in section 1513.16 of the Revised Code of all lands disturbed in exploration, including excavations, roads, drill holes, and the removal of necessary facilities and equipment.

(B) Information submitted to the chief pursuant to this section as confidential concerning trade secrets or privileged commercial or financial information that relates to the competitive rights of the person or entity intending to explore the described area shall not be available for public examination.

(C) A person who conducts any coal exploration activities that substantially disturb the natural land surface in violation of this section or rules adopted pursuant thereto is subject to division (E) of section 1513.02 of the Revised Code.

(D) No person shall remove more than two hundred fifty tons of coal pursuant to an exploration permit without the specific written approval of the chief.

Section 1513.073 | Designating areas as unsuitable for coal mining operations.

• Effective: September 30, 2011
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 163 - 129th General Assembly

(A)(1) Upon petition pursuant to division (B) of this section, the chief of the division of mineral resources management shall designate an area as unsuitable for all or certain types of coal mining operations if the chief determines that reclamation pursuant to the requirements of this chapter is not technologically and economically feasible.

(2) Upon petition pursuant to division (B) of this section, a surface area may be designated unsuitable for all or certain types of coal mining operations if the operations will:

(a) Be incompatible with existing state or local land use plans or programs;

(b) Affect fragile or historic lands in which the operations could result in significant damage to important historic, cultural, scientific, and esthetic values and natural systems;

(c) Affect renewable resource lands in which the operations could result in a substantial loss or reduction of long-range productivity of water supply or of food or fiber products, or aquifers and aquifer recharge areas;

(d) Affect natural hazard lands in which the operations could substantially endanger life and property, such lands to include areas subject to frequent flooding and areas of unstable geology.

(3) The chief shall develop the following:

(a) A data base and an inventory system that will permit proper evaluation of the capacity of different land areas of the state to support and permit reclamation of coal mining operations;

(b) A method or methods for implementing land use planning decisions concerning coal mining operations;

(c) Procedures for proper notice and opportunities for public participation, including a public meeting prior to making any designation or redesignation, pursuant to this section.

(4) Determinations of the unsuitablity of land for coal mining, as provided for in this section, shall be integrated as closely as possible with present and future land use planning and regulation processes at the federal, state, and local levels.

(5) The requirements of this section do not apply to lands on which coal mining operations were being conducted on August 3, 1977, or under a permit issued pursuant to this chapter, or where substantial legal and financial commitments in the operation were in existence prior to January 4, 1977.

(B) A person having an interest that is or may be adversely affected may petition the chief to have an area designated as unsuitable for coal mining operations or to have such a designation terminated. The petition shall contain allegations of facts with supporting evidence that would tend to establish the allegations. The chief shall hold a public meeting in the locality of the affected area, after appropriate notice and publication of the date, time, and location of the meeting within ninety days after receipt of the petition, provided that the chief may extend the time for holding the meeting an additional two hundred ten days when, in the chief's judgment, such additional time is needed for adequate review of the petition. Any person may appear at the meeting and present a statement or evidence regarding the petition. Within sixty days after the meeting, the chief shall issue and furnish to the petitioner and any other participant at the meeting a written decision regarding the petition, and the reasons therefor.

(C) Prior to designating any land areas as unsuitable for coal mining operations or terminating previous determinations of unsuitability, the chief shall prepare a detailed statement on:

(1) The potential coal resources of the area;

(2) The demand for coal resources;

(3) The impact of the designation on the environment, the economy, and the supply of coal.

(D) After August 3, 1977, and subject to valid existing rights, no coal mining operations except those that existed on August 3, 1977, shall be permitted:

(1) On any lands within the boundaries of units of the national park system, the national wildlife refuge systems, the national system of trails, the national wilderness preservation system, the wild and scenic rivers system, including study rivers designated under section 5(a) of the "Wild and Scenic Rivers Act," 82 Stat. 906 (1968), 16 U.S.C.A. 1274, and national recreation areas designated by act of congress;

(2) On any federal lands within the boundaries of any national forest unless approval is granted by the secretary of the United States department of the interior;

(3) That will adversely affect any publicly owned park or any places included in the national register of historic sites unless approved jointly by the chief and the federal, state, or local agency with jurisdiction over the park or the historic site;

(4) Within one hundred feet of the outside right-of-way line of any public road, measured horizontally, except where mine access roads or haulage roads join such right-of-way line and except that the chief may permit the roads to be relocated or the area affected to lie within one hundred feet of such road if after public notice and opportunity for public meeting in the locality of the affected area a written finding is made that the interests of the public and the landowners affected thereby will be protected;

(5) Within three hundred feet from any occupied dwelling, measured horizontally, unless waived by the owner thereof, nor within three hundred feet, measured horizontally, of any public building, school, church, community, or institutional building, or public park, nor within one hundred feet, measured horizontally, of a cemetery.

Section 1513.074 | Application for extension of permit to contiguous land.

• Effective: March 18, 1983
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 240 - 114th General Assembly

An operator may file an application for an extension of a currently active permit to land contiguous to the permit area of the permit. The application shall be subject to the full standards applicable to new applications under this chapter, except that the applicant may incorporate by reference current information contained in the application for the original permit. If the original permit is unavailable or the information is not current, the applicant shall replace or supply such information at all appropriate locations.

Section 1513.075 | Potential acidity and neutralization of disturbed strata.

• Effective: September 30, 2011
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 163 - 129th General Assembly

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Potential acidity" means a laboratory measurement of the amount of acidity that could be produced by material in a rock strata proposed to be disturbed by mining and that is expressed by a numeral indicating the number of tons of that acidity that would be present in one thousand tons of disturbed overburden.

(2) "Neutralization potential" means a laboratory measurement of the alkalinity of a rock strata expressed as the amount of acidity that would be neutralized by material proposed to be disturbed by mining and that is expressed by a numeral indicating the number of tons of that alkalinity that would be present in one thousand tons of disturbed overburden.

(3) "Test borings or core samplings" refer to test borings or core samplings performed on rock strata in an area proposed to be covered by a permit for a coal mining operation, the results of which must be stated in the permit application in accordance with division (B)(1)(o) of section 1513.07 of the Revised Code.

(B) For purposes of the determination of the chief of the division of mineral resources management regarding whether to approve an application for a permit for a coal mining operation based on criteria established in divisions (E)(2)(a) and (c) of section 1513.07 of the Revised Code and related performance standards established in division (A)(10) of section 1513.16 of the Revised Code, the potential acidity and the neutralization potential of the rock strata that would be disturbed under the permit may be calculated in accordance with this section.

(C) The measurement of potential acidity may be based on laboratory analyses of the sulfur content of the coal and overburden to be disturbed by mining. If the results of test borings or core samplings include laboratory analyses of the pyritic form of sulfur, the applicant may base the calculation of the potential acidity for the area on the pyritic sulfur content of the coal and overburden to be disturbed by mining rather than on the total sulfur content.

(D) The tons of rock in the area represented by each core hole resulting from test boring or core sampling may be estimated and used to calculate the tons of potential acidity and tons of neutralization potential for each rock stratum. The sum of those values across the proposed permit area may be used to calculate the site's overall neutralization potential and potential acidity.

(E) The proposed permit area may not be considered to have the potential to create acid or other toxic mine drainage if either of the following applies:

(1) The numeral that indicates the site's overall neutralization potential divided by the numeral that indicates the site's overall potential acidity results in a quotient that is equal to or greater than two.

(2) The numeral that indicates the neutralization potential subtracted from the numeral that indicates the potential acidity results in a remainder that is equal to or less than negative ten.

Section 1513.076 | Agency coordination and cooperation respecting permits.

• Effective: April 7, 2009
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 386 - 127th General Assembly

The director of environmental protection and the director of natural resources shall jointly establish procedures that do all of the following:

(A) Provide for the coordination of the issuance of coal mining and reclamation permits under this chapter and permits and certifications under Chapter 6111. of the Revised Code for coal mining and reclamation operations;

(B) Provide for the direct cooperation of the staff of the environmental protection agency and the staff of the division of mineral resources management in the review and approval or denial of coal mining and reclamation permits issued under this chapter and permits and certifications issued under Chapter 6111. of the Revised Code;

(C) Provide for direct and effective communication between the staff of the environmental protection agency and the staff of the division of mineral resources management regarding the review and approval or denial of coal mining and reclamation permits issued under this chapter and permits and certifications issued under Chapter 6111. of the Revised Code;

(D) Provide for the creation of a joint agency coal task force consisting of employees of the environmental protection agency and the division of mineral resources management for the purpose of ensuring that the procedures established under divisions (A) to (C) of this section are properly implemented.

Section 1513.08 | Filing performance bond or deposit of cash or securities.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

(A) After a coal mining and reclamation permit application has been approved, the applicant shall file with the chief of the division of mineral resources management, on a form prescribed and furnished by the chief, the performance security required under this section that shall be payable to the state and conditioned on the faithful performance of all the requirements of this chapter and rules adopted under it and the terms and conditions of the permit.

(B) Using the information contained in the permit application; the requirements contained in the approved permit and reclamation plan; and, after considering the topography, geology, hydrology, and revegetation potential of the area of the approved permit, the probable difficulty of reclamation; the chief shall determine the estimated cost of reclamation under the initial term of the permit if the reclamation has to be performed by the division of mineral resources management in the event of forfeiture of the performance security by the applicant. The chief shall send either written notice by certified mail or electronic notice with acknowledgment of receipt of the amount of the estimated cost of reclamation to the applicant. The applicant shall send either written notice or electronic notice with acknowledgment of receipt to the chief indicating the method by which the applicant will provide the performance security pursuant to division (C) of this section.

(C) The applicant shall provide the performance security in an amount using one of the following:

(1) If the applicant elects to provide performance security without reliance on the reclamation forfeiture fund created in section 1513.18 of the Revised Code, the amount of the estimated cost of reclamation as determined by the chief under division (B) of this section for the increments of land on which the operator will conduct a coal mining and reclamation operation under the initial term of the permit as indicated in the application;

(2) If the applicant elects to provide performance security together with reliance on the reclamation forfeiture fund through payment of the additional tax on the severance of coal that is levied under division (A)(8) of section 5749.02 of the Revised Code, an amount of twenty-five hundred dollars per acre of land on which the operator will conduct coal mining and reclamation under the initial term of the permit as indicated in the application. In order for an applicant to be eligible to provide performance security in accordance with division (C)(2) of this section, the applicant, an owner and controller of the applicant, or an affiliate of the applicant shall have held a permit issued under this chapter for any coal mining and reclamation operation for a period of not less than five years.

If a permit is transferred, assigned, or sold, the transferee is not eligible to provide performance security under division (C)(2) of this section if the transferee has not held a permit issued under this chapter for any coal mining and reclamation operation for a period of not less than five years. This restriction applies even if the status or name of the permittee otherwise remains the same after the transfer, assignment, or sale.

In the event of forfeiture of performance security that was provided in accordance with division (C)(2) of this section, the difference between the amount of that performance security and the estimated cost of reclamation as determined by the chief under division (B) of this section shall be obtained from money in the reclamation forfeiture fund as needed to complete the reclamation.

The performance security provided under division (C) of this section for the entire area to be mined under one permit issued under this chapter shall not be less than ten thousand dollars.

The performance security shall cover areas of land affected by mining within or immediately adjacent to the permitted area, so long as the total number of acres does not exceed the number of acres for which the performance security is provided. However, the authority for the performance security to cover areas of land immediately adjacent to the permitted area does not authorize a permittee to mine areas outside an approved permit area. As succeeding increments of coal mining and reclamation operations are to be initiated and conducted within the permit area, the permittee shall file with the chief additional performance security to cover the increments in accordance with this section. If a permittee intends to mine areas outside the approved permit area, the permittee shall provide additional performance security in accordance with this section to cover the areas to be mined.

If an applicant or permittee is not eligible to provide performance security in accordance with division (C)(2) of this section, the applicant or permittee shall provide performance security in accordance with division (C)(1) of this section in the full amount of the estimated cost of reclamation as determined by the chief for a permitted coal preparation plant or coal refuse disposal area that is not located within a permitted area of a mine. If an applicant for a permit for a coal preparation plant or coal refuse disposal area or a permittee of a permitted coal preparation plant or coal refuse disposal area that is not located within a permitted area of a mine has held a permit issued under this chapter for any coal mining and reclamation operation for a period of five years or more, the applicant or permittee may provide performance security for the coal preparation plant or coal refuse disposal area either in accordance with division (C)(1) of this section in the full amount of the estimated cost of reclamation as determined by the chief or in accordance with division (C)(2) of this section in an amount of twenty-five hundred dollars per acre of land with reliance on the reclamation forfeiture fund. If a permittee has previously provided performance security under division (C)(1) of this section for a coal preparation plant or coal refuse disposal area that is not located within a permitted area of a mine and elects to provide performance security in accordance with division (C)(2) of this section, the permittee shall submit written notice to the chief indicating that the permittee elects to provide performance security in accordance with division (C)(2) of this section. Upon receipt of such a written notice, the chief shall release to the permittee the amount of the performance security previously provided under division (C)(1) of this section that exceeds the amount of performance security that is required to be provided under division (C)(2) of this section.

(D) A permittee's liability under the performance security shall be limited to the obligations established under the permit, which include completion of the reclamation plan in order to make the land capable of supporting the postmining land use that was approved in the permit. The period of liability under the performance security shall be for the duration of the coal mining and reclamation operation and for a period coincident with the operator's responsibility for revegetation requirements under section 1513.16 of the Revised Code.

(E) The amount of the estimated cost of reclamation determined under division (B) of this section and the amount of a permittee's performance security provided in accordance with division (C)(1) of this section shall be adjusted by the chief as the land that is affected by mining increases or decreases or if the cost of reclamation increases or decreases. If the performance security was provided in accordance with division (C)(2) of this section and the chief has issued a cessation order under division (D)(2) of section 1513.02 of the Revised Code for failure to abate a violation of the contemporaneous reclamation requirement under division (A)(15) of section 1513.16 of the Revised Code, the chief may require the permittee to increase the amount of performance security from twenty-five hundred dollars per acre of land to five thousand dollars per acre of land.

The chief shall notify the permittee, each surety, and any person who has a property interest in the performance security and who has requested to be notified of any proposed adjustment to the performance security. The permittee may request an informal conference with the chief concerning the proposed adjustment, and the chief shall provide such an informal conference.

If the chief increases the amount of performance security under this division, the permittee shall provide additional performance security in an amount determined by the chief. If the chief decreases the amount of performance security under this division, the chief shall determine the amount of the reduction of the performance security and send either written notice or electronic notice with acknowledgment of receipt of the amount of reduction to the permittee. The permittee may reduce the amount of the performance security in the amount determined by the chief.

(F) A permittee may request a reduction in the amount of the performance security by submitting to the chief documentation proving that the amount of the performance security provided by the permittee exceeds the estimated cost of reclamation if the reclamation would have to be performed by the division in the event of forfeiture of the performance security. The chief shall examine the documentation and determine whether the permittee's performance security exceeds the estimated cost of reclamation. If the chief determines that the performance security exceeds that estimated cost, the chief shall determine the amount of the reduction of the performance security and send either written notice or electronic notice with acknowledgment of receipt of the amount to the permittee. The permittee may reduce the amount of the performance security in the amount determined by the chief. Adjustments in the amount of performance security under this division shall not be considered release of performance security and are not subject to section 1513.16 of the Revised Code.

(G) If the performance security is a bond, it shall be executed by the operator and a corporate surety licensed to do business in this state. If the performance security is a cash deposit or negotiable certificates of deposit of a bank or savings and loan association, the bank or savings and loan association shall be licensed and operating in this state. The cash deposit or market value of the securities shall be equal to or greater than the amount of the performance security required under this section. The chief shall review any documents pertaining to the performance security and approve or disapprove the documents. The chief shall notify the applicant of the chief's determination.

(H) If the performance security is a bond, the chief may accept the bond of the applicant itself without separate surety when the applicant demonstrates to the satisfaction of the chief the existence of a suitable agent to receive service of process and a history of financial solvency and continuous operation sufficient for authorization to self-insure or bond the amount.

(I) Performance security provided under this section may be held in trust, provided that the state is the primary beneficiary of the trust and the custodian of the performance security held in trust is a bank, trust company, or other financial institution that is licensed and operating in this state. The chief shall review the trust document and approve or disapprove the document. The chief shall notify the applicant of the chief's determination.

(J) If a surety, bank, savings and loan association, trust company, or other financial institution that holds the performance security required under this section becomes insolvent, the permittee shall notify the chief of the insolvency, and the chief shall order the permittee to submit a plan for replacement performance security within thirty days after receipt of notice from the chief. If the permittee provided performance security in accordance with division (C)(1) of this section, the permittee shall provide the replacement performance security within ninety days after receipt of notice from the chief. If the permittee provided performance security in accordance with division (C)(2) of this section, the permittee shall provide the replacement performance security within one year after receipt of notice from the chief, and, for a period of one year after the permittee's receipt of notice from the chief or until the permittee provides the replacement performance security, whichever occurs first, money in the reclamation forfeiture fund shall be the permittee's replacement performance security in an amount not to exceed the estimated cost of reclamation as determined by the chief.

(K) If a permittee provided performance security in accordance with division (C)(1) of this section, the permittee's responsibility for repairing material damage and replacement of water supply resulting from subsidence shall be satisfied by either of the following:

(1) The purchase prior to mining of a noncancelable premium-prepaid liability insurance policy in lieu of the permittee's performance security for subsidence damage. The insurance policy shall contain terms and conditions that specifically provide coverage for repairing material damage and replacement of water supply resulting from subsidence.

(2) The provision of additional performance security in the amount of the estimated cost to the division of mineral resources management to repair material damage and replace water supplies resulting from subsidence until the repair or replacement is completed. However, if such repair or replacement is completed, or compensation for structures that have been damaged by subsidence is provided, by the permittee within ninety days of the occurrence of the subsidence, additional performance security is not required. In addition, the chief may extend the ninety-day period for a period not to exceed one year if the chief determines that the permittee has demonstrated in writing that subsidence is not complete and that probable subsidence-related damage likely will occur and, as a result, the completion of repairs of subsidence-related material damage to lands or protected structures or the replacement of water supply within ninety days of the occurrence of the subsidence would be unreasonable.

(L) If the performance security provided in accordance with this section exceeds the estimated cost of reclamation, the chief may authorize the amount of the performance security that exceeds the estimated cost of reclamation together with any interest or other earnings on the performance security to be paid to the permittee.

