SB0929eng 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB0929 Engrossed LRB094 04554 LJB 34583 b

AN ACT concerning regulation.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Coal Mining Act is amended by changing Sections 11.01, 19.11, 22.18, and 38.3 and the heading of Article 29 and by adding Sections 1.19, 1.20, 1.21, 1.22, 1.23, 1.24, 10.08, 11.07, 11.08, 11.09, 11.10, 11.11, 13.16, 13.17, 13.18, 29.05, 29.06, 29.07, 38.4, and 38.5 as follows:

(225 ILCS 705/1.19 new)

Sec. 1.19. "Lifeline cord" means a fire-retardant, nylon line of at least one quarter inch thickness, with cone-shaped directional indicators incorporated into it, that is permanently installed in an escape way and gives a clear indication of the direction out of a mine.

(225 ILCS 705/1.20 new)

Sec. 1.20. "Self-contained self-rescue (SCSR) device" means a breathing apparatus approved by the Mine Safety and Health Administration of the U.S. Department of Labor and the Mining Board.

(225 ILCS 705/1.21 new)

Sec. 1.21. "Surface supervisor of an underground mine" means a certified supervisor at a mine whose duties do not include the extraction of coal, but do include other activities resulting in the preparation of coal, supervision of construction or demolition of mine buildings, earth moving, gob moving projects, or other surface projects involving the supervision of people and machinery.

(225 ILCS 705/1.22 new)

Sec. 1.22. "Tag-line" means a nylon line of at least one quarter inch thickness that has mechanical clips or other suitable connecting devices incorporated therein that are spaced between 3 feet and 5 feet apart that allow a group of persons underground to attach themselves together.

(225 ILCS 705/1.23 new)

Sec. 1.23. "Rescue chamber" means a chamber within a mine that is properly constructed to protect against potential hazards in case of an emergency and is properly equipped with first aid materials, an oxygen-generating device capable of providing a minimum of 48 hours of oxygen for at least 10 people, and proper accommodations for persons underground awaiting rescue, as determined by the Mining Board.

(225 ILCS 705/1.24 new)

Sec. 1.24. "Cache" means a storage facility within a mine that is properly constructed to store SCSR devices in case of an emergency for use by persons underground in emergency situations, as determined by the Mining Board.

(225 ILCS 705/10.08 new)

Sec. 10.08. Use of telecommunications center. In order to ensure a quick and efficient means of effectively disseminating duties and responsibilities to those agencies involved in mining emergency response, the Department shall use the telecommunications center maintained by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency to notify agents of the Department and other State, federal, and local agencies in the event of an emergency in or about any coal mine. The Illinois Emergency Management Agency, in conjunction with the Mining Board, shall establish procedures concerning the manner in which the Illinois Emergency Management Agency shall record pertinent information regarding a mining emergency, determine the urgency of a call, and forward information to the Department.

(225 ILCS 705/11.01) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 1101)

Sec. 11.01. Mine rescue stations. For the purpose of providing prompt and efficient means of fighting fires and of saving lives and property jeopardized by fires, explosions or other accidents in coal mines in Illinois, there shall be constructed, equipped and maintained at public expense 4 four mine rescue stations, certified by the Mine Safety and Health Administration of the U.S. Department of Labor, to serve the coal fields of the State. Notwithstanding any other law of this State, the primary responsibility for the control and maintenance of the mine rescue stations shall be vested with the Department. Each station shall be equipped with a mobile mine rescue unit. The Department may establish, equip and maintain three additional substations for preservation of health and safety if the conditions warrant. Temporary certification may be issued by the Mining Board for a maximum of 6 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly.

(Source: P.A. 87-895.)

(225 ILCS 705/11.07 new)

Sec. 11.07. Rescue teams. Rescue teams shall be based out of each mine rescue station to serve the Illinois coal industry as either a primary or secondary responder. Every operator in the State must provide employees to serve on a rescue team and must compensate these employees who are serving as rescue team members at their regular rate of pay.

(225 ILCS 705/11.08 new)

Sec. 11.08. Self-contained self-rescuer (SCSR) devices; caches; strobe lights; luminescent signs.

(a) An operator must require each person underground to carry a SCSR device on his or her person or, alternatively, a SCSR device must be kept within 25 feet of the person underground or may be kept more than 25 feet from the person underground if done according to a plan approved by the Mining Board.

(b) An operator must provide for an adequate number of SCSR devices to be maintained in all rescue chambers and caches located throughout a mine.

(c) An operator must submit for approval a plan addressing the requirements of subsection (b) of this Section to the Mining Board within 3 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly.

(d) An operator must require luminescent direction signs leading to each cache and rescue chamber to be posted in a mine and a luminescent sign with the words "SELF-CONTAINED SELF-RESCUER" or "SELF-CONTAINED SELF-RESCUERS" must be conspicuously posted at each cache and rescue chamber.

