Section 300.237  Application and Licensure

a)         Each applicant shall submit a completed application for licensure on forms supplied by the Department. The application shall be accompanied by the required fee, which is non-refundable.  Any applicant whose completed application has been received, reviewed and accepted by the Department prior to a regularly scheduled examination session shall be scheduled for that session. The completed application shall include:

1)         Proof of the applicant's blasting experience, which shall include:

A)        A notarized statement from the applicant's employer or a licensed blaster having personal knowledge of the applicant's blasting experience relating to the subjects listed in Section 300.235 of this Part, and affirming that the applicant has had at least two years blasting experience within the previous five years as it relates to aggregate mining; or

B)        A notarized statement from an Illinois licensed blaster who directly supervised the applicant, affirming that the applicant has experience with the following: proper blast design to comply with the regulatory requirements of this Part, drilling, loading, initiation systems and delay timing, monitoring requirements, and blasting zone security and safety.  The applicant's experience shall have included detailed involvement with at least 120 aggregate mining blasts which have taken place within the previous five years.

2)         Proof that the applicant has successfully completed a blaster training course or courses that cover the material listed in Section 300.235.

3)         An applicant for original licensure, except for an applicant who has previously submitted fingerprint-based data to the Department, shall submit with the application, fingerprint-based data or two sets of fingerprint cards on forms specified by the Department.  The fingerprint cards shall be accompanied by the required non-refundable application fee.

b)         The Department shall review each application, including required documents, for completeness and the accuracy of the statements contained in the application and required documents. The Department's acceptance of an application shall be based on the applicant's compliance with the requirements of this Part.

c)         Each applicant shall be required to pass a written examination established and administered by the Department. The examination shall cover the subjects set forth in Section 300.235. The minimum passing score shall be 70 points. The Department retains the sole right to determine whether any or all responses to examination questions are correct.

d)         Any applicant whose application is denied shall be so informed in writing, within 30 days after the date the applicant is found to be not qualified. Reasons for such denial shall be included with the notification. Each applicant who meets the requirements of subsection (a) and who passes the examination required in subsection (c) shall be issued a blaster license as soon as practicable thereafter, but not more than 45 days after the examination date. Any applicant who meets the requirements of Section 300.237(a) but who does not pass the examination shall be so notified within 15 days of the examination date. That applicant may, upon written request, review their examination at the Department's Springfield office. Such request must be made and the review completed not less than ten days prior to the reexamination date for which the applicant is scheduled. The review must be done during the Department's regular business hours. Any applicant who does not pass the examination shall be scheduled for the next reexamination session, pursuant to Section 300.236(b).

e)         An employed blaster shall have their Illinois Surface Aggregate license readily available for inspection at the operation.

f)         A temporary blaster license will be issued to any individual who applies to the Department for such licensure and who provides a photocopy of his or her valid blaster license issued in another state, or the name of the state where the license was issued and the license number. The period of the temporary blaster license shall not exceed six months from the date of issuance. Such a temporary license shall be issued only once to any individual in any continuous five year period.

g)         Each license shall be valid for five years from the date of issuance. Renewal following expiration shall be in accordance with the application, examination and licensure requirements of this Part.  Any applicant whose license has been expired for a period of two years or more from the date of expiration will be required to complete the training set forth in Section 300.235.

h)         Blaster licensure shall not be assigned or transferred.

i)          Blasters shall not delegate their responsibility to any individual who is not a licensed blaster.

j)          The blaster shall take reasonable precaution to protect their license from loss, theft or unauthorized duplication. Such loss, theft or duplication shall be reported to an authorized representative of the Department immediately by phone.  Telephone numbers can be found at www.dnr.illinois.gov/mines/ead/documents/districtmap.pdf.  A written notice, which can be in the form of email, must be submitted to the Department within 5 days after the phone notification, shall be executed under penalties of perjury, and shall include a description of the time, location, and circumstances surrounding the loss, theft or destruction of the license.

k)         Applicants for blasting licensure must meet and maintain the qualifications as per Section 300.239.

(Source:  Amended at 48 Ill. Reg. 9650, effective June 24, 2024)