(M) A permittee that held a valid coal mining and reclamation permit immediately prior to April 6, 2007, shall provide, not later than a date established by the chief, performance security in accordance with division (C)(1) or (2) of this section, rather than in accordance with the law as it existed prior to that date, by filing it with the chief on a form that the chief prescribes and furnishes. Accordingly, for purposes of this section, "applicant" is deemed to include such a permittee.

(N) As used in this section:

(1) "Affiliate of the applicant" means an entity that has a parent entity in common with the applicant.

(2) "Owner and controller of the applicant" means a person that has any relationship with the applicant that gives the person authority to determine directly or indirectly the manner in which the applicant conducts coal mining operations.

Last updated August 9, 2023 at 12:25 PM

Section 1513.081 | Priority lien where permittee becomes insolvent or alternative not provided.

• Effective: September 30, 2011
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 163 - 129th General Assembly

(A) If a permittee becomes insolvent, or an alternative financial security to provide long-term water treatment or a long-term alternative water supply, or both, is not provided in accordance with division (F)(8) of section 1513.16 of the Revised Code, the division of mineral resources management shall have a priority lien in front of all other interested creditors against the assets of that permittee for the amount of any reclamation that is required as a result of the permittee's mining activities. The chief of the division of mineral resources management shall file a statement in the office of the county recorder of each county in which the mined land lies of the estimated cost to reclaim the land and, if applicable, the cost to provide long-term water treatment or a long-term alternative water supply, or both. The estimated cost to reclaim the land and, if applicable, the cost to provide long-term water treatment or a long-term alternative water supply, or both, shall include the direct and indirect costs of the development, design, construction, management, and administration of the reclamation and, if applicable, the long-term water treatment or long-term alternative water supply. The statement shall constitute a lien on the assets of the permittee as of the date of the filing. The lien shall continue in force so long as any portion of the lien remains unpaid or until the chief issues a certificate of release of the lien. If the chief issues a certificate of release of the lien, the chief shall file the certificate of release in the office of each applicable county recorder.

(B) The chief promptly shall issue a certificate of release of a lien under any of the following circumstances:

(1) Upon the repayment in full of the money that is necessary to complete the reclamation, develop and implement mine drainage plans, or provide alternative financial security for water treatment or to provide and maintain an alternative water supply, as applicable;

(2) Upon the transfer of an existing permit that includes the areas of the operation for which reclamation of land and water resources was not completed to a different applicant;

(3) Any other circumstance that the chief determines to be in the best interests of the state.

(C) The chief may modify the amount of a lien under this section. If the chief modifies a lien, the chief shall file a statement in the office of the county recorder of each applicable county of the new amount of the lien.

(D) The chief may authorize an agent to hold a certificate of release in escrow for a period not to exceed one hundred eighty days for the purpose of facilitating the transfer of unreclaimed mine land.

(E) All money from the collection of liens under this section shall be deposited in the state treasury to the credit of the reclamation forfeiture fund created in section 1513.18 of the Revised Code.

Section 1513.09 | Inspections of coal mining and reclamation operations.

• Effective: June 14, 2000
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 601 - 123rd General Assembly

(A) The chief of the division of mineral resources management shall cause to be made such inspections of any coal mining and reclamation operations as the chief considers necessary. The chief and authorized representatives of the chief have a right of entry to, upon, or through any area of land upon which coal mining and reclamation operations are being conducted or upon which the chief or authorized representative has reason to believe such operations are being conducted for the purpose of performing such inspections.

(B) For the purpose of administration and enforcement of any requirement of this chapter or in the administration and enforcement of any permit under this chapter or of determining whether any person is in violation of any requirement of this chapter:

(1) The chief shall require any permittee or operator to:

(a) Establish and maintain appropriate records;

(b) Make monthly reports to the chief;

(c) Install, use, and maintain any necessary monitoring equipment or methods;

(d) Evaluate results in accordance with such methods, at such locations, intervals, and in such manner as the chief shall prescribe;

(e) Provide such other information relative to coal mining and reclamation operations as the chief considers reasonable and necessary.

(2) For those coal mining and reclamation operations that remove or disturb strata that serve as aquifers that significantly ensure the hydrologic balance of water use either on or off the mining site, the chief shall specify those:

(a) Monitoring sites to record the quantity and quality of surface drainage above and below the minesite, as well as in the potential zone of influence;

(b) Monitoring sites to record level, amount, and samples of ground water and aquifers potentially affected by the mining, including aquifers directly below the lower-most, deepest, coal seam to be mined;

(c) Records of well logs and borehole data to be maintained;

(d) Monitoring sites to record precipitation.

The monitoring and data collection and analysis required by this section shall be conducted according to standards and procedures set forth, by rule, by the chief in order to assure their reliability and validity.

(3) The authorized representatives of the chief, without advance notice and upon presentation of appropriate credentials:

(a) May enter into, upon, or through any coal mining and reclamation operations, any premises upon which the authorized representatives have a reasonable belief that such operations are being conducted, or any premises in which any records required to be maintained under division (B)(1) of this section are located;

(b) May, during office hours, have access to and copy any records and at reasonable times, without delay, any monitoring equipment or method of operation required under this chapter.

(C) The inspections by the chief or an authorized representative of the chief shall:

(1) Occur on an irregular basis averaging not less than one partial inspection per month and one complete inspection per calendar quarter for the coal mining and reclamation operation covered by each permit;

(2) Occur without prior notice to the permittee or the permittee's agents or employees, except for necessary onsite meetings with the permittee;

(3) Include the filing of inspection records adequate to enforce the requirements of and to carry out the terms and purposes of this chapter.

(D) Each permittee shall conspicuously maintain at the entrances to the coal mining and reclamation operations a clearly visible sign that sets forth the name, business address, and phone number of the permittee and the permit number of the coal mining and reclamation operations.

(E) Each mineral resources inspector, upon detection of each violation of any requirement of this chapter, shall immediately inform the operator in writing and shall report in writing any such violation to the chief.

(F) Copies of any records, reports, inspection material, or information obtained under this chapter by the chief shall be made available immediately to the public at central and sufficient locations in the county, multi-county, and state area of mining so that they are conveniently available to residents in the areas of mining.

(G)(1) A person who is or may be adversely affected by a coal mining operation may notify the chief or any representative of the chief responsible for conducting the inspection, in writing, of any violation of this chapter that the person has reason to believe exists at the mining site. The chief shall, by rule, establish procedures for informal review of any refusal by an authorized representative to issue a notice of violation or order with respect to any such alleged violation. The chief shall furnish the persons requesting the review a written statement of the reasons for the chief's final disposition of the matter.

(2) The chief shall also, by rule, establish procedures to ensure that adequate and complete inspections are made. Any person who is aggrieved or adversely affected may notify the chief of any failure to make such inspections, after which the chief shall determine whether adequate and complete inspections have been made. The chief shall furnish such persons a written statement of the reasons for the chief's determination that adequate and complete inspections have or have not been conducted.

Section 1513.11 | Order of chief or representative shall be in writing.

• Effective: June 14, 2000
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 601 - 123rd General Assembly

Every order of the chief of the division of mineral resources management or an authorized representative of the chief affecting the rights, duties, or privileges of an operator or the operator's surety or of an applicant for a license or permit shall be in writing and contain a finding of the facts upon which the order is based. Notice of the order shall be given by certified mail or personal service to the person whose rights, duties, or privileges are affected.

Section 1513.13 | Appeal to reclamation commission.

• Effective: April 6, 2007
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 443 - 126th General Assembly

(A)(1) Any person having an interest that is or may be adversely affected by a notice of violation, order, or decision of the chief of the division of mineral resources management, other than a show cause order or an order that adopts a rule, or by any modification, vacation, or termination of such a notice, order, or decision, may appeal by filing a notice of appeal with the reclamation commission for review of the notice, order, or decision within thirty days after the notice, order, or decision is served upon the person or within thirty days after its modification, vacation, or termination and by filing a copy of the notice of appeal with the chief within three days after filing the notice of appeal with the commission. The notice of appeal shall contain a copy of the notice of violation, order, or decision complained of and the grounds upon which the appeal is based. The commission has exclusive original jurisdiction to hear and decide such appeals. The filing of a notice of appeal under division (A)(1) of this section does not operate as a stay of any order, notice of violation, or decision of the chief.

(2) The permittee, the chief, and other interested persons shall be given written notice of the time and place of the hearing at least five days prior thereto. The hearing shall be of record.

(3) Any person authorized under this section to appeal to the commission may request an informal review by the chief or the chief's designee by filing a written request with the chief within thirty days after a notice, order, decision, modification, vacation, or termination is served upon the person. Filing of the written request shall toll the time for appeal before the commission, but shall not operate as a stay of any order, notice of violation, or decision of the chief. The chief's determination of an informal review is appealable to the commission under this section.

(B) The commission shall affirm the notice of violation, order, or decision of the chief unless the commission determines that it is arbitrary, capricious, or otherwise inconsistent with law; in that case the commission may modify the notice of violation, order, or decision or vacate it and remand it to the chief for further proceedings that the commission may direct.

The commission shall conduct hearings and render decisions in a timely fashion, except that all of the following apply:

(1) When the appeal concerns an order for the cessation of coal mining and reclamation operations issued pursuant to division (D)(1) or (2) of section 1513.02 of the Revised Code, the commission shall issue its written decision within thirty days after the receipt of the appeal unless temporary relief has been granted by the chairperson pursuant to division (C) of this section.

(2) When the appeal concerns an application for a permit under division (I) of section 1513.07 of the Revised Code, the commission shall hold a hearing within thirty days after receipt of the notice of appeal and issue its decision within thirty days after the hearing.

(3) When the appeal concerns a decision of the chief regarding release of a performance security under division (F) of section 1513.16 of the Revised Code, the commission shall hold a hearing within thirty days after receipt of the notice of appeal and issue its decision within sixty days after the hearing.

(4) When the appeal concerns a decision of the chief regarding the location of a well in a coal bearing township under section 1509.08 of the Revised Code, the commission shall hold a hearing and issue its decision within thirty days after receipt of the notice of appeal.

(C) The chairperson of the commission, under conditions the chairperson prescribes, may grant temporary relief the chairperson considers appropriate pending final determination of an appeal if all of the following conditions are met:

(1) All parties to the appeal have been notified and given an opportunity for a hearing to be held in the locality of the subject site on the request for temporary relief and the opportunity to be heard on the request.

(2) The person requesting relief shows that there is a substantial likelihood that the person will prevail on the merits.

(3) The relief will not adversely affect public health or safety or cause significant imminent environmental harm to land, air, or water resources.

The chairperson shall issue a decision expeditiously, except that when the applicant requests relief from an order for the cessation of coal mining and reclamation operations issued pursuant to division (D)(1) or (2) of section 1513.02 of the Revised Code, the decision shall be issued within five days after its receipt.

Any party to an appeal filed with the commission who is aggrieved or adversely affected by a decision of the chairperson to grant or deny temporary relief under this section may appeal that decision to the commission. The commission may confine its review to the record developed at the hearing before the chairperson.

The appeal shall be filed with the commission within thirty days after the chairperson issues the decision on the request for temporary relief. The commission shall issue a decision as expeditiously as possible, except that when the appellant requests relief from an order for the cessation of coal mining and reclamation operations issued pursuant to division (D)(1) or (2) of section 1513.02 of the Revised Code, the decision of the commission shall be issued within five days after receipt of the notice of appeal.

The commission shall affirm the decision of the chairperson granting or denying temporary relief unless it determines that the decision is arbitrary, capricious, or otherwise inconsistent with law.

(D) Following the issuance of an order to show cause as to why a permit should not be suspended or revoked pursuant to division (D)(3) of section 1513.02 of the Revised Code, the chief or a representative of the chief shall hold a public adjudicatory hearing after giving written notice of the time, place, and date thereof. The hearing shall be of record.

Within sixty days following the public hearing, the chief shall issue and furnish to the permittee and all other parties to the hearing a written decision, and the reasons therefor, concerning suspension or revocation of the permit. If the chief revokes the permit, the permittee immediately shall cease coal mining operations on the permit area and shall complete reclamation within a period specified by the chief, or the chief shall declare as forfeited the performance security for the operation.

(E)(1) Whenever an enforcement order or permit decision is appealed under this section or any action is filed under division (B) of section 1513.15 or 1513.39 of the Revised Code, at the request of a prevailing party, a sum equal to the aggregate amount of all costs and expenses, including attorney's fees, as determined to have been necessary and reasonably incurred by the prevailing party for or in connection with participation in the enforcement proceedings before the commission, the court under section 1513.15 of the Revised Code, or the chief under section 1513.39 of the Revised Code, may be awarded, as considered proper, in accordance with divisions (E)(1)(a) to (c) of this section. In no event shall attorney's fees awarded under this section exceed, for the kind and quality of services, the prevailing market rates at the time the services were furnished under division (A) of this section. A party may be entitled to costs and expenses related solely to the preparation, defense, and appeal of a petition for costs and expenses, provided that the costs and expenses are limited and proportionate to costs and expenses otherwise allowed under division (E) of this section.

(a) A party, other than the permittee or the division of mineral resources management, shall file a petition, if any, for an award of costs and expenses, including attorney's fees, with the chief, who shall review the petition. If the chief finds that the party, other than the permittee or the division, prevailed in whole or in part, made a substantial contribution to a full and fair determination of the issues, and made a contribution separate and distinct from the contribution made by any other party, the chief may award to that party the party's costs and expenses, including attorney's fees that were necessary and reasonably incurred by the petitioning party for, or in connection with, participation in the proceeding before the commission.

(b) If a permittee who made a request under division (E)(1) of this section demonstrates that a party other than a permittee who initiated an appeal under this section or participated in such an appeal initiated or participated in the appeal in bad faith and for the purpose of harassing or embarrassing the permittee, the permittee may file a petition with the chief. The chief may award to the permittee the costs and expenses reasonably incurred by the permittee in connection with participation in the appeal and assess those costs and expenses against the party who initiated the appeal.

(c) The division may file, with the commission, a request for an award to the division of the costs and expenses reasonably incurred by the division in connection with an appeal initiated under this section. The commission may assess those costs and expenses against the party who initiated the appeal if the division demonstrates that the party initiated or participated in the appeal in bad faith and for the purpose of harassing or embarrassing the division.

(2) Whenever an order issued under this section or as a result of any administrative proceeding under this chapter is the subject of judicial review, at the request of any party, a sum equal to the aggregate amount of all costs and expenses, including attorney's fees, as determined by the court to have been necessary and reasonably incurred by the party for or in connection with participation in the proceedings, may be awarded to either party, in accordance with division (E)(1) of this section, as the court, on the basis of judicial review, considers proper.

Section 1513.131 | Public adjudicatory hearings.

• Effective: July 1, 2009
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 525 - 127th General Assembly

For the purpose of conducting any public adjudicatory hearing under this chapter, the chief, or the reclamation commission may require the attendance of witnesses and the production of books, records, and papers, and may, and at the request of any party, shall issue subpoenas for witnesses or subpoenas duces tecum to compel the production of any books, records, papers, or other material relevant to the inquiry, directed to the sheriff of the counties where the witnesses or materials are found, which subpoenas shall be served and returned in the same manner as subpoenas issued by courts of common pleas are served and returned. The fees of sheriffs shall be the same as those allowed by the court of common pleas in criminal cases. Witnesses shall be paid the fees and mileage provided for under section 119.094 of the Revised Code.

In cases of disobedience or neglect of any subpoena served on any person or the refusal of any witness to testify to any matter regarding which the witness may lawfully be interrogated, the court of common pleas of the county in which such disobedience, neglect, or refusal occurs, or any judge thereof, on application of the chief or the commission or any member thereof, shall compel obedience by attachment procedures for contempt as in the case of disobedience of the requirements of a subpoena issued from the court or a refusal to testify therein.

A witness at any hearing shall testify under oath or affirmation, which the chief or any member of the commission may administer.

Hearing officers designated by the commission shall have the same powers and authority in conducting the hearings as granted to the commission. Whenever a hearing officer conducts a hearing, the officer shall prepare a report setting forth the hearing officer's findings of fact and conclusions of law and a recommendation of the action to be taken by the commission. The hearing officer shall file the report with the secretary of the commission and shall mail a copy by certified mail to the parties. A party may, within fourteen days after receipt of the report, serve and file written objections to the hearing officer's report with the secretary of the commission. Objections shall be specific and state with particularity the grounds therefor. Upon consideration of the objections, the commission may adopt, reject, or modify the report; hear additional evidence; return the report to the hearing officer with instructions; or hear the matter itself.

Section 1513.14 | Appeal to court of appeals.

• Effective: September 5, 2001
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 94 - 124th General Assembly

(A) Any party aggrieved or adversely affected by a decision of the reclamation commission may appeal to the court of appeals for the county in which the activity addressed by the decision of the commission occurred, is occurring, or will occur, which court has exclusive jurisdiction over the appeal. The appeal shall be filed within thirty days of issuance of the decision of the commission. The court shall confine its review to the record certified by the commission. The court may, upon motion, grant such temporary relief as it considers appropriate pending final disposition of the appeal if all of the following apply:

(1) All parties to the appeal have been notified and given an opportunity to be heard on a request for temporary relief.

(2) The person requesting the relief shows that there is a substantial likelihood that the person will prevail on the merits.

(3) The relief will not adversely affect public health or safety or the health or safety of miners or cause significant imminent environmental harm to land, air, or water resources.

The court shall affirm the decision of the commission unless the court determines that it is arbitrary, capricious, or otherwise inconsistent with law, in which case the court shall vacate the decision and remand to the commission for such further proceedings as it may direct.

(B) Any order of the chief of the division of mineral resources management adopting a rule shall be subject to judicial review in the Franklin county court of appeals, which court has exclusive original jurisdiction to review the order. A petition for review of the order shall be filed within thirty days from the date of such order. The petition may be made by any person who participated in the rule-making proceedings and who is aggrieved by the order. The court shall confine its review to the record of the rule-making proceedings. The order shall be affirmed unless the court concludes that the order is arbitrary, capricious, or otherwise inconsistent with law, in which case the court shall vacate the order or portion thereof and remand to the chief for such further proceedings as it may direct.

Section 1513.15 | Requesting attorney general to institute civil action.

