(A) The chief of the division of oil and gas resources management or any officer or employee of the division thereunto duly authorized by the chief may investigate, inspect, or examine records and facilities of any coal mine operator or reservoir operator, for the purpose of determining the accuracy or correctness of any map, data, statement, report, or other item or article, filed with or otherwise received by the division pursuant to this chapter. When a material question is raised by any reservoir operator or coal mine operator as to the accuracy or correctness of any such map, data, statement, report, or other item or article, which may directly affect the reservoir operator or coal mine operator, the matter shall be determined by a conference or hearing as provided in section 1571.10 of the Revised Code.

(B) The division of oil and gas resources management shall keep all maps, data, statements, reports, well logs, notices, or other items or articles filed with or otherwise received by it pursuant to this chapter in a safe place and conveniently accessible to persons entitled to examine them. It shall maintain indexes of all such items and articles so that any of them may be promptly located. None of such items or articles shall be open to public inspection, but: (1) any of such items or articles pertaining to a mine may be examined by: the operator, owner, lessee, or agent of such mine; persons financially interested in such mine; owners of land adjoining such mine; the operator, owner, lessee, or agent of a mine adjoining such mine; authorized representatives of the persons employed to work in such mine; the operator of a gas storage reservoir any part of the boundary of which or of the boundary of its protective area is within ten thousand linear feet of the boundary of such mine, or the agent of such reservoir operator thereunto authorized by such reservoir operator; or any employee of the division of geological survey in the department of natural resources thereunto duly authorized by the chief of that division; and (2) any of such items or articles pertaining to a gas storage reservoir may be examined by: the operator of such reservoir; the operator of a coal mine any part of the boundary of which is within ten thousand linear feet of the boundary of a gas storage reservoir or of the boundary of its protective area, or the agent of such mine operator thereunto authorized by such mine operator, or the authorized representatives of the persons employed to work in such mine; or any employee of the division of geological survey thereunto duly authorized by the chief of that division. The division of oil and gas resources management shall not permit any of such items or articles to be removed from its office, and it shall not furnish copies of any such items or articles to any person other than as provided in this chapter.

The division shall keep a docket of all proceedings arising under this chapter, in which shall be entered the dates of any notice received or issued, the names of all persons to whom it sends a notice, and the address of each, the dates of conferences and hearings, and all findings, determinations, decisions, rulings, and orders, or other actions by the division.

(C) Whenever any provision of this chapter requires the division to give notice to the operator of a coal mine of any proceeding to be held pursuant to this chapter, the division shall simultaneously give a copy of such notice to the authorized representatives of the persons employed to work in such mine.

Amended by 129th General AssemblyFile No.28, HB 153, §101.01, eff. 9/29/2011.

Effective Date: 06-14-2000 .