Ohio Code 1513.072 – Administrative rules for coal exploration operations
(A) Coal exploration operations that substantially disturb the natural land surface shall be conducted in accordance with exploration rules adopted by the chief of the division of mineral resources management. The rules shall include, at a minimum:
Terms Used In Ohio Code 1513.072
- Permit: means a permit to conduct coal mining and reclamation operations issued by the chief pursuant to section 1513. See Ohio Code 1513.01
- Person: includes an individual, corporation, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, and association. See Ohio Code 1.59
- Reclamation: means backfilling, grading, resoiling, planting, and other work that has the effect of restoring an area of land affected by coal mining so that it may be used for forest growth, grazing, agricultural, recreational, and wildlife purpose, or some other useful purpose of equal or greater value than existed prior to any mining. See Ohio Code 1513.01
(1) The requirement that prior to conducting any exploration under this section, any person shall file with the chief notice of intention to explore, which shall include a description of the exploration area and period of proposed exploration;
(2) Provisions for reclamation in accordance with the performance standards in section 1513.16 of the Revised Code of all lands disturbed in exploration, including excavations, roads, drill holes, and the removal of necessary facilities and equipment.
(B) Information submitted to the chief pursuant to this section as confidential concerning trade secrets or privileged commercial or financial information that relates to the competitive rights of the person or entity intending to explore the described area shall not be available for public examination.
(C) A person who conducts any coal exploration activities that substantially disturb the natural land surface in violation of this section or rules adopted pursuant thereto is subject to division (E) of section 1513.02 of the Revised Code.
(D) No person shall remove more than two hundred fifty tons of coal pursuant to an exploration permit without the specific written approval of the chief.