• Effective: June 14, 2000
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 601 - 123rd General Assembly

(A) In addition to any other remedy under this chapter, the chief of the division of mineral resources management may request the attorney general to institute a civil action for relief, including a permanent or temporary injunction, restraining order, or any other appropriate order in the court of common pleas of the county wherein a violation of this chapter is occurring or has occurred whenever a person:

(1) Violates or fails or refuses to comply with any order or decision issued by the chief under this chapter;

(2) Interferes with, hinders, or delays the chief or authorized representatives of the chief in carrying out this chapter;

(3) Refuses to admit an authorized representative to the mine;

(4) Refuses to permit inspection of the mine by an authorized representative;

(5) Refuses to furnish any information or report requested by the chief in furtherance of this chapter;

(6) Refuses to permit access to, and copying of, such records as the chief determines necessary in carrying out this chapter.

The court shall issue an injunction upon demonstration that a violation of this chapter is occurring or has occurred.

(B) Except as provided in division (D) of this section, any person having an interest that is or may be adversely affected may commence a civil action on the person's own behalf to compel compliance with this chapter against any of the following:

(1) The division of mineral resources management where the division is alleged to be in violation of this chapter or of any rule, order, or permit adopted or issued pursuant thereto, or against any other person who is alleged to be in violation of any rule, order, or permit adopted or issued pursuant to this chapter;

(2) The chief where there is alleged a failure of the chief to perform any act or duty under this chapter that is not discretionary with the chief.

(C) No action may be commenced under division (B)(1) of this section in either of the following situations:

(1) Prior to sixty days after the plaintiff has given notice in writing of the violation to the chief and any alleged violator;

(2) If the chief has commenced and is diligently prosecuting a civil action in the appropriate court to require compliance with this chapter or of any rule, order, or permit adopted or issued pursuant thereto, but in any such action any person may intervene as a matter of right.

(D) No action may be commenced under division (B)(2) of this section prior to sixty days after the plaintiff has given notice in writing of such action to the chief in such manner as the chief shall, by rule, prescribe, except that such action may be brought immediately after such notification in the case where the violation or order complained of constitutes an imminent threat to the health or safety of the plaintiff or would immediately affect a legal interest of the plaintiff.

(E) Any action respecting a violation of this chapter or rules adopted thereunder may be brought only in the court of common pleas of the county in which the coal mining operation complained of is located.

(F) The court, in issuing any final order in any action brought pursuant to division (B) of this section, may award to any party costs of litigation, including attorney's and expert witness fees that the court determines to have been necessary and reasonably incurred, in accordance with division (E)(2) of section 1513.13 of the Revised Code, and whenever the court determines such an award is appropriate.

(G) Nothing in this section shall restrict any right that any person or class of persons may have under law to seek enforcement of any of the provisions of this chapter and the rules adopted thereunder, or to seek any other relief, including relief against the chief.

(H) Any person who is injured in person or property through the violation by any operator of any rule, requirement, order, or permit adopted or issued pursuant to this chapter may bring an action for damages, including reasonable attorney's and expert witness fees, in the court of common pleas of Franklin county or in the court of common pleas of the county in which the coal mining operation complained of is located. Nothing in this division shall affect the rights established by or limits imposed under worker's compensation laws.

In any action under division (B), (C), (D), (E), (F), (G), or (H) of this section, the secretary of the United States department of the interior or the chief, if not a party, may intervene as a matter of right.

(I) An owner of real property who obtains all or part of a supply of water for domestic, industrial, agricultural, or other legitimate use from an underground source other than a subterranean stream having a permanent, distinct, and known channel, may maintain an action against an operator to recover damages for contamination, diminution, or interruption of such water supply, proximately resulting from coal mining.

A servient tract of land is not bound to receive surface water contaminated by coal mining on a dominant tract of land, and the owner of the servient tract may maintain an action against an operator to recover damages proximately resulting from the natural drainage from the dominant tract of surface waters contaminated by coal mining on the dominant tract.

This division shall not be construed as creating, modifying, or affecting any right, liability, or remedy other than as expressly provided herein, nor shall such division be construed as creating, modifying, or affecting any right, liability, or remedy of surface riparian owners.

(J) In addition to any municipal or county prosecuting authority, the attorney general upon the request of the chief, may prosecute any person who violates, or who fails to perform any duty imposed by this chapter, or who violates any order or rule, or condition of a permit or license issued by the chief.

(K) The civil penalties owed under section 1513.02 of the Revised Code may be recovered in a civil action brought by the attorney general upon the request of the chief.

Section 1513.16 | Performance standards.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

(A) Any permit issued under this chapter to conduct coal mining operations shall require that the operations meet all applicable performance standards of this chapter and such other requirements as the chief of the division of mineral resources management shall adopt by rule. General performance standards shall apply to all coal mining and reclamation operations and shall require the operator at a minimum to do all of the following:

(1) Conduct coal mining operations so as to maximize the utilization and conservation of the solid fuel resource being recovered so that reaffecting the land in the future through coal mining can be minimized;

(2) Restore the land affected to a condition capable of supporting the uses that it was capable of supporting prior to any mining, or higher or better uses of which there is reasonable likelihood, so long as the uses do not present any actual or probable hazard to public health or safety or pose any actual or probable threat of diminution or pollution of the waters of the state, and the permit applicants' declared proposed land uses following reclamation are not considered to be impractical or unreasonable, to be inconsistent with applicable land use policies and plans, to involve unreasonable delay in implementation, or to violate federal, state, or local law;

(3) Except as provided in division (B) of this section, with respect to all coal mining operations, backfill, compact where advisable to ensure stability or to prevent leaching of toxic materials, and grade in order to restore the approximate original contour of the land with all highwalls, spoil piles, and depressions eliminated unless small depressions are needed in order to retain moisture to assist revegetation or as otherwise authorized pursuant to this chapter, provided that if the operator demonstrates that due to volumetric expansion the amount of overburden and the spoil and waste materials removed in the course of the mining operation are more than sufficient to restore the approximate original contour, the operator shall backfill, grade, and compact the excess overburden and other spoil and waste materials to attain the lowest grade, but not more than the angle of repose, and to cover all acid-forming and other toxic materials in order to achieve an ecologically sound land use compatible with the surrounding region in accordance with the approved mining plan. The overburden or spoil shall be shaped and graded in such a way as to prevent slides, erosion, and water pollution and shall be revegetated in accordance with this chapter.

(4) Stabilize and protect all surface areas, including spoil piles affected by the coal mining and reclamation operation, to control erosion and attendant air and water pollution effectively;

(5) Remove the topsoil from the land in a separate layer, replace it on the backfill area, or, if not utilized immediately, segregate it in a separate pile from the spoil, and when the topsoil is not replaced on a backfill area within a time short enough to avoid deterioration of the topsoil, maintain a successful cover by quick-growing plants or other means thereafter so that the topsoil is preserved from wind and water erosion, remains free of any contamination by acid or other toxic material, and is in a usable condition for sustaining vegetation when restored during reclamation. If the topsoil is of insufficient quantity or of poor quality for sustaining vegetation or if other strata can be shown to be more suitable for vegetation requirements, the operator shall remove, segregate, and preserve in a like manner such other strata as are best able to support vegetation.

(6) Restore the topsoil or the best available subsoil that is best able to support vegetation;

(7) For all prime farmlands as identified in division (B)(1)(p) of section 1513.07 of the Revised Code to be mined and reclaimed, perform soil removal, storage, replacement, and reconstruction in accordance with specifications established by the secretary of the United States department of agriculture under the "Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977," 91 Stat. 445, 30 U.S.C.A. 1201. The operator, at a minimum, shall be required to do all of the following:

(a) Segregate the A horizon of the natural soil, except where it can be shown that other available soil materials will create a final soil having a greater productive capacity, and, if not utilized immediately, stockpile this material separately from the spoil and provide needed protection from wind and water erosion or contamination by acid or other toxic material;

(b) Segregate the B horizon of the natural soil, or underlying C horizons or other strata, or a combination of such horizons or other strata that are shown to be both texturally and chemically suitable for plant growth and that can be shown to be equally or more favorable for plant growth than the B horizon, in sufficient quantities to create in the regraded final soil a root zone of comparable depth and quality to that which existed in the natural soil, and, if not utilized immediately, stockpile this material separately from the spoil and provide needed protection from wind and water erosion or contamination by acid or other toxic material;

(c) Replace and regrade the root zone material described in division (A)(7)(b) of this section with proper compaction and uniform depth over the regraded spoil material;

(d) Redistribute and grade in a uniform manner the surface soil horizon described in division (A)(7)(a) of this section.

(8) Create, if authorized in the approved mining and reclamation plan and permit, permanent impoundments of water on mining sites as part of reclamation activities only when it is adequately demonstrated by the operator that all of the following conditions will be met:

(a) The size of the impoundment is adequate for its intended purposes.

(b) The impoundment dam construction will be so designed as to achieve necessary stability with an adequate margin of safety compatible with that of structures constructed under the "Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act," 68 Stat. 666 (1954), 16 U.S.C. 1001, as amended.

(c) The quality of impounded water will be suitable on a permanent basis for its intended use and discharges from the impoundment will not degrade the water quality below water quality standards established pursuant to applicable federal and state law in the receiving stream.

(d) The level of water will be reasonably stable.

(e) Final grading will provide adequate safety and access for proposed water users.

(f) The water impoundments will not result in the diminution of the quality or quantity of water utilized by adjacent or surrounding landowners for agricultural, industrial, recreational, or domestic uses.

(9) Conduct any augering operation associated with strip mining in a manner to maximize recoverability of mineral reserves remaining after the operation and reclamation are complete and seal all auger holes with an impervious and noncombustible material in order to prevent drainage, except where the chief determines that the resulting impoundment of water in such auger holes may create a hazard to the environment or the public health or safety. The chief may prohibit augering if necessary to maximize the utilization, recoverability, or conservation of the solid fuel resources or to protect against adverse water quality impacts.

(10) Minimize the disturbances to the prevailing hydrologic balance at the mine site and in associated offsite areas and to the quality and quantity of water in surface and ground water systems both during and after coal mining operations and during reclamation by doing all of the following:

(a) Avoiding acid or other toxic mine drainage by such measures as, but not limited to:

(i) Preventing or removing water from contact with toxic producing deposits;

(ii) Treating drainage to reduce toxic content that adversely affects downstream water upon being released to water courses in accordance with rules adopted by the chief in accordance with section 1513.02 of the Revised Code;

(iii) Casing, sealing, or otherwise managing boreholes, shafts, and wells, and keeping acid or other toxic drainage from entering ground and surface waters.

(b)(i) Conducting coal mining operations so as to prevent, to the extent possible using the best technology currently available, additional contributions of suspended solids to streamflow or runoff outside the permit area, but in no event shall contributions be in excess of requirements set by applicable state or federal laws;

(ii) Constructing any siltation structures pursuant to division (A)(10)(b)(i) of this section prior to commencement of coal mining operations. The structures shall be certified by persons approved by the chief to be constructed as designed and as approved in the reclamation plan.

(c) Cleaning out and removing temporary or large settling ponds or other siltation structures from drainways after disturbed areas are revegetated and stabilized, and depositing the silt and debris at a site and in a manner approved by the chief;

(d) Restoring recharge capacity of the mined area to approximate premining conditions;

(e) Avoiding channel deepening or enlargement in operations requiring the discharge of water from mines;

(f) Such other actions as the chief may prescribe.

(11) With respect to surface disposal of mine wastes, tailings, coal processing wastes, and other wastes in areas other than the mine working areas or excavations, stabilize all waste piles in designated areas through construction in compacted layers, including the use of noncombustible and impervious materials if necessary, and ensure that the final contour of the waste pile will be compatible with natural surroundings and that the site can and will be stabilized and revegetated according to this chapter;

(12) Refrain from coal mining within five hundred feet of active and abandoned underground mines in order to prevent breakthroughs and to protect the health or safety of miners. The chief shall permit an operator to mine near, through, or partially through an abandoned underground mine or closer than five hundred feet to an active underground mine if both of the following conditions are met:

(a) The nature, timing, and sequencing of the approximate coincidence of specific strip mine activities with specific underground mine activities are approved by the chief.

(b) The operations will result in improved resource recovery, abatement of water pollution, or elimination of hazards to the health and safety of the public.

(13) Design, locate, construct, operate, maintain, enlarge, modify, and remove or abandon, in accordance with the standards and criteria developed pursuant to rules adopted by the chief, all existing and new coal mine waste piles consisting of mine wastes, tailings, coal processing wastes, or other liquid and solid wastes, and used either temporarily or permanently as dams or embankments;

(14) Ensure that all debris, acid-forming materials, toxic materials, or materials constituting a fire hazard are treated or buried and compacted or otherwise disposed of in a manner designed to prevent contamination of ground or surface waters and that contingency plans are developed to prevent sustained combustion;

(15) Ensure that all reclamation efforts proceed in an environmentally sound manner and as contemporaneously as practicable with the coal mining operations, except that where the applicant proposes to combine strip mining operations with underground mining operations to ensure maximum practical recovery of the mineral resources, the chief may grant a variance for specific areas within the reclamation plan from the requirement that reclamation efforts proceed as contemporaneously as practicable to permit underground mining operations prior to reclamation if:

(a) The chief finds in writing that:

(i) The applicant has presented, as part of the permit application, specific, feasible plans for the proposed underground mining operations.

(ii) The proposed underground mining operations are necessary or desirable to ensure maximum practical recovery of the mineral resource and will avoid multiple disturbance of the surface.

(iii) The applicant has satisfactorily demonstrated that the plan for the underground mining operations conforms to requirements for underground mining in this state and that permits necessary for the underground mining operations have been issued by the appropriate authority.

(iv) The areas proposed for the variance have been shown by the applicant to be necessary for the implementing of the proposed underground mining operations.

(v) No substantial adverse environmental damage, either on-site or off-site, will result from the delay in completion of reclamation as required by this chapter.

(vi) Provisions for the off-site storage of spoil will comply with division (A)(21) of this section.

(b) The chief has adopted specific rules to govern the granting of such variances in accordance with this division and has imposed such additional requirements as the chief considers necessary.

(c) Variances granted under this division shall be reviewed by the chief not more than three years from the date of issuance of the permit.

(d) Liability under the performance security filed by the applicant with the chief pursuant to section 1513.08 of the Revised Code shall be for the duration of the underground mining operations and until the requirements of this section and section 1513.08 of the Revised Code have been fully complied with.

(16) Ensure that the construction, maintenance, and postmining conditions of access roads into and across the site of operations will control or prevent erosion and siltation, pollution of water, and damage to fish or wildlife or their habitat, or to public or private property;

(17) Refrain from the construction of roads or other access ways up a stream bed or drainage channel or in such proximity to the channel as to seriously alter the normal flow of water;

(18) Establish, on the regraded areas and all other lands affected, a diverse, effective, and permanent vegetative cover of the same seasonal variety native to the area of land to be affected and capable of self-regeneration and plant succession at least equal in extent of cover to the natural vegetation of the area, except that introduced species may be used in the revegetation process where desirable and necessary to achieve the approved postmining land use plan;

(19)(a) Assume the responsibility for successful revegetation, as required by division (A)(18) of this section, for a period of five full years after the last year of augmented seeding, fertilizing, irrigation, or other work in order to ensure compliance with that division, except that when the chief approves a long-term intensive agricultural postmining land use, the applicable five-year period of responsibility for revegetation shall commence at the date of initial planting for that long-term intensive agricultural postmining land use, and except that when the chief issues a written finding approving a long-term intensive agricultural postmining land use as part of the mining and reclamation plan, the chief may grant an exception to division (A)(18) of this section;

(b) On lands eligible for remining, assume the responsibility for successful revegetation, as required by division (A)(18) of this section, for a period of two full years after the last year of augmented seeding, fertilizing, irrigation, or other work in order to ensure compliance with that division.

(20) Protect off-site areas from slides or damage occurring during the coal mining and reclamation operations and not deposit spoil material or locate any part of the operations or waste accumulations outside the permit area;

(21) Place all excess spoil material resulting from coal mining and reclamation operations in such a manner that all of the following apply:

(a) Spoil is transported and placed in a controlled manner in position for concurrent compaction and in such a way as to ensure mass stability and to prevent mass movement.

(b) The areas of disposal are within the permit areas for which performance security has been provided. All organic matter shall be removed immediately prior to spoil placement except in the zoned concept method.

(c) Appropriate surface and internal drainage systems and diversion ditches are used so as to prevent spoil erosion and mass movement.

(d) The disposal area does not contain springs, natural watercourses, or wet weather seeps unless lateral drains are constructed from the wet areas to the main underdrains in such a manner that filtration of the water into the spoil pile will be prevented unless the zoned concept method is used.

(e) If placed on a slope, the spoil is placed upon the most moderate slope among those slopes upon which, in the judgment of the chief, the spoil could be placed in compliance with all the requirements of this chapter and is placed, where possible, upon, or above, a natural terrace, bench, or berm if that placement provides additional stability and prevents mass movement.

(f) Where the toe of the spoil rests on a downslope, a rock toe buttress of sufficient size to prevent mass movement is constructed.

(g) The final configuration is compatible with the natural drainage pattern and surroundings and suitable for intended uses.

(h) Design of the spoil disposal area is certified by a qualified registered professional engineer in conformance with professional standards.

(i) All other provisions of this chapter are met.

(22) Meet such other criteria as are necessary to achieve reclamation in accordance with the purpose of this chapter, taking into consideration the physical, climatological, and other characteristics of the site;

(23) To the extent possible, using the best technology currently available, minimize disturbances and adverse impacts of the operation on fish, wildlife, and related environmental values, and achieve enhancement of such resources where practicable;

(24) Provide for an undisturbed natural barrier beginning at the elevation of the lowest coal seam to be mined and extending from the outslope for such distance as the chief shall determine to be retained in place as a barrier to slides and erosion;

(25) Restore on the permit area streams and wetlands affected by mining operations unless the chief approves restoration off the permit area without a permit required by section 1513.07 or 1513.074 of the Revised Code, instead of restoration on the permit area, of a stream or wetland or a portion of a stream or wetland, provided that the chief first makes all of the following written determinations:

(a) A hydrologic and engineering assessment of the affected lands, submitted by the operator, demonstrates that restoration on the permit area is not possible.

(b) The proposed mitigation plan under which mitigation activities described in division (A)(25)(c) of this section will be conducted is limited to a stream or wetland, or a portion of a stream or wetland, for which restoration on the permit area is not possible.

(c) Mitigation activities off the permit area, including mitigation banking and payment of in-lieu mitigation fees, will be performed pursuant to a permit issued under sections 401 and 404 of the "Federal Water Pollution Control Act" as defined in section 6111.01 of the Revised Code or an isolated wetland permit issued under Chapter 6111. of the Revised Code or pursuant to a no-cost reclamation contract for the restoration of water resources affected by past mining activities pursuant to section 1513.37 of the Revised Code.