(e) Intrinsically safe, battery-powered strobe lights must be affixed to each cache and rescue chamber and must be capable of automatic activation in the event of an emergency.

(f) The Mining Board shall adopt and impose all federal requirements concerning the testing and storage of the SCSR devices.

(g) Any person who, without the authorization of the operator or the Mining Board, knowingly removes or attempts to remove any self-contained self-rescue device or battery-powered strobe light approved by the Department from a mine or mine site with the intent to permanently deprive the operator of the device or light or who knowingly tampers with or attempts to tamper with the device or light is guilty of a Class 4 felony.

(225 ILCS 705/11.09 new)

Sec. 11.09. Rescue chambers. Rescue chambers approved by the Mining Board must be provided at suitable locations throughout a mine.

An operator must submit a plan for approval concerning the construction and maintenance of rescue chambers required under this Section to the Mining Board within 3 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly.

(225 ILCS 705/11.10 new)

Sec. 11.10. Materials for barricade. Each working section of a mine must have an emergency sled or wagon located no more than 1,000 feet from the working faces of the mine with the following materials and amounts in constant supply:

(1) 8 timbers of suitable length or roof jacks of equal capability;

(2) 200 linear feet of brattice cloth of adequate height to the coal seam;

(3) 2 hand saws;

(4) 20 1 x 6 brattice boards at least 12 feet long each;

(5) 10 pounds of 10d nails;

(6) 10 pounds of 16d nails;

(7) 10 pounds of spads;

(8) 25 cap boards;

(9) 20 header boards;

(10) 2 axes;

(11) 2 claw hammers;

(12) one sledge hammer;

(13) one shovel;

(14) 10 bags of wood fiber plaster or 5 bags of cement or the equivalent;

(15) 4 sets of rubber gloves; and

(16) 5 gallons of sealed, distilled drinking water.

(225 ILCS 705/11.11 new)

Sec. 11.11. Rulemaking. The Mining Board shall adopt all rules necessary for the administration of this Article.

(225 ILCS 705/13.16 new)

Sec. 13.16. Tag-lines. Tag-lines must be provided in every working section of a mine and on any vehicle capable of hauling 4 or more people within the mine.

(225 ILCS 705/13.17 new)

Sec. 13.17. Methane extraction prohibited. Methane extraction from sealed areas of active mines or abandoned mines that are attached to active working mines is prohibited.

(225 ILCS 705/13.18 new)

Sec. 13.18. Non-production related bore holes exempt. Non-production related bore holes that are drilled or operated by an operator and are intended for the safety or maintenance of a mine are exempt from this Act.

(225 ILCS 705/19.11) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 1911)

Sec. 19.11. Travelable passageways; obstructions; ventilation of escape ways. There shall be at least two travelable passageways, to be designated as escape ways, from each working section to the surface whether the mine openings are shafts, slopes, or drifts. At least one of these passageways must be equipped with a lifeline cord. Escape ways They shall be kept in safe condition for travel and reasonably free from standing water and other obstructions. One of the designated escape ways may be the haulage road. One of the escape ways shall be ventilated with intake air. At mines now operating with only one free passageway to the surface, immediate action shall be taken to provide a second passageway. The return air passageway to the surface must be marked with reflectors or other appropriate signage, as approved by the Department.

(Source: Laws 1953, p. 701.)

(225 ILCS 705/22.18) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 2218)

Sec. 22.18. Vehicle for transporting workforce and injured persons. A vehicle suitable for transporting all persons underground working on a unit and injured persons shall be maintained in on each underground working section where workers are working for use in case of accident.

(Source: P.A. 79-460.)

(225 ILCS 705/Art. 29 heading)

ARTICLE 29. TELEPHONE AND WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS

(225 ILCS 705/29.05 new)

Sec. 29.05. Wireless emergency communication devices. A wireless emergency communication device approved by the Mining Board must be worn by each person underground. The operator shall provide these devices. The wireless emergency communication device must, at a minimum, be capable of receiving emergency communications from the surface at any location throughout the mine. Each operator must provide for the training of each underground employee in the use of the device and, annually, provide a refresher training course for all underground employees. The operator must install in or around the mine any and all equipment necessary to transmit emergency communications from the surface to each wireless emergency communication device at any location throughout the mine.

An operator must submit for approval a plan concerning the implementation of the wireless emergency communication devices required under this Section to the Mining Board within 3 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly.

Any person who, without the authorization of the operator or the Mining Board, knowingly removes or attempts to remove any wireless emergency communication device or related equipment approved by the Mining Board from the mine or mine site with the intent to permanently deprive the operator of the device or equipment or who knowingly tampers with or attempts to tamper with the device or equipment is guilty of a Class 4 felony.

