(A) The permittee shall
either:
(1) Adopt measures
consistent with known technology which 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 surface
lands; or
(2) Adopt mining
technology which provides for planned subsidence in a predictable and
controlled manner. Nothing in this part shall be construed to prohibit the
standard method of room-and-pillar mining.
(B) The permittee and the operator shall
comply with all provisions of the approved subsidence-control plan prepared
pursuant to paragraph (M) of rule 1501:13-4-14 of the Administrative
Code.
(C) The chief or his or her authorized
representative shall notify the permittee of any material damage to structures
or surface land, or of any failure to maintain the value or reasonably
foreseeable use of surface lands. Except where such damage or failure may be a
part of a set of circumstances which constitute a violation (for example,
material damage which results from a failure to adopt measures consistent with
known technology which prevent subsidence from causing material damage),
notification shall be by letter, electronic mail or inspection report and shall
not be deemed a notice of violation. Such notification shall not be subject to
formal review by the chief, the reclamation commission, or the courts unless
and until it serves as the basis for issuance of a notice of violation or
chief's order.
(D) The underground mine permittee shall
correct any material damage caused to surface lands, to the extent
technologically and economically feasible, by restoring the land surface to a
condition capable of maintaining the value and reasonably foreseeable uses
which it was capable of supporting before subsidence.
(E) Any agreement between the permittee
and a surface owner which addresses the repair of or the compensation for
damage to the surface owner's structures shall take precedence over the
provisions of this rule and the provisions of this rule shall not apply to any
damage to such structures.
(F) If the permittee and the owner of
structures have no agreement for repair and compensation, the permittee shall
promptly repair, or compensate the owner for, material damage resulting from
subsidence caused to any non-commercial building or occupied residential
dwelling and structures related thereto that existed at the time of mining. If
the repair option is selected, the permittee shall fully rehabilitate, restore
or replace the damaged structure. If compensation is selected, the permittee
shall compensate the owner of the damaged structure for the full amount of the
diminution in value resulting from the subsidence-related damage. The permittee
may provide compensation by the purchase, prior to mining, of a non-cancelable
premium-prepaid insurance policy for the structures in addition to that
required by rule 1501:13-7-07 of the Administrative Code. Structures or
facilities not listed in paragraphs (J)(1) to (J)(3) of this rule shall be
exempted from the requirements of this paragraph if the permittee or operator
submits to the chief copies of documents showing clearly and convincingly that,
and the chief determines that, the owner of the structure or facility is the
permittee or operator.
(G) If and when subsidence occurs which
causes material damage to structures listed in paragraphs (J)(1) to (J)(3) of
this rule, or to surface lands, or reduces the foreseeable use or value of
surface lands, the underground permittee shall submit to the chief within
thirty days after the damage occurs:
(1) Site specific plans
for the repair or mitigation of the damage, including a time schedule for
performance of the remedial actions;
(2) A request for more
time to prepare such plans; or
(3) Written or electronic
notification that the permittee feels repair or restoration measures are not
technologically feasible. If repair or restoration measures are not desired by
the owner of a structure or if repair or restoration measures are not
technologically feasible, describe other mitigatory measures to be taken as
provided for in this rule.
(H) If and when subsidence causes
material damage to any non-commercial building or occupied residential dwelling
and structures related thereto that existed at the time of mining, and if the
permittee has not reached an agreement with the owner of the
structure:
(1) The underground
permittee or operator shall submit to the chief within thirty days after
receipt of the notice provided under paragraph (C) of this rule:
(a) Site specific plans for the repair of or compensation for the
damage, including a time schedule for repair or compensation; or
(b) A request for more time to prepare such plans;
(2) The permittee or
operator shall fully perform the obligations specified in any plan submitted in
accordance with paragraph (H)(1) of this rule within the time period stated in
the plan, provided that the surface owner does not prevent the permittee or
operator from performing his or her obligations under the plan;
and
(3) If the surface owner
prevents the implementation of the permittee's or operator's plan for
repair or compensation, then the chief shall take no further action and the
surface owner may pursue whatever private rights of action may be available to
the surface owner.
(I) All remedial, restoration, and
mitigatory actions required under this rule shall be performed as soon as
practicable.
(J) Unless the subsidence control plan
demonstrates that subsidence will not cause material damage or reduce the
reasonably foreseeable use of such features or facilities, underground mining
activities shall not be conducted beneath or adjacent to:
(1) Public buildings and
facilities;
(2) Churches, schools,
and hospitals; or
(3) Impoundments with a
storage capacity of twenty acre feet or more, or bodies of water with a volume
of twenty acre feet or more.
(K) If the chief determines that it is
necessary in order to minimize the potential for material damage to the
features or facilities described in paragraphs (J)(1) to (J)(3) of this rule or
to any aquifer or body of water that serves as a significant water source for
any public water supply system and to protect the public health and safety, he
or she may limit the percentage of coal extraction under or adjacent to such
features or facilities.
(L) If subsidence causes or does material
damage to any of the features or facilities covered by paragraphs (J)(1) to
(J)(3) of this rule, the chief may suspend mining under or adjacent to such
features or facilities until the subsidence control plan is modified to ensure
prevention of material damage to such features or facilities.
(M) The chief shall suspend underground
coal mining operations under urbanized areas, cities, towns, and communities,
and adjacent to industrial or commercial buildings, major impoundments, or
perennial streams, if imminent danger is found to inhabitants of the urbanized
areas, cities, towns, or communities.
(N) Within a schedule approved by the
chief, the permittee shall submit a detailed plan of the underground workings.
The detailed plan shall include maps and descriptions, as appropriate, of
significant features of the underground mine, including pillar and entry size,
configuration, and approximate locations; extraction ratios; measures taken to
prevent or minimize subsidence and related damage; areas of full extraction;
and other information required by the chief. Upon request of the permittee,
information submitted with the detailed plan may be held as confidential. As a
means of complying with the requirements of this paragraph, the permittee may
submit a copy of the mine map submitted to the division of mineral resources
management pursuant to section 1563.04 of the Revised Code supplemented with
any items needed to meet all the requirements of this paragraph.
(O) Surface owner notification. The
permittee shall mail or send by another method able to track receipt of
delivery a written notice to owners and occupants of surface property or
structures, including wells and buried oil, gas, or utility lines, of the
intention of the permittee to mine under such property or structures.
Notification shall be mailed at least six months before the mining is to occur
or, if a lesser period is approved by the chief, may be mailed less than six
months before mining is to occur. The notice shall contain:
(1) Identification of
specific areas in which mining will take place;
(2) Approximate dates
that specific areas will be undermined;
(3) The location or
locations where the subsidence control plan of the permittee may be examined;
and
(4) A statement of the
permittee's intent to conduct a pre-subsidence survey of all structures,
buildings, features and facilities protected under this rule to determine their
condition prior to mining, including information on when the survey will be
conducted and the area the survey will include. The permittee shall prepare a
written report of the survey and provide a copy to the owner or resident of the
property which is the subject of the survey and retain a copy for inspection by
the chief.