(d) The proposed mitigation plan and mitigation activities comply with the standards established in this section.

If the chief approves restoration off the permit area in accordance with this division, the operator shall complete all mitigation construction or other activities required by the mitigation plan.

Performance security for reclamation activities on the permit area shall be released pursuant to division (F) of this section, except that the release of the remaining portion of performance security under division (F)(3)(c) of this section shall not be approved prior to the construction of required mitigation activities off the permit area.

(B)(1) The chief may permit mining operations for the purposes set forth in division (B)(3) of this section.

(2) When an applicant meets the requirements of divisions (B)(3) and (4) of this section, a permit without regard to the requirement to restore to approximate original contour known as mountain top removal set forth in divisions (A)(3) or (C)(2) and (3) of this section may be granted for the mining of coal where the mining operation will remove an entire coal seam or seams running through the upper fraction of a mountain, ridge, or hill, except as provided in division (B)(4)(a) of this section, by removing all of the overburden and creating a level plateau or a gently rolling contour with no highwalls remaining, and capable of supporting postmining uses in accordance with this division.

(3) In cases where an industrial, commercial, agricultural, residential, or public facility use, including recreational facilities, is proposed for the postmining use of the affected land, the chief may grant a permit for a mining operation of the nature described in division (B)(2) of this section when all of the following apply:

(a) After consultation with the appropriate land use planning agencies, if any, the proposed postmining land use is considered to constitute an equal or better economic or public use of the affected land, as compared with premining use.

(b) The applicant presents specific plans for the proposed postmining land use and appropriate assurances that the use will be all of the following:

(i) Compatible with adjacent land uses;

(ii) Obtainable according to data regarding expected need and market;

(iii) Assured of investment in necessary public facilities;

(iv) Supported by commitments from public agencies where appropriate;

(v) Practicable with respect to private financial capability for completion of the proposed use;

(vi) Planned pursuant to a schedule attached to the reclamation plan so as to integrate the mining operation and reclamation with the postmining land use;

(vii) Designed by a registered engineer in conformity with professional standards established to ensure the stability, drainage, and configuration necessary for the intended use of the site.

(c) The proposed use is consistent with adjacent land uses and existing state and local land use plans and programs.

(d) The chief provides the governing body of the unit of general-purpose local government in which the land is located, and any state or federal agency that the chief, in the chief's discretion, determines to have an interest in the proposed use, an opportunity of not more than sixty days to review and comment on the proposed use.

(e) All other requirements of this chapter will be met.

(4) In granting a permit pursuant to this division, the chief shall require that each of the following is met:

(a) The toe of the lowest coal seam and the overburden associated with it are retained in place as a barrier to slides and erosion.

(b) The reclaimed area is stable.

(c) The resulting plateau or rolling contour drains inward from the outslopes except at specified points.

(d) No damage will be done to natural watercourses.

(e) Spoil will be placed on the mountaintop bench as is necessary to achieve the planned postmining land use, except that all excess spoil material not retained on the mountaintop bench shall be placed in accordance with division (A)(21) of this section.

(f) Stability of the spoil retained on the mountaintop bench is ensured and the other requirements of this chapter are met.

(5) The chief shall adopt specific rules to govern the granting of permits in accordance with divisions (B)(1) to (4) of this section and may impose such additional requirements as the chief considers necessary.

(6) All permits granted under divisions (B)(1) to (4) of this section shall be reviewed not more than three years from the date of issuance of the permit unless the applicant affirmatively demonstrates that the proposed development is proceeding in accordance with the terms of the approved schedule and reclamation plan.

(C) All of the following performance standards apply to steep-slope coal mining and are in addition to those general performance standards required by this section, except that this division does not apply to those situations in which an operator is mining on flat or gently rolling terrain on which an occasional steep slope is encountered through which the mining operation is to proceed, leaving a plain or predominantly flat area, or where an operator is in compliance with division (B) of this section:

(1) The operator shall ensure that when performing coal mining on steep slopes, no debris, abandoned or disabled equipment, spoil material, or waste mineral matter is placed on the downslope below the bench or mining cut. Spoil material in excess of that required for the reconstruction of the approximate original contour under division (A)(3) or (C)(2) of this section shall be permanently stored pursuant to division (A)(21) of this section.

(2) The operator shall complete backfilling with spoil material to cover completely the highwall and return the site to the approximate original contour, which material will maintain stability following mining and reclamation.

(3) The operator shall not disturb land above the top of the highwall unless the chief finds that the disturbance will facilitate compliance with the environmental protection standards of this section, except that any such disturbance involving land above the highwall shall be limited to that amount of land necessary to facilitate compliance.

(D)(1) The chief may permit variances for the purposes set forth in division (D)(3) of this section, provided that the watershed control of the area is improved and that complete backfilling with spoil material shall be required to cover completely the highwall, which material will maintain stability following mining and reclamation.

(2) Where an applicant meets the requirements of divisions (D)(3) and (4) of this section, a variance from the requirement to restore to approximate original contour set forth in division (C)(2) of this section may be granted for the mining of coal when the owner of the surface knowingly requests in writing, as a part of the permit application, that such a variance be granted so as to render the land, after reclamation, suitable for an industrial, commercial, residential, or public use, including recreational facilities, in accordance with divisions (D)(3) and (4) of this section.

(3) A variance pursuant to division (D)(2) of this section may be granted if:

(a) After consultation with the appropriate land use planning agencies, if any, the potential use of the affected land is considered to constitute an equal or better economic or public use.

(b) The postmining land condition is designed and certified by a registered professional engineer in conformity with professional standards established to ensure the stability, drainage, and configuration necessary for the intended use of the site.

(c) After approval of the appropriate state environmental agencies, the watershed of the affected land is considered to be improved.

(4) In granting a variance pursuant to division (D) of this section, the chief shall require that only such amount of spoil will be placed off the mine bench as is necessary to achieve the planned postmining land use, ensure stability of the spoil retained on the bench, and meet all other requirements of this chapter. All spoil placement off the mine bench shall comply with division (A)(21) of this section.

(5) The chief shall adopt specific rules to govern the granting of variances under division (D) of this section and may impose such additional requirements as the chief considers necessary.

(6) All variances granted under division (D) of this section shall be reviewed not more than three years from the date of issuance of the permit unless the permittee affirmatively demonstrates that the proposed development is proceeding in accordance with the terms of the reclamation plan.

(E) The chief shall establish standards and criteria regulating the design, location, construction, operation, maintenance, enlargement, modification, removal, and abandonment of new and existing coal mine waste piles referred to in division (A)(13) of this section and division (A)(5) of section 1513.35 of the Revised Code. The standards and criteria shall conform to the standards and criteria used by the chief of the United States army corps of engineers to ensure that flood control structures are safe and effectively perform their intended function. In addition to engineering and other technical specifications, the standards and criteria developed pursuant to this division shall include provisions for review and approval of plans and specifications prior to construction, enlargement, modification, removal, or abandonment; performance of periodic inspections during construction; issuance of certificates of approval upon completion of construction; performance of periodic safety inspections; and issuance of notices for required remedial or maintenance work.

(F)(1) The permittee may file a request with the chief for release of a part of a performance security under division (F)(3) of this section. Within thirty days after any request for performance security release under this section has been filed with the chief, the operator shall submit a copy of an advertisement placed at least once a week for four successive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the locality of the coal mining operation. The advertisement shall be considered part of any performance security release application and shall contain a notification of the precise location of the land affected, the number of acres, the permit number and the date approved, the amount of the performance security filed and the portion sought to be released, the type and appropriate dates of reclamation work performed, and a description of the results achieved as they relate to the operator's approved reclamation plan and, if applicable, the operator's pollution abatement plan. In addition, as part of any performance security release application, the applicant shall submit copies of the letters sent to adjoining property owners, local governmental bodies, planning agencies, and sewage and water treatment authorities or water companies in the locality in which the coal mining and reclamation activities took place, notifying them of the applicant's intention to seek release from the performance security.

(2) Upon receipt of a copy of the advertisement and request for release of a performance security under division (F)(3)(c) of this section, the chief, within thirty days, shall conduct an inspection and evaluation of the reclamation work involved. The evaluation shall consider, among other things, the degree of difficulty to complete any remaining reclamation, whether pollution of surface and subsurface water is occurring, the probability of continuation or future occurrence of the pollution, and the estimated cost of abating the pollution. The chief shall notify the permittee in writing of the decision to release or not to release all or part of the performance security within sixty days after the filing of the request if no public hearing is held pursuant to division (F)(6) of this section or, if there has been a public hearing held pursuant to division (F)(6) of this section, within thirty days thereafter.

(3) The chief may release the performance security if the reclamation covered by the performance security or portion thereof has been accomplished as required by this chapter and rules adopted under it according to the following schedule:

(a) When the operator completes the backfilling, regrading, and drainage control of an area for which performance security has been provided in accordance with the approved reclamation plan, and, if the area covered by the performance security is one for which an authorization was made under division (E)(7) of section 1513.07 of the Revised Code, the operator has complied with the approved pollution abatement plan and all additional requirements established by the chief in rules adopted under section 1513.02 of the Revised Code governing coal mining and reclamation operations on pollution abatement areas, the chief shall grant a release of fifty per cent of the performance security for the applicable permit area.

(b) After resoiling and revegetation have been established on the regraded mined lands in accordance with the approved reclamation plan, the chief shall grant a release in an amount not exceeding thirty-five per cent of the original performance security for all or part of the affected area under the permit. When determining the amount of performance security to be released after successful revegetation has been established, the chief shall retain that amount of performance security for the revegetated area that would be sufficient for a third party to cover the cost of reestablishing revegetation for the period specified for operator responsibility in this section for reestablishing revegetation. No part of the performance security shall be released under this division so long as the lands to which the release would be applicable are contributing suspended solids to streamflow or runoff outside the permit area in excess of the requirements of this section or until soil productivity for prime farmlands has returned to equivalent levels of yield as nonmined land of the same soil type in the surrounding area under equivalent management practices as determined from the soil survey performed pursuant to section 1513.07 of the Revised Code. If the area covered by the performance security is one for which an authorization was made under division (E)(7) of section 1513.07 of the Revised Code, no part of the performance security shall be released under this division until the operator has complied with the approved pollution abatement plan and all additional requirements established by the chief in rules adopted under section 1513.02 of the Revised Code governing coal mining and reclamation operations on pollution abatement areas. Where a silt dam is to be retained as a permanent impoundment pursuant to division (A)(10) of this section, the portion of performance security may be released under this division so long as provisions for sound future maintenance by the operator or the landowner have been made with the chief.

(c) When the operator has completed successfully all coal mining and reclamation activities, including, if applicable, all additional requirements established in the pollution abatement plan approved under division (E)(7) of section 1513.07 of the Revised Code and all additional requirements established by the chief in rules adopted under section 1513.02 of the Revised Code governing coal mining and reclamation operations on pollution abatement areas, the chief shall release all or any of the remaining portion of the performance security for all or part of the affected area under a permit, but not before the expiration of the period specified for operator responsibility in this section, except that the chief may adopt rules for a variance to the operator period of responsibility considering vegetation success and probability of continued growth and consent of the landowner, provided that no performance security shall be fully released until all reclamation requirements of this chapter are fully met.

(4) If the chief disapproves the application for release of the performance security or portion thereof, the chief shall notify the permittee, in writing, stating the reasons for disapproval and recommending corrective actions necessary to secure the release, and allowing the opportunity for a public adjudicatory hearing.

(5) When any application for total or partial performance security release is filed with the chief under this section, the chief shall notify the municipal corporation in which the coal mining operation is located by certified mail at least thirty days prior to the release of all or a portion of the performance security.

(6) A person with a valid legal interest that might be adversely affected by release of a performance security under this section or the responsible officer or head of any federal, state, or local government agency that has jurisdiction by law or special expertise with respect to any environmental, social, or economic impact involved in the operation or is authorized to develop and enforce environmental standards with respect to such operations may file written objections to the proposed release from the performance security with the chief within thirty days after the last publication of the notice required by division (F)(1) of this section. If written objections are filed and an informal conference is requested, the chief shall inform all interested parties of the time and place of the conference. The date, time, and location of the informal conference shall be advertised by the chief in a newspaper of general circulation in the locality of the coal mining operation proposed for performance security release for at least once a week for two consecutive weeks. The informal conference shall be held in the locality of the coal mining operation proposed for performance security release or in Franklin county, at the option of the objector, within thirty days after the request for the conference. An electronic record shall be made of the conference proceeding unless waived by all parties. The record shall be maintained and shall be accessible to the parties until final release of the performance security at issue. In the event all parties requesting the informal conference stipulate agreement prior to the requested informal conference and withdraw their request, the informal conference need not be held.

(7) If an informal conference has been held pursuant to division (F)(6) of this section, the chief shall issue and furnish the applicant and persons who participated in the conference with the written decision regarding the release within sixty days after the conference. Within thirty days after notification of the final decision of the chief regarding the performance security release, the applicant or any person with an interest that is or may be adversely affected by the decision may appeal the decision to the reclamation commission pursuant to section 1513.13 of the Revised Code.

(8)(a) If the chief determines that a permittee is responsible for mine drainage that requires water treatment after reclamation is completed under the terms of the permit or that a permittee must provide an alternative water supply after reclamation is completed under the terms of the permit, the permittee shall provide alternative financial security in an amount determined by the chief prior to the release of the remaining portion of performance security under division (F)(3)(c) of this section. The alternative financial security shall be in an amount that is equal to or greater than the present value of the estimated cost over time to develop and implement mine drainage plans and provide water treatment or in an amount that is necessary to provide and maintain an alternative water supply, as applicable. The alternative financial security shall include a contract, trust, or other agreement or mechanism that is enforceable under law to provide long-term water treatment or a long-term alternative water supply, or both. The contract, trust, or other agreement or mechanism included with the alternative financial security may provide for the funding of the alternative financial security incrementally over a period of time, not to exceed five years, with reliance on guarantees or other collateral provided by the permittee and approved by the chief for the balance of the alternative financial security required until the alternative financial security has been fully funded by the permittee.

(b) The chief shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code that are necessary for the administration of division (F)(8)(a) of this section.

(c) If the chief determines that a permittee must provide alternative financial security under division (F)(8)(a) of this section and the performance security for the permit was provided under division (C)(2) of section 1513.08 of the Revised Code, the permittee may fund the alternative financial security incrementally over a period of time, not to exceed five years, with reliance on the reclamation forfeiture fund created in section 1513.18 of the Revised Code for the balance of the alternative financial security required until the alternative financial security has been fully funded by the permittee. The permittee semiannually shall pay to the division of mineral resources management a fee that is equal to seven and one-half per cent of the average balance of the alternative financial security that is being provided by reliance on the reclamation forfeiture fund over the previous six months. All money received from the fee shall be credited to the reclamation forfeiture fund.

(9) Final release of the performance security in accordance with division (F)(3)(c) of this section terminates the jurisdiction of the chief under this chapter over the reclaimed site of a surface coal mining and reclamation operation or applicable portion of an operation. However, the chief shall reassert jurisdiction over such a site if the release was based on fraud, collusion, or misrepresentation of a material fact and the chief, in writing, demonstrates evidence of the fraud, collusion, or misrepresentation. Any person with an interest that is or may be adversely affected by the chief's determination may appeal the determination to the reclamation commission in accordance with section 1513.13 of the Revised Code.

(G) The chief shall adopt rules governing the criteria for forfeiture of performance security, the method of determining the forfeited amount, and the procedures to be followed in the event of forfeiture. Cash received as the result of such forfeiture is the property of the state.

Last updated August 9, 2023 at 1:22 PM

Section 1513.161 | Explosives - rules.

• Effective: December 29, 2023
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 131 - 134th General Assembly

(A) An operator shall use explosives only in accordance with Chapter 1567. of the Revised Code and rules adopted pursuant thereto by the chief of the division of mineral resources management, and in accordance with this section and rules adopted pursuant thereto by the chief, and in accordance with all applicable federal laws and regulations. If, in any situation involving a coal mining operation, except when underground coal mining is part or all of the coal mining operation, a rule adopted pursuant to Chapter 1567. of the Revised Code is in conflict with a rule adopted pursuant to this section, the rule adopted pursuant to this section prevails. When underground coal mining is part or all of the coal mining operation, the rule adopted pursuant to Chapter 1567. of the Revised Code prevails.

Before an explosive is set off, sufficient warning shall be given to allow any person in or approaching the area ample time to retreat a safe distance.

No blasting shall be done between the hours of sunset and sunrise.

(B) The chief shall adopt rules to:

(1) Provide adequate advance written notice to local governments and residents who might be affected by the use of explosives by publication of the planned blasting schedule in a newspaper of general circulation in the locality of the coal mining operation, by mailing a copy of the proposed blasting schedule to every resident living within one-half mile of the proposed blasting site, and by providing daily notice to residents or occupants in such areas prior to any blasting;

(2) Maintain for a period of at least three years and make available for public inspection upon request a log detailing the location of the blasts, the pattern and depth of the drill holes, the amount of explosives used per hole, and the order and length of delay in the blasts;

(3) Limit the type of explosives and detonating equipment, the size, and the timing and frequency of blasts based upon the physical conditions of the site so as to prevent:

(a) Injury to persons;

(b) Damage to public and private property outside the permit area;

(c) Adverse impacts on any underground mine;

(d) Change in the course, channel, or availability of ground or surface water outside the permit area.

(4) Require that all blasting operations be conducted by trained and competent persons as certified by the chief;

(5) Provide that upon the request of a resident or owner of an artificial dwelling or structure or water supply within one-half mile of any portion of the permit area, the applicant or permittee shall conduct a preblasting survey of the structures or water supply and submit the survey to the chief and a copy to the resident or owner making the request. The area of the survey shall be decided by the chief and shall include such provisions as the chief prescribes.

(6) Except as provided in division (C) of this section, require the training, examination, and certification of persons engaging in or directly responsible for blasting or use of explosives in coal mining operations.

(C) The chief shall issue a certificate for blasting or use of explosives in coal mining operations in accordance with Chapter 4796. of the Revised Code to an applicant if either of the following applies:

(1) The applicant holds a license or certificate in another state.

(2) The applicant has satisfactory work experience, a government certification, or a private certification as described in that chapter as a blaster or user of explosives in coal mining operations in a state that does not issue that license or certificate.

