(A)

(1) The operator of a surface mining operation shall employ a certified mine foreperson to be in charge of the conditions and practices at the mine and to be responsible for conducting examinations of the surface mining operation under 30 C.F.R. part 56, as amended.

(2) Examinations of surface mining operations for the purposes of 30 C.F.R. part 56, as amended, shall be conducted by one of the following:

(i) A certified mine foreperson;

(ii) A person who is qualified to conduct such examinations as provided in division (D) of this section;

(iii) A person designated by the certified mine foreperson as a competent person.

(3) For purposes of this section, a competent person is a person who has been trained in accordance with 30 C.F.R. part 46 and been determined by a certified mine foreperson to have demonstrated the ability, training, knowledge, or experience necessary to perform the duty to which the person is assigned. A person is not a competent person if the chief of the division of mineral resources management demonstrates, with good cause, that the person does not have the ability, training, knowledge, or experience necessary to perform that duty.

(4) The operator of a surface mining operation shall maintain records demonstrating that a competent person designated by a certified mine foreperson has the ability, training, knowledge, or experience to perform the duty to which the person is assigned as well as records of the competent person's training in accordance with 30 C.F.R. part 46. The operator shall make the records available to the chief upon request.

(B) The chief shall conduct examinations for the position of certified mine foreperson in accordance with rules. In order to be eligible for examination as a certified mine foreperson, an applicant shall file with the chief an affidavit establishing the applicant's qualifications to take the examination. The chief shall grade examinations and issue certificates.

(C)

(1) A certificate issued under this section shall not expire unless the certificate holder has not been employed in a surface mining operation for five consecutive years. If the certificate holder has not been employed in a surface mining operation for five consecutive years, the certificate holder may retake the mine foreperson examination or may petition the chief to accept past employment history in lieu of fulfilling the employment requirement established in this division. The chief shall grant or deny the petition by issuance of an order. If the chief grants the petition, the chief shall reissue the certificate.

(2) If a certificate issued under this section is suspended, the certificate shall not be renewed until the suspension period expires and the person whose certificate is suspended successfully completes all actions required by the chief. If an applicant's license, certificate, or similar authority that is issued by another state to perform specified mining duties is suspended or revoked by that state, the applicant shall be ineligible for examination for or renewal of a certificate in this state during that period of suspension or revocation. A certificate that has been revoked shall not be renewed.

(3) If a person who has been certified by the chief under this section purposely violates this chapter, the chief may suspend or revoke the certificate after an investigation and hearing conducted in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code are completed.

(4) If a person holds a certificate issued under this section that has not expired prior to the effective date of this amendment, the chief, upon request, shall reissue to that person a certificate that does not expire as provided in division (C)(1) of this section.

(5) If a person holds a certificate issued under this section that expired on or after April 7, 2012, and has not been issued a new certificate prior to the effective date of this amendment, the chief, upon request, shall issue to that person a certificate that does not expire as provided in division (C)(1) of this section, provided that the person is in compliance with all other applicable requirements established in this chapter and rules adopted under it.

(D) In lieu of employing a certified mine foreperson, the operator of a surface mining operation may submit to the chief a detailed training plan under which persons who qualify under the plan may conduct and document examinations at the surface mining operation for purposes of 30 C.F.R. part 56, as amended. The chief shall review the plan and determine if the plan complies with the requirements established in rules. The chief shall approve or deny the plan and notify in writing the operator who submitted the plan of the chief's decision.

Amended by 131st General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 64, §101.01, eff. 9/29/2015.

Effective Date: 04-06-2007 .