(225 ILCS 705/29.06 new)

Sec. 29.06. Wireless tracking devices. A wireless tracking device approved by the Mining Board must be worn by each person underground. The operator shall provide these devices. The tracking device must be capable of providing real-time monitoring of the physical location of each person underground in the event of an accident or other emergency. No person may discharge or discriminate against any underground employee based on information gathered by a wireless tracking device during non-emergency monitoring. Each operator must provide for the training of each underground employee in the use of the device and provide refresher training courses for all underground employees during each calander year. The operator must install in or around the mine all equipment necessary to provide real-time emergency monitoring of the physical location of each person underground.

An operator must submit for approval a plan concerning the implementation of the wireless tracking devices required under this Section to the Mining Board within 3 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly.

Any person who, without the authorization of the operator or the Mining Board, knowingly removes or attempts to remove any wireless tracking device or related equipment approved by the Mining Board from a mine or mine site with the intent to permanently deprive the operator of the device or equipment or who knowingly tampers with or attempts to tamper with the device or equipment is guilty of a Class 4 felony.

(225 ILCS 705/29.07 new)

Sec. 29.07. Mine Technology Task Force; provision of rescue chambers and wireless devices.

(a) The Director shall establish a Mine Technology Task Force composed of representatives of the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA), coal operators, academia, and the communications industry. Each group shall submit the name of its representative to the Director. The task force shall review and make recommendations to the Mining Board regarding the best available mine safety technologies, including, but not limited to, rescue chambers, wireless communications equipment, and wireless tracking devices for use in underground mines. The task force shall submit its initial findings to the Mining Board within 3 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly.

(b) Rescue chambers, wireless emergency communications devices, and wireless tracking devices must be provided in each underground mine within 90 days after the equipment is approved by the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration. To the extent that any of these devices have already been approved by the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration, the operator shall provide the equipment in each underground mine within 90 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly.

(225 ILCS 705/38.3) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 3803)

Sec. 38.3. Surface mine supervisor Supervisors. On or after September 1, 1977, it shall be unlawful for any operator of a surface coal mine to employ, in a supervisory capacity listed below any person who does not hold a certificate of competency issued by the Mining Board.

Those persons assigned to supervise:

(a) Overburden stripping

(b) Drilling and shooting

(c) The pit coal loading operation

(d) Reclamation work at the mine.

Each applicant must have a minimum of 2 years of surface mining experience and pass an examination, administered by the Mining Board, based on Illinois State Mining Law as it pertains to his responsibilities. Temporary certification will be provided by the Mining Board for persons with at least 2 years surface mining experience up to the time of the next examination or up to a maximum of 6 months.

(Source: P.A. 79-460; 79-1505.)

(225 ILCS 705/38.4 new)

Sec. 38.4. General surface supervisor of an underground mine. On or after July 1, 2006, it shall be unlawful for an operator of an underground coal mine surface facility or a coal preparation plant or a contractor engaged in the construction, demolition, or dismantling of an underground coal mine surface facility or a coal preparation plant to employ, in a supervisory capacity, any person who does not hold a certificate of competency issued by the Mining Board to oversee any of the following activities:

(1) Coal preparation and storage.

(2) Mine equipment storage and repair.

(3) Mobile equipment operation.

(4) Site construction, demolition, or dismantling operations.

Each applicant for a certificate as a general surface supervisor of an underground mine must have a minimum of 2 years of work experience at a coal mine surface facility or coal preparation plant. In addition to the work experience requirement set forth in this Section, a contractor engaged in the construction, demolition, or dismantling of surface structures must successfully complete an examination concerning the Department's health and safety regulations as these regulations pertain to the contractor's responsibilities, which shall be administered by the Mining Board. Temporary certification may be issued by the Mining Board for persons with at least 2 years of the required work experience and shall be valid until the time of the next examination or for a maximum of 6 months, whichever is shorter.

(225 ILCS 705/38.5 new)

Sec. 38.5. Independent contractor supervisor. On or after July 1, 2006, it shall be unlawful for an operator of an underground coal mine surface facility or a surface coal mine facility to employ an independent contractor who does not have an independent contractor supervisor certificate issued by the Mining Board to oversee and supervise the work for which the services of an independent contractor have been obtained, including, but not limited to, work in the area of construction, demolition, repair or maintenance, or major renovations of existing facilities or other heavy or extensive work planned for an extended period of time.

Each applicant for an independent contractor supervisor certificate must provide proof of at least 2 years of experience in independent contract work at surface mines or at the surface of underground mines and successfully complete an examination based on the mining laws of this State as these laws pertain to the applicant's responsibilities, which shall be administered by the Mining Board. Temporary certification may be issued by the Mining Board for persons with at least 2 years of the required work experience and shall be valid until the time of the next examination or for a maximum of 6 months, whichever is shorter.

Independent contractors employed to engage in routine maintenance work within a facility, including, but not limited to, plumbing repair, roof repair, and carpentry work, are not required to possess an independent contractor supervisor certificate to engage in such routine maintenance work within a facility.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.