(D) The chief, by rule or order, may prohibit blasting in specific areas where the safety of the public would be endangered.

(E) No person shall use explosives in violation of this section, a rule adopted thereunder, or an order of the chief.

Last updated December 29, 2023 at 7:23 AM

Section 1513.162 | Operator to replace water supply.

• Effective: September 1, 1981
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1051 - 113th General Assembly

(A) The operator of a coal mining operation shall replace the water supply of an owner of interest in real property who obtains all or part of his supply of water for domestic, agricultural, industrial, or other legitimate use from an underground or surface source where the supply has been affected by contamination, diminution, or interruption proximately resulting from the coal mining operation and shall reimburse the owner for the reasonable cost of obtaining a water supply from the time of the contamination, diminution, or interruption by the operation until the water supply is replaced.

(B) This chapter does not affect in any way the right of any person to enforce or protect, under applicable law, his interest in water resources affected by a coal mining operation.

Section 1513.17 | Prohibited acts.

• Effective: April 6, 2007
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 443 - 126th General Assembly

(A) No person shall:

(1) Engage in coal mining or conduct a coal mining operation without a permit issued by the chief of the division of mineral resources management;

(2) Knowingly violate a condition or exceed the limits of a permit;

(3) Knowingly fail to comply with an order of the chief issued under this chapter;

(4) Knowingly violate any provision of this chapter not specifically mentioned in this section;

(5) Knowingly make any false statement, representation, or certification or knowingly fail to make any statement, representation, or certification in any application, record, report, plan, or other document filed or required to be maintained under this chapter or under a final order or decision issued by the chief;

(6) Knowingly prevent, hinder, delay, or otherwise obstruct the operator from completing backfilling, grading, resoiling, establishing successful vegetation, and meeting all other reclamation requirements of this chapter prior to the final release of the operator's performance security.

(B) Division (A)(1) of this section imposes strict criminal liability.

Section 1513.171 | Tax credit for reclamation outside permit area.

• Effective: April 6, 2007
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 443 - 126th General Assembly

(A) For the purpose of claiming a credit under section 5749.11 of the Revised Code, an operator with a valid permit issued under section 1513.07 of the Revised Code may submit an application to the chief of the division of mineral resources management to perform reclamation on land or water resources that are not within the area of the applicant's permit and that have been adversely affected by past coal mining for which the performance security was forfeited. The chief shall provide the application form. The application shall include all of the following:

(1) The operator's name, address, and telephone number;

(2) The valid permit number of the operator;

(3) An identification of the area or areas to be reclaimed;

(4) An identification of the owner of the land;

(5) A reclamation plan that describes the work to be done to reclaim the land or water resources. The plan shall include a description of how the plan is consistent with local physical, environmental, and climatological conditions and the measures to be taken during the reclamation to ensure the protection of water systems.

(6) An estimate of the total cost of the reclamation;

(7) An estimate of the timetables for accomplishing the reclamation;

(8) Any other requirements that the chief prescribes by rule.

The chief shall approve, disapprove, or approve with modifications the application concerning the proposed reclamation work. If the chief approves the application, the applicant may commence reclamation in accordance with the timetables included in the application. Upon the completion of the reclamation to the satisfaction of the chief, the chief shall issue a numbered reclamation tax credit certificate showing the amount of the credit and the identity of the recipient. Prior to the close of the fiscal quarter in which the tax credit certificate is issued, the chief shall certify to the tax commissioner the amount of the credit and the identity of the recipient.

(B) The chief shall determine the amount of the credit in accordance with this section and rules adopted under it. The amount of the credit shall be equal to the cost that the division of mineral resources management would have expended from the reclamation forfeiture fund created in section 1513.18 of the Revised Code to complete the reclamation.

(C) The chief shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code that are necessary to administer this section. The rules shall establish all of the following:

(1) A procedure that the chief shall use to determine the amount of the credit issued under this section;

(2) A procedure by which the chief may obtain consent of the owners of land or water resources to allow reclamation work for purposes of this section;

(3) A procedure for delivery of notice to the owners of land or water resources on which the reclamation work is to be performed. The rules shall require the notice to include the date on which the reclamation work is scheduled to begin.

Section 1513.18 | Reclamation forfeiture fund.

• Effective: September 29, 2017
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 49 - 132nd General Assembly

(A) All money that becomes the property of the state under division (G) of section 1513.16 of the Revised Code shall be deposited in the reclamation forfeiture fund, which is hereby created in the state treasury. Disbursements from the fund shall be made by the chief of the division of mineral resources management for the purpose of reclaiming areas of land affected by coal mining under a coal mining and reclamation permit issued on or after September 1, 1981, on which an operator has defaulted.

(B) The fund also shall consist of all money from the collection of liens under section 1513.081 of the Revised Code, all money credited to the fund from the fee levied by division (F)(8)(c) of section 1513.16 of the Revised Code, fines collected under division (E) of section 1513.02 and section 1513.99 of the Revised Code, fines collected for a violation of section 2921.31 of the Revised Code that, prior to July 1, 1996, would have been a violation of division (G) of section 1513.17 of the Revised Code as it existed prior to that date, and money collected and credited to it pursuant to section 5749.02 of the Revised Code. Disbursements from the fund shall be made by the chief in accordance with division (D) of this section for the purpose of reclaiming areas that an operator has affected by mining and failed to reclaim under a coal mining and reclamation permit issued under this chapter.

The chief may expend money from the fund to pay necessary administrative costs, including engineering and design services, incurred by the division of mineral resources management in reclaiming these areas. The chief also may expend money from the fund to pay necessary administrative costs of the reclamation forfeiture fund advisory board created in section 1513.182 of the Revised Code as authorized by the board under that section. Expenditures from the fund to pay such administrative costs need not be made under contract.

(C) Except when paying necessary administrative costs authorized by division (B) of this section, expenditures from the fund shall be made under contracts entered into by the chief, with the approval of the director of natural resources, in accordance with procedures established by the chief, by rules adopted in accordance with section 1513.02 of the Revised Code. The chief may reclaim the land in the same manner as set forth in sections 1513.21 to 1513.24 of the Revised Code. Each contract awarded by the chief shall be awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, in accordance with section 9.312 of the Revised Code, after sealed bids are received, opened, and published at the time and place fixed by the chief. The chief shall publish notice of the time and place at which bids will be received, opened, and published, at least once and at least ten days before the date of the opening of the bids, in a newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the area of land to be reclaimed under the contract is located. If, after advertising, no bids are received at the time and place fixed for receiving them, the chief may advertise again for bids, or, if the chief considers the public interest will best be served, the chief may enter into a contract for the reclamation of the area of land without further advertisement for bids. The chief may reject any or all bids received and again publish notice of the time and place at which bids for contracts will be received, opened, and published. The chief, with the approval of the director, may enter into a contract with the landowner, a coal mine operator or surface mine operator mining under a current, valid permit issued under this chapter or Chapter 1514. of the Revised Code, or a contractor hired by the surety or trustee, if the performance security is held in trust, to complete reclamation on land affected by coal mining on which an operator has defaulted, or with a contractor hired by the trust administrator of an alternative financial security that is provided in accordance with division (F)(8) of section 1513.16 of the Revised Code to provide long-term water treatment or a long-term alternative water supply on areas affected by coal mining on which a permittee has defaulted or not fully funded an alternative financial security, without advertising for bids.

(D)(1) The chief shall expend money credited to the reclamation forfeiture fund from the forfeiture of the performance security applicable to an area of land to pay for the cost of completing reclamation to the standards established by this chapter and rules adopted under it.

(2) If the performance security for the area of land was provided under division (C)(1) of section 1513.08 of the Revised Code, the chief shall use the money from the forfeited performance security and any alternative financial security provided under division (F)(8) of section 1513.16 of the Revised Code to complete the reclamation that the operator failed to do under the operator's applicable coal mining and reclamation permit issued under this chapter.

(3) If the performance security for the area of land was provided under division (C)(2) of section 1513.08 of the Revised Code, the chief shall use the money from the forfeited performance security and any alternative financial security provided under division (F)(8) of section 1513.16 of the Revised Code to complete the reclamation that the operator failed to do under the operator's applicable coal mining and reclamation permit issued under this chapter. If the money credited to the reclamation forfeiture fund from the forfeiture of the performance security provided under division (C)(2) of section 1513.08 of the Revised Code and any alternative financial security provided under division (F)(8) of section 1513.16 of the Revised Code is not sufficient to complete the reclamation to the standards established by this chapter and rules adopted under it, the chief shall notify the reclamation forfeiture fund advisory board of the amount of the insufficiency. The chief may expend money credited to the reclamation forfeiture fund under section 5749.02 of the Revised Code or credited to the reclamation forfeiture fund from the fee levied by division (F)(8)(c) of section 1513.16 of the Revised Code to complete the reclamation to the standards established by this chapter and rules adopted under it. Except as provided in division (D)(5) of this section, the chief shall not expend money from the fund in an amount that exceeds the difference between the amount of the performance security provided under division (C)(2) of section 1513.08 of the Revised Code and the estimated cost of reclamation as determined by the chief under divisions (B) and (E) of that section.

(4) Except as provided in division (D)(5) of this section, money from the reclamation forfeiture fund shall not be used for reclamation of land or water resources affected by mine drainage that requires extended water treatment after reclamation is completed under the terms of the permit. In addition, money from the reclamation forfeiture fund shall not be used to supplement the performance security of an applicant or permittee that has provided performance security in accordance with division (C)(1) of section 1513.08 of the Revised Code.

(5) If a permittee relies in part on the reclamation forfeiture fund for alternative financial security under division (F)(8)(c) of section 1513.16 of the Revised Code, money from the reclamation forfeiture fund may be used for reclamation of the land or water resources affected by mine drainage that requires water treatment after reclamation is completed under the terms of the permit or an alternative water supply after reclamation is completed under the terms of the permit in an amount not to exceed the balance of the alternative financial security provided by the reclamation forfeiture fund under that division.

(E) The chief shall keep a detailed accounting of the expenditures from the reclamation forfeiture fund to complete reclamation of the land or water resources, as applicable, and, upon completion of the reclamation, shall certify the expenditures to the attorney general. Upon the chief's certification of the expenditures from the reclamation forfeiture fund, the attorney general shall bring an action for that amount of money. The operator is liable for that expense in addition to any other liabilities imposed by law. Money so recovered shall be credited to the reclamation forfeiture fund. The chief shall not postpone the reclamation because of any action brought by the attorney general under this division. Prior to completing reclamation, the chief may collect through the attorney general any additional amount that the chief believes will be necessary for reclamation in excess of the forfeited performance security and any alternative financial security amount applicable to the land or water resources that the operator should have, but failed to, reclaim.

(F) Except as otherwise provided in division (H) of this section, if any part of the money in the reclamation forfeiture fund remains in the fund after the chief has caused the area of land to be reclaimed and has paid all the reclamation costs and expenses, the chief may expend those money to complete other reclamation work performed under this section on forfeiture areas affected under a coal mining and reclamation permit issued on or after September 1, 1981.

(G) The chief shall require every contractor performing reclamation work pursuant to this section to pay workers at the greater of their regular rate of pay, as established by contract, agreement, or prior custom or practice, or the average wage rate paid in this state for the same or similar work as determined by the chief under section 1513.02 of the Revised Code.

(H) All investment earnings of the fund shall be credited to the fund and shall be used only for the reclamation of land for which performance security was provided under division (C)(2) of section 1513.08 of the Revised Code.

Section 1513.182 | Reclamation forfeiture fund advisory board.

• Effective: April 6, 2007
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 443 - 126th General Assembly

(A) There is hereby created the reclamation forfeiture fund advisory board consisting of the director of natural resources, the director of insurance, and seven members appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate. Of the governor's appointments, one shall be a certified public accountant, one shall be a registered professional engineer with experience in reclamation of mined land, two shall represent agriculture, agronomy, or forestry, one shall be a representative of operators of coal mining operations that have valid permits issued under this chapter and that have provided performance security under division (C)(1) of section 1513.08 of the Revised Code, one shall be a representative of operators of coal mining operations that have valid permits issued under this chapter and that have provided performance security under division (C)(2) of section 1513.08 of the Revised Code, and one shall be a representative of the public.

Of the original members appointed by the governor, two shall serve an initial term of two years, three an initial term of three years, and two an initial term of four years. Thereafter, terms of appointed members shall be for four years, with each term ending on the same date as the original date of appointment. An appointed member shall hold office from the date of appointment until the end of the term for which the member was appointed. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as original appointments. A member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of the term for which the member's predecessor was appointed shall hold office for the remainder of that term. A member shall continue in office subsequent to the expiration date of the member's term until the member's successor takes office or until a period of sixty days has elapsed, whichever occurs first. The governor may remove an appointed member of the board for misfeasance, nonfeasance, or malfeasance.

The directors of natural resources and insurance shall not receive compensation for serving on the board, but shall be reimbursed for the actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as members of the board. The members appointed by the governor shall receive per diem compensation fixed pursuant to division (J) of section 124.15 of the Revised Code and reimbursement for the actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

(B) The board annually shall elect from among its members a chairperson, a vice-chairperson, and a secretary to record the board's meetings.

(C) The board shall hold meetings as often as necessary as the chairperson or a majority of the members determines.

(D) The board shall establish procedures for conducting meetings and for the election of its chairperson, vice-chairperson, and secretary.

(E) The board shall do all of the following:

(1) Review the deposits into and expenditures from the reclamation forfeiture fund created in section 1513.18 of the Revised Code;

(2) Retain periodically a qualified actuary to perform an actuarial study of the reclamation forfeiture fund;

(3) Based on an actuarial study and as determined necessary by the board, adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code to adjust the rate of the tax levied under division (A)(8) of section 5749.02 of the Revised Code and the balance of the reclamation forfeiture fund that pertains to that rate;

(4) Evaluate any rules, procedures, and methods for estimating the cost of reclamation for purposes of determining the amount of performance security that is required under section 1513.08 of the Revised Code; the collection of forfeited performance security; payments to the reclamation forfeiture fund; reclamation of sites for which operators have forfeited the performance security; and the compliance of operators with their reclamation plans;

(5) Provide a forum for discussion of issues related to the reclamation forfeiture fund and the performance security that is required under section 1513.08 of the Revised Code;

(6) Submit a report biennially to the governor that describes the financial status of the reclamation forfeiture fund and the adequacy of the amount of money in the fund to accomplish the purposes of the fund and that may discuss any matter related to the performance security that is required under section 1513.08 of the Revised Code;

(7) Make recommendations to the governor, if necessary, of alternative methods of providing money for or using money in the reclamation forfeiture fund and issues related to the reclamation of land or water resources that have been adversely affected by past coal mining for which the performance security was forfeited;

(8) Adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code that are necessary to administer this section.

Section 1513.20 | Purchase or acquisition of eroded land.

• Effective: September 29, 2017
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 49 - 132nd General Assembly

The chief of the division of mineral resources management, with the approval of the director of natural resources, may purchase or acquire by gift, donation, or contribution any eroded land, including land affected by strip mining, for which no cash is held in the reclamation forfeiture fund created by section 1513.18 of the Revised Code. For this purpose the chief may expend money deposited in the mining regulation and safety fund created by section 1513.30 of the Revised Code. All lands purchased or acquired shall be deeded to the state, but no deed shall be accepted or the purchase price paid until the title has been approved by the attorney general.

Section 1513.21 | Chief of division shall reclaim land.

• Effective: June 14, 2000
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 601 - 123rd General Assembly

From moneys appropriated for this purpose, the chief of the division of mineral resources management shall reclaim any land or tract of land acquired pursuant to section 1513.20 of the Revised Code in such manner that, after reclamation, such land or tract shall be suitable for agriculture, forests, recreation, wildlife, water conservation, or such other use as the chief may deem proper for such land, or tract of land, in light of the character of the soil, the topography of the land or tract to be reclaimed and of the surrounding lands, the proximity thereof to urban centers, and the requirements of any applicable conservation program.

Section 1513.22 | Plan of reclamation and estimate of cost.

• Effective: June 14, 2000
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 601 - 123rd General Assembly

Before proceeding to reclaim any land or tract of land acquired pursuant to section 1513.20 of the Revised Code, the chief of the division of mineral resources management shall determine the purpose or purposes for which such land or tract should be devoted after reclamation and shall develop a plan of reclamation for such land or tract reasonably designed to accomplish such purpose or purposes and an estimate of the cost thereof. When completed such plan shall be submitted to the director of natural resources who may approve or disapprove the same.

Section 1513.23 | Studies, surveys and maps for planning reclamation.

• Effective: June 14, 2000
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 601 - 123rd General Assembly

In determining the purpose or purposes for which any land or tract of land should be devoted after reclamation and in preparing a plan of reclamation, the chief of the division of mineral resources management may call to the chief's assistance, temporarily, any engineers or other employees in any state department or in the Ohio state university, or other educational institutions financed wholly or in part by the state, for the purpose of making studies, surveys, and maps and for the purpose of devising the most effective and economical plan of reclamation.

Such engineers and employees shall not receive any additional compensation other than that which they receive from the department by which they are employed, but they shall be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses incurred while working under the direction of the chief.

Section 1513.24 | Implementing reclamation plan.

• Effective: June 14, 2000
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 601 - 123rd General Assembly

After a plan of reclamation is approved by the director of natural resources, the chief of the division of mineral resources management, from any moneys appropriated for the reclamation of strip mined lands, shall proceed to carry out the plan.

With the approval of the director, the chief may carry out any such plan or any part of such plan with the employees and equipment of any division of the department of natural resources or the chief may carry out any such plan, or any part of such plan by contracting therefor, provided that the chief shall not enter into any contract, agreement, or understanding unless the same is approved by the director.

Any such contract shall be entered into by the chief, with the approval of the director, with persons who agree therein to furnish any of the materials, equipment, or labor. Each such contract shall be awarded by the chief to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, in accordance with section 9.312 of the Revised Code, after sealed bids therefor are received, opened, and published at the time and place fixed by the chief, and notice of the time and place at which the sealed bids will be received, opened, and published, has been published by the chief at least once at least ten days before the opening of the bids in a newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the area of land to be reclaimed under the contract is located, provided that if, after so advertising for bids for the contract, no bids therefor are received by the chief at the time and place fixed for receiving them, the chief may advertise again for such bids, but the chief is not required to do so, and the chief may, if the chief considers the public interest will be best served thereby, enter into a contract for the reclamation of the land or tract without further advertisement for bids. The chief may reject any or all bids received and fix and publish again notice of the time and place at which bids for such contracts will be received, opened, and published.

