Abandonment or temporary closure of mine; notice; filing mine
map; filling, maintaining, and sealing openings
Sec. 4.5. (a) Whenever an operator permanently closes or
abandons a coal mine, or temporarily closes a coal mine for a period
of more than ninety (90) days, he shall promptly notify the director
of the closure. Within sixty (60) days of the permanent closure or
abandonment of a mine, or, when a mine is temporarily closed, upon
the expiration of a period of ninety (90) days from the date of
closure, the operator shall file with the director a copy of the mine
map revised and supplemented to the date of the closure. Such copy
of the mine map shall be certified by a registered surveyor or
registered engineer of the state and shall be available for public
inspection.
(b) Operators shall give notice of mine closures and file copies of
maps with the director.
(c) All entrances to an abandoned mine shall be filled by the
operator last engaged in the operation of the mine immediately
following abandonment of the mine. Vertical openings shall be filled
and maintained from the bottom to the surface. All other mine
openings shall be filled and sealed in a manner prescribed by the
director.
As added by P.L.231-1983, SEC.4.
Last modified: May 27, 2006