The chief shall require every contractor performing reclamation work under this section to pay workers at the greater of their rate of pay, as established by contract, agreement, or prior custom or practice, or the average wage rate paid in this state for the same or similar work as determined by the chief under section 1513.02 of the Revised Code.

Section 1513.25 | Transferring or selling reclaimed land or interest in land.

• Effective: September 29, 2017
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 49 - 132nd General Assembly

After completion of the reclamation of a tract of land acquired pursuant to section 1513.20 of the Revised Code, the chief of the division of mineral resources management may, if the land is suitable to the uses of any other department, division, office, or institution of the state, transfer the land or tract to that department, division, office, or institution, subject to the approval of the director of natural resources.

With the approval of the attorney general and the director, the chief may sell any such land or tract, after completion of the plan of reclamation, when the sale is advantageous to the state.

With the approval of the attorney general and the director, the chief may grant easements and leases on the land or tract under terms advantageous to the state, and may grant mineral rights on a royalty basis.

All money received from the sale of reclaimed lands, or in payment for easements, leases, or royalties, shall be paid to the mining regulation and safety fund created in section 1513.30 of the Revised Code.

Section 1513.26 | Annual report.

• Effective: June 14, 2000
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 601 - 123rd General Assembly

The chief of the division of mineral resources management shall make an annual report to the governor and to the general assembly. The report shall identify each reclamation project, state the number of acres reclaimed by the division or persons with whom it contracts under sections 1513.20 to 1513.25 of the Revised Code, identify the county in which the project is located, and make a detailed accounting of expenditures.

Section 1513.27 | Reclaiming land at state expense.

• Effective: September 29, 2017
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 49 - 132nd General Assembly

As used in this section and sections 1513.28, 1513.30, 1513.31, and 1513.32 of the Revised Code, "damage to adjacent property" means physical injury or harm to nearby property caused by the unreclaimed condition of lands mined prior to April 10, 1972, or pursuant to a license issued prior to April 10, 1972, including, without limitation, injury or harm to vegetation on adjacent property, pollution of surface or underground waters on adjacent property, loss or interruption of water supply on adjacent property, flow of acid water onto or across adjacent property, flooding of adjacent property, landslides onto or across adjacent property, erosion of adjacent property, or deposition of sediment upon adjacent property. Damage to adjacent property does not include any diminution of the market value of adjacent property caused exclusively by the visual or aesthetic appearance of such unreclaimed lands.

The chief of the division of mineral resources management, with the approval of the director of natural resources, may enter into a written agreement, which may be in the form of a contract, with the owner of any unreclaimed land affected by mining before April 10, 1972, or pursuant to a license issued before April 10, 1972, that causes or may cause pollution of the waters of the state or damage to adjacent property, is not likely to be mined in the foreseeable future, and lies within the boundaries of a project area approved by the chief under section 1513.30 of the Revised Code, under which the state or its agents may enter the land to reclaim it at state expense with money from the mining regulation and safety fund by establishing vegetative cover and substantially reducing or eliminating erosion, sedimentation, landslides, pollution, accumulation or discharge of acid water, flooding, and damage to adjacent property. The agreement may include provisions pertaining to liability for damages and any other provisions necessary or desirable to achieve the purposes of this section.

If the chief makes a finding of fact that land or water resources have been adversely affected by past coal mining practices; if the adverse effects are at a stage where, in the public interest, action to restore, reclaim, abate, control, or prevent the adverse effects should be taken; and if the owners of the affected land or water resources either are not known or readily available or will not give permission for the state, political subdivisions, or their agents, employees, or contractors to enter on the property to restore, reclaim, abate, control, or prevent the adverse effects, the chief or the chief's agents, employees, or contractors may enter on the affected property in order to do all things necessary or expedient to restore, reclaim, abate, control, or prevent the adverse effects. Prior to entering on the property, the chief or the chief's agents, employees, or contractors shall give notice by mail to the owners, if known, or, if not known, by posting notice on the premises and advertising once in a newspaper of general circulation in the county or municipal corporation in which the land lies. Such an entry shall be construed as an exercise of the police power for the protection of public health, safety, and welfare and shall not be construed as an act of condemnation of property or of trespass. The money expended for the work and the benefits accruing to any premises so entered upon shall be chargeable against land and shall mitigate or offset any claim in or any action brought by any owner of any interest in the premises for any alleged damages by virtue of the entry. This provision is not intended to create new rights of action or eliminate existing immunities.

Each agreement entered into pursuant to this section shall contain provisions for the reimbursement of a portion of the costs of the reclamation that is commensurate with the increase in the fair market value of the property attributable to the reclamation work thereon, as determined by appraisals made before and after reclamation in the manner stated in the agreement, unless the determination discloses an increase in value that is insubstantial. For reimbursement of the portion, the agreement may include provisions for any of the following:

(A) Public use for soil, water, forest, or wildlife conservation or public recreation purposes;

(B) Payment to the state of the share of the income from the crops or timber produced on the land that is stated in the agreement;

(C) Imposition of a lien in the amount of the increase in fair market value payable upon transfer or conveyance of the property to a new owner. All such reimbursements and payments shall be credited to the mining regulation and safety fund.

(D) Payment to the state in cash of the amount of the increase in fair market value, payable upon completion of the reclamation.

For the purpose of selecting lands to be reclaimed within the boundaries of approved project areas, the chief shall consult the owners of unreclaimed lands, may consult with local officials, civic and professional organizations, and interested individuals, and shall consider the feasibility, cost, and public benefits of reclaiming particular lands, their potential for being mined, and the availability of federal or other assistance for reclamation. Before entering into the agreement, the chief shall prepare or approve a detailed plan with topographic maps indicating the reclamation improvements to be made. The plan may include improvements recommended by the owner, but may not include improvements that the chief finds are not necessary to establish vegetative cover or substantially reduce or eliminate erosion, sedimentation, landslides, pollution, accumulation or discharge of acid water, flooding, or damage to adjacent property.

With the approval of the director and upon entering into the agreement with the owner, the chief may carry out the plan of reclamation or any part thereof with the employees and equipment of any division of the department of natural resources, or the chief may carry out the plan or any part thereof by contracting therefor.

The chief, with the approval of the director and written consent of the owner, may enter into a contract with an operator mining adjacent land under a current, valid permit to carry out the plan of reclamation on the unreclaimed land or any part of the plan without advertising for bids. Contracts entered into with operators mining adjacent land are not subject to division (B) of section 127.16 of the Revised Code.

The chief shall require every operator mining adjacent land who performs reclamation work pursuant to this section to pay workers at the greater of their regular rate of pay, as established by contract, agreement, or prior custom or practice, or the average wage rate paid in this state for the same or similar work performed in the same or similar locality by private companies doing their own reclamation work. Each contract awarded by the chief to other than an operator mining adjacent land shall be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder after sealed bids are received, opened, and published at the time and place fixed by the chief. The chief shall publish notice of the time and place at which bids will be received, opened, and published, at least once at least ten days before the date of the opening of the bids, in a newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the area of land to be reclaimed under the contract is located. If, after so advertising for bids, no bids are received by the chief at the time and place fixed for receiving them, the chief may advertise again for bids, or, if the chief considers the public interest will be best served, the chief may enter into a contract for the reclamation of the area of land without further advertisement for bids. The chief may reject all bids received and again publish notice of the time and place at which bids for contracts will be received, opened, and published. The chief, with the approval of the director and written consent of the owner, may enter into a contract with a licensed mine operator mining adjacent land under a valid permit to carry out the plan of reclamation on the unreclaimed land or any part of the plan without advertising for bids.

Section 1513.28 | Applications for reclamation grants.

• Effective: September 29, 2017
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 49 - 132nd General Assembly

The chief of the division of mineral resources management, with the approval of the director of natural resources, may make grants of money from the mining regulation and safety fund created by section 1513.30 of the Revised Code for the payment by the state of up to seventy-five per cent of the reasonable and necessary reclamation expenses incurred by the owner of any unreclaimed land affected by mining before April 10, 1972, or pursuant to a license issued before April 10, 1972, that causes or may cause pollution of the waters of the state or damage to adjacent property, is not likely to be mined in the foreseeable future, and lies within the boundaries of a project area approved by the chief under section 1513.30 of the Revised Code.

The owner shall submit application for a grant on forms furnished by the division, together with detailed plans and topographic maps indicating the reclamation improvements to be made, an itemized estimate of the project's cost, a description of the project's benefits, and such other information as the chief prescribes. The plan of reclamation may be prepared in consultation with a local soil and water conservation district.

The chief may award the applicant a grant only after finding that the proposed reclamation work will establish vegetative cover and substantially reduce or eliminate erosion, sedimentation, landslides, pollution, accumulation or discharge of acid water, flooding, and damage to adjacent property.

For the purpose of establishing priorities for awarding grants under this section and section 1513.31 of the Revised Code, the chief shall consider each project's feasibility, cost, and public benefits of reclaiming the particular land, its potential for being mined, and the availability of federal or other financial assistance for reclamation.

The chief shall determine the amount of a grant under this section based upon the chief's determination of what constitutes reasonable and necessary expenses actually incurred for establishing vegetative cover, substantially reducing or eliminating erosion, sedimentation, landslides, pollution, accumulation or discharge of acid water, flooding, or damage to adjacent property, and preparing the plan of reclamation. The owner may elect to have other improvements made concurrently, but in no event shall any part of the grant be made for such other improvements, and in no event shall the amount of the grant exceed seventy-five per cent of the total amount, determined by the chief, of what constitutes reasonable and necessary expenses actually incurred for the reclamation measures listed in this section.

The chief shall enter into a contract for funding with each applicant awarded a grant to ensure that the money granted are for the purposes of this section and that the reclamation work is properly done. The final payment may not be made until the chief inspects and approves the completed reclamation work.

Each such contract shall contain provisions for the reimbursement of a portion of the costs of the reclamation that is commensurate with the increase in the fair market value of the property attributable to the reclamation work thereon, as determined by appraisals made before and after reclamation in the manner stated in the agreement, unless such determination discloses an increase in value that is insubstantial in comparison to the benefits to the public from the abatement of pollution or prevention of damage to adjacent property, considering the applicant's share of the reclamation cost. For reimbursement of such portion, the contract may include provisions for:

(A) Public use for soil, water, forest, or wildlife conservation or public recreation purposes;

(B) Payment to the state of the share of the income from the crops or timber produced on the land that is stated in the agreement;

(C) Imposition of a lien in the amount of the increase in fair market value payable upon transfer or conveyance of the property to a new owner;

(D) Payment to the state in cash in the amount of the increase in fair market value, payable upon completion of the reclamation.

All such reimbursements and payments shall be credited to the mining regulation and safety fund.

Not more than forty per cent of the money credited to the fund during the preceding calendar year may be expended during a calendar year for grants under this section.

The chief shall require every landowner performing reclamation work pursuant to this section to pay workers at the greater of their regular rate of pay, as established by contract, agreement, or prior custom or practice, or the average wage rate in this state for the same or similar work performed in the same or similar locality by private companies doing their own reclamation work.

Section 1513.30 | Mining regulation and safety fund; selection of project areas.

• Effective: September 29, 2017
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 49 - 132nd General Assembly

(A) There is hereby created in the state treasury the mining regulation and safety fund, to be administered by the chief of the division of mineral resources management. The fund shall be used for the following purposes:

(1) Reclaiming land, public or private, affected by mining, or controlling mine drainage, for which no cash is held in the reclamation forfeiture fund created in section 1513.18 of the Revised Code;

(2) Specified purposes in sections 1514.06, 1514.11, and 1561.48 of the Revised Code;

(3) Administration and enforcement of Chapter 1513. of the Revised Code.

All investment earnings of the fund shall be deposited into the fund.

(B) In order to direct expenditures from the mining regulation and safety fund toward reclamation projects that fulfill priority needs and provide the greatest public benefits, the chief periodically shall consider projects to be financed from the mining regulation and safety fund. For the purpose of selecting project areas and determining the boundaries of project areas, the chief shall consider the feasibility, cost, and public benefits of reclaiming the areas, their potential for being mined, the availability of federal or other financial assistance for reclamation, and the geographic distribution of project areas to ensure fair distribution among affected areas.

(C) The chief shall give priority to areas where there is little or no likelihood of mining within the foreseeable future, reclamation is feasible at reasonable cost with available funds, and either of the following applies:

(1) The pollution of the waters of the state and damage to adjacent property are most severe and widespread.

(2) Reclamation will make possible public uses for soil, water, forest, or wildlife conservation or public recreation purposes, will facilitate orderly commercial or industrial site development, or will facilitate the use or improve the enjoyment of nearby public conservation or recreation lands.

(D) Expenditures from the mining regulation and safety fund for reclamation projects may be made only for projects that are within the boundaries of project areas approved by the chief. Expenditures from the mining regulation and safety fund shall be made by the chief, with the approval of the director of natural resources.

(E) The chief may engage in cooperative projects under this section with any agency of the United States, appropriate state agencies, or state universities or colleges as defined in section 3345.27 of the Revised Code and may transfer money from the fund to other appropriate state agencies or to state universities or colleges in order to carry out the reclamation activities authorized by this section.

(F) Notwithstanding any other provisions of law to the contrary, money credited to the mining regulation and safety fund that is derived from taxes levied in division (A)(3) or (4) of section 5749.02 of the Revised Code shall not be used for any purposes authorized under this chapter.

Section 1513.31 | Grants from mining regulation and safety fund - application - determination.

• Effective: September 29, 2017
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 49 - 132nd General Assembly

For the purpose of promoting local or regional economic or community development, the chief of the division of mineral resources management, with the approval of the director of natural resources, may make grants of money from the mining regulation and safety fund created by section 1513.30 of the Revised Code for the payment by the state of up to seventy-five per cent of the reasonable and necessary expenses incurred by a political subdivision, community improvement corporation incorporated under Chapter 1724. of the Revised Code, or other nonprofit corporation incorporated under Chapter 1702. of the Revised Code for the reclamation of any unreclaimed land affected by mining before April 10, 1972, or pursuant to a license issued before April 10, 1972, that is owned by the political subdivision or corporation, is to be reclaimed for the purpose of commercial or industrial site development by the political subdivision or corporation or the development of recreational facilities by the political subdivision, and lies within the boundaries of a project area approved by the chief.

The owner shall submit an application for a grant on forms furnished by the division of mineral resources management together with detailed plans and topographic maps indicating the reclamation improvements to be made, an itemized estimate of the project's cost, a description of the project's benefits, and such other information as the chief prescribes. The chief may award the applicant a grant only after finding that the proposed reclamation work will render the unreclaimed land suitable for commercial, industrial, or, if the land is owned by a political subdivision, recreational site development and will substantially reduce or eliminate the damage, if any, to adjacent property that is or may be caused by the condition of the unreclaimed land.

The chief shall determine the amount of the grant based upon the chief's determination of what constitutes reasonable and necessary expenses actually incurred for preparing the plan of reclamation; preparing the unreclaimed land for commercial, industrial, or, in the case of land owned by a political subdivision, recreational site development, including backfilling, grading, resoiling, planting, or other work to restore the land to a condition suitable for such development; and, if the condition of the unreclaimed land so requires, establishing vegetative cover or substantially reducing or eliminating erosion, sedimentation, landslides, pollution, accumulation or discharge of acid water, flooding, or damage to adjacent property. The owner may have other improvements made concurrently with the reclamation work, but shall not spend any part of the grant for such other improvements. No grant shall exceed seventy-five per cent of the total amount, as determined by the chief, of what constitutes reasonable and necessary expenses actually incurred for the reclamation measures listed in this section.

The chief shall enter into a contract for funding with each applicant awarded a grant in order to ensure that the money granted are used for the purposes of this section and that the reclamation work is properly done. The final payment under a grant may not be made until the chief inspects and approves the completed reclamation work.

Section 1513.32 | Agreements for state entry and use of funds to reclaim land.

• Effective: September 29, 2017
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 49 - 132nd General Assembly

For the purpose of promoting local or regional economic or community development, the chief of the division of mineral resources management, with the approval of the director of natural resources, may enter into a written agreement, which may be in the form of a contract, with a political subdivision, community improvement corporation incorporated under Chapter 1724. of the Revised Code, or other nonprofit corporation incorporated under Chapter 1702. of the Revised Code that owns any unreclaimed land affected by mining before April 10, 1972, or pursuant to a license issued before April 10, 1972, under which the state or its agents may enter upon the land to reclaim it at state expense with money from the mining regulation and safety fund created by section 1513.30 of the Revised Code for the purpose of commercial or industrial site development if the land is owned by a political subdivision or corporation or the development of recreational facilities if the land is owned by a political subdivision. The agreement may include provisions pertaining to liability for damages and any other provisions necessary or desirable to achieve the purposes of this section.

For the purpose of selecting lands to be reclaimed for commercial, industrial, or, if the lands are owned by a political subdivision, recreational site development, the chief shall consult with the owners of unreclaimed lands and with local officials, civic and professional organizations, and interested individuals and shall consider the feasibility, cost, and public benefits of reclaiming particular lands and the availability of federal or other assistance for the reclamation. The chief shall select for reclamation under this section only lands that lie within the boundaries of a project area approved by the chief.

Before entering into the agreement, the chief shall prepare or approve a detailed plan with topographic maps indicating the reclamation improvements to be made, an itemized estimate of the project's cost, a description of the project's benefits, and such other information as the chief considers appropriate. The plan shall include only reclamation work that is necessary to render the unreclaimed land suitable for commercial, industrial, or, if the land is owned by a political subdivision, recreational site development and will substantially reduce or eliminate the damage, if any, to adjacent property that is or may be caused by the condition of the unreclaimed land. The plan may include improvements recommended by the owner, but may not include any improvements that the chief finds are not necessary to prepare the unreclaimed land for commercial, industrial, or, if the land is owned by a political subdivision, recreational site development, or if the condition of the unreclaimed land so requires, are not necessary to establish vegetative cover or substantially reduce or eliminate erosion, sedimentation, landslides, pollution, accumulation or discharge of acid water, flooding, or damage to adjacent property.

With the approval of the director and upon entering into an agreement with the owner, the chief may carry out the plan of reclamation or any part thereof with the employees or equipment of the department, or the chief may carry out the plan or any part thereof by contracting therefor in accordance with the procedures prescribed in section 1513.27 of the Revised Code. The chief shall keep an itemized record of the state's expense in carrying out the plan.

Expenditure of not more than twenty per cent of the money credited to the mining regulation and safety fund during the preceding fiscal year may be approved by the chief during a fiscal year for conducting reclamation projects under this section and for making grants under section 1513.31 of the Revised Code, provided that such expenditures are primarily for the pollution abatement purposes of section 1513.30 of the Revised Code.

Section 1513.33 | Grant constitutes loan by state to community improvement or nonprofit corporation.

• Effective: September 29, 2017
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 49 - 132nd General Assembly

The amount of any grant to a community improvement corporation or nonprofit corporation made under section 1513.31 of the Revised Code or the state's expenses incurred in reclaiming unreclaimed land owned by a community improvement corporation or nonprofit corporation under section 1513.32 of the Revised Code shall constitute a loan by the state to the corporation. Entry into a grant contract under section 1513.31 of the Revised Code or into a reclamation agreement under section 1513.32 of the Revised Code by the chief of the division of mineral resources management constitutes the designation of the community improvement corporation or nonprofit corporation as the state's agent for the commercial or industrial development of the land named in the contract or agreement.

Each grant contract under section 1513.31 of the Revised Code or reclamation agreement under section 1513.32 of the Revised Code shall include terms for repayment of the grant or reimbursement of the state for its reclamation expenses, which shall require repayment of the loan in full upon the first sale, lease, or rental of the land reclaimed under the contract or agreement if the entire parcel of reclaimed land is sold, leased, or rented. If the corporation establishes a business enterprise on the entire parcel of reclaimed land, the contract shall require repayment of the loan in full upon the commencement of operation of the business enterprise. If the reclaimed land is sold, leased, or rented in portions or the corporation establishes a business enterprise on any portion of the reclaimed land, the contract or agreement shall require repayment of that portion of the loan that corresponds to the portion of the reclaimed land sold, leased, or rented upon the first sale, lease, or rental of that portion, or upon commencement of operation of the business enterprise on that portion, by the corporation in the proportion that the acreage of the reclaimed land sold, leased, rented, or used in business by the corporation bears to the total acreage of land reclaimed under the contract or agreement.

To secure repayment of the money granted under section 1513.31 of the Revised Code or of the state's reclamation expenses under section 1513.32 of the Revised Code to or on behalf of a community improvement corporation or nonprofit corporation, the state shall have a lien on the land owned by the corporation that is land reclaimed under section 1513.31 or 1513.32 of the Revised Code equal to the amount of the grant made under section 1513.31 of the Revised Code or to the state's expenses incurred in reclaiming the land under section 1513.32 of the Revised Code. Within thirty days after the final grant payment is made under section 1513.31 of the Revised Code or after the completion of the reclamation work under section 1513.32 of the Revised Code, the chief shall cause to be recorded in the office of the county recorder of the county in which the reclaimed land is located a statement that shall contain an itemized accounting of the grant paid under section 1513.31 of the Revised Code or an itemized record of the state's expenses incurred in reclaiming the land under section 1513.32 of the Revised Code. The statement shall constitute a notice of lien and operate as of the date of delivery as a lien on the land reclaimed in the amount of the grant money paid out or the reclamation expenses incurred by the state and shall have priority as a lien second only to the lien of real property taxes imposed upon the land. The notice of lien and the lien shall not be valid as against any mortgagee, pledgee, purchaser, or judgment creditor whose rights have attached prior to the date of filing of the statement by the chief or to any prior or subsequent lien for real property taxes imposed pursuant to section 5719.04 of the Revised Code.

The county recorder shall record and index the chief's statement, under the name of the state and the corporation, in the official records maintained by the county recorder's office. The county recorder shall impose no charge for the recording or indexing of the statement. If the land is registered, the county recorder shall make a notation and enter a memorial of the lien upon the page of the register in which the last certificate of title to the land is registered, stating the name of the claimant, amount claimed, volume and page of the record where recorded, and exact time the memorial was entered.

The lien shall continue in force so long as any portion of the amount granted under section 1513.31 of the Revised Code or the state's reclamation expenses incurred under section 1513.32 of the Revised Code remains unpaid. Upon repayment in full of those money or expenses, the chief promptly shall issue a certificate of release of the lien. Upon presentation of the certificate of release, the county recorder of the county where the lien is recorded shall record the lien as having been discharged.

A lien imposed under this section shall be foreclosed upon the substantial failure of a corporation to repay any portion of the amount granted under section 1513.31 of the Revised Code or the state's reclamation expenses incurred under section 1513.32 of the Revised Code in accordance with the terms of the grant contract or reclamation agreement. Before foreclosing any lien under this section, the chief shall make a written demand upon the corporation to comply with the repayment terms of the contract or agreement. If the corporation does not pay the amount due within sixty days, the chief shall refer the matter to the attorney general, who shall institute a civil action to foreclose the lien of the state.

All money collected from loan repayments and lien foreclosures under this section shall be credited to the mining regulation and safety fund created by section 1513.30 of the Revised Code.

Section 1513.34 | Education and training for mineral resources inspectors, district supervisors, and enforcement personnel.

• Effective: July 1, 2007
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 187 - 126th General Assembly

The chief of the division of mineral resources management shall provide education and training for all mineral resources inspectors, district supervisors, and enforcement personnel. The chief shall provide, on a regular basis as funding allows, continuing education and training as necessary for all mineral resources inspectors, district supervisors, and enforcement personnel.

Section 1513.35 | Permit requirements for underground coal mining.

• Effective: June 14, 2000
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 601 - 123rd General Assembly

(A) In addition to the other requirements of this chapter, each permit issued by the chief of the division of mineral resources management under section 1513.07 of the Revised Code for underground coal mining shall require the operator to:

(1) Implement measures consistent with known technology in order to prevent subsidence from causing material damage to the extent technologically and economically feasible, maximize mine stability, and maintain the value and reasonably foreseeable use of such surface lands, except in those instances where the mining technology used requires planned subsidence in a predictable and controlled manner. This section does not prohibit the standard method of room and pillar mining.

(2) Seal all portals, entryways, drifts, shafts, or other openings between the surface and underground mine workings when no longer needed for mining operations;

(3) Fill or seal exploratory holes no longer necessary for mining, maximizing to the extent technologically and economically feasible the return of mining and processing waste, tailings, and any other waste incident to the mining operation, to the mine workings or excavations;

(4) With respect to the surface disposal of mine wastes, tailings, coal processing wastes, and other wastes in areas other than the mine workings or excavations, stabilize all surface waste piles created by the operator from current operations through construction in compacted layers, including the use of noncombustible and impervious materials if necessary, and ensure that the leachate will not degrade below water quality standards established pursuant to applicable federal and state law surface or ground waters, that the final contour of the waste pile will be compatible with natural surroundings, and that the site is stabilized and revegetated according to this section;

(5) Design, locate, construct, operate, maintain, enlarge, modify, and remove or abandon, in accordance with rules adopted by the chief, all existing and new coal mine waste piles consisting of mine wastes, tailings, coal processing wastes, or other liquid and solid wastes and used either temporarily or permanently as dams or embankments;

(6) Establish on regraded areas and all other lands affected, a diverse and permanent vegetative cover capable of self-regeneration and plant succession and at least equal in extent of cover to the natural vegetation of the area;

(7) Protect offsite areas from damage that may result from such mining operations;

(8) Eliminate fire hazards and conditions that may constitute a hazard to the health and safety of the public;

(9) Minimize the disturbances of the prevailing hydrologic balance at the minesite and in associated offsite areas and to the quantity of water in surface and ground water systems both during and after coal mining operations and during reclamation by:

(a) Avoiding acid or other toxic mine drainage by such measures as, but not limited to:

(i) Preventing or removing water from contact with toxic producing deposits;

(ii) Treating drainage to reduce toxic content that adversely affects downstream water upon being released to water courses;

(iii) Casing, sealing, or otherwise managing boreholes, shafts, and wells to keep acid or other toxic drainage from entering ground and surface waters.

(b) Conducting coal mining operations so as to prevent, to the extent possible using the best technology currently available, additional contributions of suspended solids to streamflow or runoff outside the permit area, but in no event shall such contributions be in excess of requirements set by applicable state or federal law, and avoiding channel deepening or enlargement in operations requiring the discharge of water from mines.

(10) With respect to other surface impacts not specified in this division, including the construction of new roads or in improvement or use of existing roads for hauling or to gain access to the site, repair areas, storage areas, processing areas, shipping areas, or other areas upon which are sited structures, facilities, or other property or materials on the surface, resulting from or incident to such activities, operate in accordance with the standards established under section 1513.16 of the Revised Code for such effects that result from coal mining operations. The chief shall make such modifications in the requirements imposed by this division as are necessary to accommodate the difference between strip and underground coal mining.

(11) Minimize disturbances and adverse impacts of the operation on wildlife, fish, and related environmental values, and achieve enhancement of such resources where practicable, to the extent possible using the best currently available technology;

(12) Locate openings for all new drift mines working acid-producing or iron-producing coal seams in such a manner so as to prevent a gravity discharge of water from the mine in accordance with rules adopted by the chief.

(B) In order to protect the stability of the land, the chief shall suspend underground coal mining under urbanized areas, municipal corporations, or unincorporated communities or adjacent to industrial or commercial buildings, major impoundments, or permanent streams, if the chief finds imminent danger to inhabitants of the urbanized areas, municipal corporations, and unincorporated communities.

(C) This chapter is applicable to surface operations and surface impacts incident to an underground coal mine with modifications as are necessary to accommodate the difference between surface coal mining and underground coal mining. The chief shall adopt the modifications by rule in accordance with section 1513.02 and Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.

Section 1513.36 | Experimental practices.

• Effective: June 14, 2000
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 601 - 123rd General Assembly

In order to encourage advances in mining and reclamation practices or to allow post-mining land use for industrial, commercial, residential, agricultural, or public use, including recreational facilities, the chief of the division of mineral resources management, with approval by the secretary of the United States department of the interior, may authorize departures in individual cases on an experimental basis from the environmental performance standards set forth in this chapter. Such departures may be authorized if:

(A) The experimental practices are potentially more or at least as environmentally protective, during and after mining operations, as those required under this chapter and rules adopted thereunder;

(B) The mining operations approved for particular land use or other purposes are not larger or more numerous than necessary to determine the effectiveness and economic feasibility of the experimental practice;

(C) The experimental practices do not reduce the protection afforded public health and safety below that provided under this chapter and rules adopted thereunder.

Section 1513.37 | Abandoned mine reclamation fund.

• Effective: September 23, 2022
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 430 - 134th General Assembly

(A) There is hereby created in the state treasury the abandoned mine reclamation fund, which shall be administered by the chief of the division of mineral resources management. The fund shall consist of grants from the secretary of the interior from the federal abandoned mine reclamation fund established by Title IV of the "Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977," 91 Stat. 445, 30 U.S.C.A. 1201, regulations adopted under it, and amendments to the act and regulations and the federal "Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act," Pub. L. No. 177-58. Expenditures from the abandoned mine reclamation fund shall be made by the chief for the following purposes:

(1) Reclamation and restoration of land and water resources adversely affected by past coal mining, including, but not limited to, reclamation and restoration of abandoned strip mine areas, abandoned coal processing areas, and abandoned coal refuse disposal areas; sealing and filling of abandoned deep mine entries and voids; planting of land adversely affected by past coal mining; prevention of erosion and sedimentation; prevention, abatement, treatment, and control of water pollution created by coal mine drainage, including restoration of streambeds and construction and operation of water treatment plants; prevention, abatement, and control of burning coal refuse disposal areas and burning coal in situ; and prevention, abatement, and control of coal mine subsidence;

(2) Acquisition and filling of voids and sealing of tunnels, shafts, and entryways of noncoal lands;

(3) Reclaiming land, public or private, affected by mining, or controlling mine drainage under section 1513.27 of the Revised Code in accordance with the requirements of the federal "Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act," Pub. L. No. 177-58;

(4) Acquisition of land as provided for in this section;

(5) Administrative expenses incurred in accomplishing the purposes of this section;

(6) All other necessary expenses to accomplish the purposes of this section.

(B) Expenditures of money from the abandoned mine reclamation fund on land and water eligible pursuant to division (C) of this section shall reflect the following priorities in the order stated:

(1) The protection of public health, safety, general welfare, and property from extreme danger of adverse effects of coal mining practices;

(2) The protection of public health, safety, and general welfare from adverse effects of coal mining practices;

(3) The restoration of land and water resources and the environment previously degraded by adverse effects of coal mining practices, including measures for the conservation and development of soil and water (excluding channelization), woodland, fish and wildlife, recreation resources, and agricultural productivity;

(4) Research and demonstration projects relating to the development of coal mining reclamation and water quality control program methods and techniques;

(5) The protection, repair, replacement, construction, or enhancement of public facilities such as utilities, roads, recreation facilities, and conservation facilities adversely affected by coal mining practices;

(6) The development of publicly owned land adversely affected by coal mining practices, including land acquired as provided in this section for recreation and historic purposes, conservation and reclamation purposes, and open space benefits.

(C)(1) Lands and water eligible for reclamation or drainage abatement expenditures under this section are those that were mined for coal or were affected by such mining, wastebanks, coal processing, or other coal mining processes and that meet one of the following criteria:

(a) Are lands that were abandoned or left in an inadequate reclamation status prior to August 3, 1977, and for which there is no continuing reclamation responsibility under state or federal laws;

(b) Are lands for which the chief finds that surface coal mining operations occurred at any time between August 4, 1977, and August 16, 1982, and that any money for reclamation or abatement that are available pursuant to a bond, performance security, or other form of financial guarantee or from any other source are not sufficient to provide for adequate reclamation or abatement at the site;

(c) Are lands for which the chief finds that surface coal mining operations occurred at any time between August 4, 1977, and November 5, 1990, that the surety of the mining operator became insolvent during that time, and that, as of November 5, 1990, any money immediately available from proceedings relating to that insolvency or from any financial guarantee or other source are not sufficient to provide for adequate reclamation or abatement at the site.

(2) In determining which sites to reclaim pursuant to divisions (C)(1)(b) and (c) of this section, the chief shall follow the priorities stated in divisions (B)(1) and (2) of this section and shall ensure that priority is given to those sites that are in the immediate vicinity of a residential area or that have an adverse economic impact on a local community.

(3) Surface coal mining operations on lands eligible for remining shall not affect the eligibility of those lands for reclamation and restoration under this section after the release of the bond, performance security, or other form of financial guarantee for any such operation as provided under division (F) of section 1513.16 of the Revised Code. If the bond, performance security, or other form of financial guarantee for a surface coal mining operation on lands eligible for remining is forfeited, money available under this section may be used if the amount of the bond, performance security, or other form of financial guarantee is not sufficient to provide for adequate reclamation or abatement, except that if conditions warrant, the chief immediately shall exercise the authority granted under division (L) of this section.

(D) The chief may submit to the secretary of the interior a state reclamation plan and annual projects to carry out the purposes of this section.

(1) The reclamation plan generally shall identify the areas to be reclaimed, the purposes for which the reclamation is proposed, the relationship of the lands to be reclaimed and the proposed reclamation to surrounding areas, the specific criteria for ranking and identifying projects to be funded, and the legal authority and programmatic capability to perform the work in accordance with this section.

(2) On an annual basis, the chief may submit to the secretary an application for support of the abandoned mine reclamation fund and implementation of specific reclamation projects. The annual requests shall include such information as may be requested by the secretary.

(3) The costs for each proposed project under this section shall include actual construction costs, actual operation and maintenance costs of permanent facilities, planning and engineering costs, construction inspection costs, and other necessary administrative expenses.

(4) The chief may submit annual and other reports required by the secretary when funds are provided by the secretary under either of the following:

(a) Title IV of the "Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977," 91 Stat. 445, 30 U.S.C.A. 1201, regulations adopted under it, and amendments to the act and regulations;

(b) The federal "Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act," Pub. L. No. 177-58.

(E)(1) There is hereby created in the state treasury the acid mine drainage abatement and treatment fund, which shall be administered by the chief. The fund shall consist of grants from the secretary of the interior from the federal abandoned mine reclamation fund pursuant to section 402(g)(6) of Title IV of the "Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977," 91 Stat. 445, 30 U.S.C.A. 1201. All investment earnings of the fund shall be credited to the fund.

(2) The chief shall make expenditures from the fund, in consultation with the United States department of agriculture, soil conservation service, to implement acid mine drainage abatement and treatment plans approved by the secretary. The plans shall provide for the comprehensive abatement of the causes and treatment of the effects of acid mine drainage within qualified hydrologic units affected by coal mining practices and shall include at least all of the following:

(a) An identification of the qualified hydrologic unit. As used in division (E) of this section, "qualified hydrologic unit" means a hydrologic unit that meets all of the following criteria:

(i) The water quality in the unit has been significantly affected by acid mine drainage from coal mining practices in a manner that has an adverse impact on biological resources.

(ii) The unit contains lands and waters that meet the eligibility requirements established under division (C) of this section and any of the priorities established in divisions (B)(1) to (3) of this section.

(iii) The unit contains lands and waters that are proposed to be the subject of expenditures from the reclamation forfeiture fund created in section 1513.18 of the Revised Code or the mining regulation and safety fund created in section 1513.30 of the Revised Code.

(b) The extent to which acid mine drainage is affecting the water quality and biological resources within the hydrologic unit;

(c) An identification of the sources of acid mine drainage within the hydrologic unit;

(d) An identification of individual projects and the measures proposed to be undertaken to abate and treat the causes or effects of acid mine drainage within the hydrologic unit;

(e) The cost of undertaking the proposed abatement and treatment measures;

(f) An identification of existing and proposed sources of funding for those measures;

(g) An analysis of the cost-effectiveness and environmental benefits of abatement and treatment measures.

(3) The chief may make grants of money from the acid mine drainage abatement and treatment fund to watershed groups for conducting projects to accomplish the purposes of this section. A grant may be made in an amount equal to not more than fifty per cent of each of the following:

(a) Reasonable and necessary expenses for the collection and analysis of data sufficient to do either or both of the following:

(i) Identify a watershed as a qualified hydrologic unit;

(ii) Monitor the quality of water in a qualified hydrologic unit before, during, and at any time after completion of the project by the watershed group.

(b) Engineering design costs and construction costs involved in the project, provided that the project is conducted in a qualified hydrologic unit and the chief considers the project to be a priority.

A watershed group that wishes to obtain a grant under division (E)(3) of this section shall submit an application to the chief on forms provided by the division of mineral resources management, together with detailed estimates and timetables for accomplishing the stated goals of the project and any other information that the chief requires.

For the purposes of establishing priorities for awarding grants under division (E)(3) of this section, the chief shall consider each project's feasibility, cost-effectiveness, and environmental benefit, together with the availability of matching funding, including in-kind services, for the project.

The chief shall enter into a contract for funding with each applicant awarded a grant to ensure that the money granted is used for the purposes of this section and that the work that the project involves is done properly. The contract is not subject to division (B) of section 127.16 of the Revised Code. The final payment of grant money shall not be made until the chief inspects and approves the completed project.

The chief shall require each applicant awarded a grant under this section who conducts a project involving construction work to pay workers at the greater of their regular rate of pay, as established by contract, agreement, or prior custom or practice, or the average wage rate paid in this state for the same or similar work performed in the same or a similar locality by private companies doing similar work on similar projects.

As used in division (E)(3) of this section, "watershed group" means a charitable organization as defined in section 1716.01 of the Revised Code that has been established for the purpose of conducting reclamation of land and waters adversely affected by coal mining practices and specifically for conducting acid mine drainage abatement.

(F)(1) If the chief makes a finding of fact that land or water resources have been adversely affected by past coal mining practices; the adverse effects are at a stage where, in the public interest, action to restore, reclaim, abate, control, or prevent the adverse effects should be taken; the owners of the land or water resources where entry must be made to restore, reclaim, abate, control, or prevent the adverse effects of past coal mining practices are not known or are not readily available; or the owners will not give permission for the state, political subdivisions, or their agents, employees, or contractors to enter upon the property to restore, reclaim, abate, control, or prevent the adverse effects of past coal mining practices; then, upon giving notice by mail to the owners, if known, or, if not known, by posting notice upon the premises and advertising once in a newspaper of general circulation in the municipal corporation or county in which the land lies, the chief or the chief's agents, employees, or contractors may enter upon the property adversely affected by past coal mining practices and any other property to have access to the property to do all things necessary or expedient to restore, reclaim, abate, control, or prevent the adverse effects. The entry shall be construed as an exercise of the police power for the protection of the public health, safety, and general welfare and shall not be construed as an act of condemnation of property nor of trespass on it. The money expended for the work and the benefits accruing to any such premises so entered upon shall be chargeable against the land and shall mitigate or offset any claim in or any action brought by any owner of any interest in the premises for any alleged damages by virtue of the entry, but this provision is not intended to create new rights of action or eliminate existing immunities.

(2) The chief or the chief's authorized representatives may enter upon any property for the purpose of conducting studies or exploratory work to determine the existence of adverse effects of past coal mining practices and to determine the feasibility of restoration, reclamation, abatement, control, or prevention of such adverse effects. The entry shall be construed as an exercise of the police power for the protection of the public health, safety, and general welfare and shall not be construed as an act of condemnation of property nor trespass on it.

(3) The chief may acquire any land by purchase, donation, or condemnation that is adversely affected by past coal mining practices if the chief determines that acquisition of the land is necessary to successful reclamation and that all of the following apply:

(a) The acquired land, after restoration, reclamation, abatement, control, or prevention of the adverse effects of past coal mining practices, will serve recreation and historic purposes, serve conservation and reclamation purposes, or provide open space benefits.

(b) Permanent facilities such as a treatment plant or a relocated stream channel will be constructed on the land for the restoration, reclamation, abatement, control, or prevention of the adverse effects of past coal mining practices.

(c) Acquisition of coal refuse disposal sites and all coal refuse thereon will serve the purposes of this section or public ownership is desirable to meet emergency situations and prevent recurrences of the adverse effects of past coal mining practices.

(4)(a) Title to all lands acquired pursuant to this section shall be in the name of the state. The price paid for land acquired under this section shall reflect the market value of the land as adversely affected by past coal mining practices.

(b) The chief may receive grants on a matching basis from the secretary of the interior for the purpose of carrying out this section.

(5)(a) Where land acquired pursuant to this section is considered to be suitable for industrial, commercial, residential, or recreational development, the chief may sell the land by public sale under a system of competitive bidding at not less than fair market value and under other requirements imposed by rule to ensure that the lands are put to proper use consistent with local and state land use plans, if any, as determined by the chief.

(b) The chief, when requested, and after appropriate public notice, shall hold a public meeting in the county, counties, or other appropriate political subdivisions of the state in which lands acquired pursuant to this section are located. The meetings shall be held at a time that shall afford local citizens and governments the maximum opportunity to participate in the decision concerning the use or disposition of the lands after restoration, reclamation, abatement, control, or prevention of the adverse effects of past coal mining practices.

(6) In addition to the authority to acquire land under division (F)(3) of this section, the chief may use money in the fund to acquire land by purchase, donation, or condemnation, and to reclaim and transfer acquired land to a political subdivision, or to any person, if the chief determines that it is an integral and necessary element of an economically feasible plan for the construction or rehabilitation of housing for persons disabled as the result of employment in the mines or work incidental to that employment, persons displaced by acquisition of land pursuant to this section, persons dislocated as the result of adverse effects of coal mining practices that constitute an emergency as provided in the "Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977," 91 Stat. 466, 30 U.S.C.A. 1240, or amendments to it, or persons dislocated as the result of natural disasters or catastrophic failures from any cause. Such activities shall be accomplished under such terms and conditions as the chief requires, which may include transfers of land with or without monetary consideration, except that to the extent that the consideration is below the fair market value of the land transferred, no portion of the difference between the fair market value and the consideration shall accrue as a profit to those persons. No part of the funds provided under this section may be used to pay the actual construction costs of housing. The chief may carry out the purposes of division (F)(6) of this section directly or by making grants and commitments for grants and may advance money under such terms and conditions as the chief may require to any agency or instrumentality of the state or any public body or nonprofit organization designated by the chief.

(G)(1) Within six months after the completion of projects to restore, reclaim, abate, control, or prevent adverse effects of past coal mining practices on privately owned land, the chief shall itemize the money so expended and may file a statement of the expenditures in the office of the county recorder of the county in which the land lies, together with a notarized appraisal by an independent appraiser of the value of the land before the restoration, reclamation, abatement, control, or prevention of adverse effects of past coal mining practices if the money so expended result in a significant increase in property value. The statement shall constitute a lien upon the land as of the date of the expenditures of the money and shall have priority as a lien second only to the lien of real property taxes imposed upon the land. The lien shall not exceed the amount determined by the appraisal to be the increase in the fair market value of the land as a result of the restoration, reclamation, abatement, control, or prevention of the adverse effects of past coal mining practices. No lien shall be filed under division (G) of this section against the property of any person who owned the surface prior to May 2, 1977, and did not consent to, participate in, or exercise control over the mining operation that necessitated the reclamation performed.

(2) The landowner may petition, within sixty days after the filing of the lien, to determine the increase in the fair market value of the land as a result of the restoration, reclamation, abatement, control, or prevention of the adverse effects of past coal mining practices. The amount reported to be the increase in value of the premises shall constitute the amount of the lien and shall be recorded with the statement provided in this section. Any party aggrieved by the decision may appeal as provided by state law.

(3) The lien provided in division (G) of this section shall be recorded and indexed, under the name of the state and the landowner, in the official records in the office of the county recorder of the county in which the land lies. The county recorder shall impose no charge for the recording or indexing of the lien. If the land is registered, the county recorder shall make a notation and enter a memorial of the lien upon the page of the register in which the last certificate of title to the land is registered, stating the name of the claimant, amount claimed, volume and page of the record where recorded, and exact time the memorial was entered.

(4) The lien shall continue in force so long as any portion of the amount of the lien remains unpaid. If the lien remains unpaid at the time of conveyance of the land on which the lien was placed, the conveyance may be set aside. Upon repayment in full of the money expended under this section, the chief promptly shall issue a certificate of release of the lien. Upon presentation of the certificate of release, the county recorder of the county in which the lien is recorded shall record the lien as having been discharged.

(5) A lien imposed under this section shall be foreclosed upon the substantial failure of a landowner to pay any portion of the amount of the lien. Before foreclosing any lien under this section, the chief shall make a written demand upon the landowner for payment. If the landowner does not pay the amount due within sixty days, the chief shall refer the matter to the attorney general, who shall institute a civil action to foreclose the lien.

(H)(1) The chief may fill voids, seal abandoned tunnels, shafts, and entryways, and reclaim surface impacts of underground or strip mines that the chief determines could endanger life and property, constitute a hazard to the public health and safety, or degrade the environment.

(2) In those instances where mine waste piles are being reworked for conservation purposes, the incremental costs of disposing of the wastes from those operations by filling voids and sealing tunnels may be eligible for funding, provided that the disposal of these wastes meets the purposes of this section.

(3) The chief may acquire by purchase, donation, easement, or otherwise such interest in land as the chief determines necessary to carry out division (H) of this section.

(I) The chief shall report annually to the secretary of the interior on operations under the fund and include recommendations as to its future uses.

(J)(1) The chief may engage in any work and do all things necessary or expedient, including the adoption of rules, to implement and administer this section.

(2) The chief may engage in cooperative projects under this section with any agency of the United States, any other state, or their governmental agencies or with any state university or college as defined in section 3345.27 of the Revised Code. The cooperative projects are not subject to division (B) of section 127.16 of the Revised Code.

(3) The chief may request the attorney general to initiate in any court of competent jurisdiction an action in equity for an injunction to restrain any interference with the exercise of the right to enter or to conduct any work provided in this section, which remedy is in addition to any other remedy available under this section.

(4) The chief may construct or operate a plant or plants for the control and treatment of water pollution resulting from mine drainage. The extent of this control and treatment may be dependent upon the ultimate use of the water. Division (J)(4) of this section does not repeal or supersede any portion of the "Federal Water Pollution Control Act," 70 Stat. 498 (1965), 33 U.S.C.A. 1151, as amended, and no control or treatment under division (J)(4) of this section, in any way, shall be less than that required by that act. The construction of a plant or plants may include major interceptors and other facilities appurtenant to the plant.

(5) The chief may transfer money from the abandoned mine reclamation fund and the acid mine drainage abatement and treatment fund to other appropriate state agencies or to state universities or colleges in order to carry out the reclamation activities authorized by this section.

(K) The chief may contract for any part of work to be performed under this section, with or without advertising for bids, if the chief determines that a condition exists that could reasonably be expected to cause substantial physical harm to persons, property, or the environment and to which persons or improvements on real property are currently exposed.

The chief shall require every contractor performing reclamation work under this section to pay its workers at the greater of their regular rate of pay, as established by contract, agreement, or prior custom or practice, or the average wage rate paid in this state for the same or similar work as determined by the chief under section 1513.02 of the Revised Code.

(L)(1) The chief may contract for the emergency restoration, reclamation, abatement, control, or prevention of adverse effects of mining practices on eligible lands if the chief determines that an emergency exists constituting a danger to the public health, safety, or welfare and that no other person or agency will act expeditiously to restore, reclaim, abate, control, or prevent those adverse effects. The chief may enter into a contract for emergency work under division (L) of this section without advertising for bids. Any such contract or any purchase of materials for emergency work under division (L) of this section is not subject to division (B) of section 127.16 of the Revised Code.

(2) The chief or the chief's agents, employees, or contractors may enter on any land where such an emergency exists, and on other land in order to have access to that land, in order to restore, reclaim, abate, control, or prevent the adverse effects of mining practices and to do all things necessary or expedient to protect the public health, safety, or welfare. Such an entry shall be construed as an exercise of the police power and shall not be construed as an act of condemnation of property or of trespass. The money expended for the work and the benefits accruing to any premises so entered upon shall be chargeable against the land and shall mitigate or offset any claim in or any action brought by any owner of any interest in the premises for any alleged damages by virtue of the entry. This provision is not intended to create new rights of action or eliminate existing immunities.

Last updated July 7, 2022 at 10:42 AM

Section 1513.372 | Immunity from liability.

• Effective: September 13, 2010
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 181 - 128th General Assembly

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Abandoned mine land" means land or water resources adversely affected by coal mining practices to which one of the following applies:

(a) The coal mining practices occurred prior to August 3, 1977, and there is no continuing reclamation responsibility under state or federal law.

(b) The coal mining practices occurred prior to April 10, 1972.

(c) The coal mining practices were conducted pursuant to a license that was issued prior to April 10, 1972.

(2) "Eligible landowner" means a landowner who provides access without charge or other consideration to abandoned mine land that is located on the landowner's property for the purpose of allowing the implementation of a reclamation project on the abandoned mine land. "Eligible landowner" does not include a person that is responsible under state or federal law to reclaim the land or address acid mine drainage existing or emanating from the abandoned mine land.

(3) "Landowner" means a person who holds a fee interest in real property.

(4) "Nonprofit organization" means a corporation, association, group, institution, society, or other organization that is exempt from federal income taxation under section 501(c)(3) of the "Internal Revenue Code of 1986," 100 Stat. 2085, 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3), as amended, that provides funding or services at no cost or at cost for a reclamation project.

(5) "Reclamation project" means an acid mine drainage abatement project that is conducted in compliance with this chapter and rules adopted under it on abandoned mine land that is located on property owned by an eligible landowner.

(6) "Reclamation project work area" means the portion of a parcel of real property on which a reclamation project is conducted and the roads providing ingress to and egress from the reclamation project.

(B) Except as provided in divisions (C) and (D) of this section, an eligible landowner or nonprofit organization is immune from liability as follows:

(1) For any injury to or damage suffered by a person working under the direct supervision of the division of mineral resources management while the person is within the reclamation project work area;

(2) For any injury to or damage suffered by a third party that arises out of or occurs as a result of an act or omission of the division during the construction, operation, and maintenance of the reclamation project;

(3) For any failure of an acid mine drainage abatement facility constructed or installed during a reclamation project that is supervised by the division;

(4) For the operation, maintenance, or repair of any acid mine drainage abatement facility constructed or installed during a reclamation project unless the eligible landowner negligently damages or destroys the acid mine drainage abatement facility or denies access to the division of mineral resources management that is responsible for the operation, maintenance, or repair of the acid mine drainage abatement facility.

(C) The eligible landowner shall notify the division of a known, latent, dangerous condition located at a reclamation project work area that is not the subject of the reclamation project. The immunity established in division (B) of this section does not apply to any injury, damage, or pollution resulting from the eligible landowner's failure to notify the division of such a known, latent, dangerous condition.

(D) The immunity established in division (B) of this section does not apply in both of the following circumstances:

(1) An injury to a person within the reclamation project work area that results from an eligible landowner's or nonprofit organization's acts or omissions that are reckless or constitute gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct;

(2) An eligible landowner or nonprofit organization who engages in any unlawful activities with respect to a reclamation project.

(E) The chief of the division of mineral resources management shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code that are necessary to implement this section.

Section 1513.38 | Compliance with requirements.

• Effective: September 1, 1981
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1051 - 113th General Assembly

Any agency, unit, or instrumentality of federal, state, or local government, including any publicly owned corporation of federal, state, or local government, or any publicly owned utility that proposes to conduct coal mining operations that are subject to the requirements of Chapter 1513. of the Revised Code shall comply with all the requirements of Chapter 1513. of the Revised Code and rules adopted thereunder.

Section 1513.39 | Retaliation against employees prohibited.

• Effective: June 14, 2000
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 601 - 123rd General Assembly

(A) No person shall discharge, or in any other way discriminate against or cause to be fired or discriminated against, any employee or any authorized representative of employees by reason of the fact that the employee or representative has filed, instituted, or caused to be filed or instituted any proceeding under this chapter or has testified or is about to testify in any proceeding resulting from the administration or enforcement of this chapter.

(B) Any employee or representative of employees who believes that the employee or representative has been fired or otherwise discriminated against by any person in violation of division (A) of this section may, within thirty days after the alleged violation occurs, apply to the chief of the division of mineral resources management for a review of the firing or alleged discrimination. A copy of the application shall be sent to the person or operator who will be the respondent. Upon receipt of the application, the chief shall cause such investigation to be made as the chief considers appropriate. The investigation shall provide an opportunity for a public hearing at the request of any party to the review to enable the parties to present information relating to the alleged violation. The parties shall be given written notice of the time and place of the hearing at least five days prior to the hearing. Any such hearing shall be of record. Upon receiving the report of the investigation the chief shall make findings of fact. If the chief finds that a violation did occur, the chief shall issue a decision incorporating therein the chief's findings and an order requiring the party committing the violation to take such affirmative action to abate the violation as the chief considers appropriate, including, but not limited to, the rehiring or reinstatement of the employee or representative of employees to the employee's or representative's former position with compensation. If the chief finds that there was no violation, the chief shall issue a finding to that effect. Orders issued by the chief under this division shall be subject to judicial review in the same manner as orders and decisions of the chief are subject to judicial review under this chapter.

(C) Whenever an order is issued under this section to abate any violation, at the request of the applicant, a sum equal to the aggregate amount of all costs and expenses, including attorney's fees, determined to have been necessary and reasonably incurred by the applicant for, or in connection with, the institution and prosecution of such proceedings, shall be assessed against the persons committing the violation and may be awarded in accordance with division (E) of section 1513.13 of the Revised Code.

Section 1513.40 | Liability of corporate director, officer or agent.

• Effective: June 14, 2000
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 601 - 123rd General Assembly

Whenever a corporate permittee violates a condition of a permit issued pursuant to this chapter or fails or refuses to comply with any order of the chief of the division of mineral resources management or the chief's representative, any director, officer, or agent of the corporation who purposely authorized, ordered, or carried out such violation, failure, or refusal shall be subject to the same civil penalties, fines, and imprisonment that may be imposed upon a person under this chapter.

Section 1513.41 | Informant may accompany inspector.

• Effective: June 14, 2000
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 601 - 123rd General Assembly

When an inspection by the chief of the division of mineral resources management or the chief's representative results from information provided by any person, the chief or the chief's representative shall notify the person when the inspection is proposed to be carried out and the person may accompany the chief or the chief's representative during the inspection.

Section 1513.99 | Penalty.

• Effective: July 1, 1996
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 2 - 121st General Assembly

(A) Whoever violates division (A)(1), (2), (3), (4), or (5) of section 1513.17 of the Revised Code shall be fined not less than one hundred nor more than ten thousand dollars, imprisoned for not more than one year, or both.

(B) Whoever knowingly violates section 1513.04 of the Revised Code shall be fined not more than two thousand five hundred dollars, imprisoned not more than one year, or both.

(C) Whoever violates division (A)(6) of section 1513.17 of the Revised Code shall be fined not less than one hundred nor more than one thousand dollars.