CHAPTER 210. BLASTERS’ LICENSES

 The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

   Blaster—A person who is licensed by the Department under this chapter to detonate explosives and supervise blasting activities.

   Blaster learner—An individual who is learning to be a blaster and who participates in blasting activities under the direct supervision of a blaster.

   Blaster’s license—A license to detonate explosives and supervise blasting activities issued by the Department under this chapter.

   Demolition and demolition blasting—The act of wrecking or demolishing a structure with explosives.

   Mine opening blasting—Blasting conducted for the purpose of constructing a shaft, slope, drift or tunnel mine opening for an underground mine, either operating or under development from the surface down to the point where the mine opening connects with the mineral strata to be or being extracted.

   Person—A natural person.

   The provisions of this §  210.11 amended under section 4.2 of the Surface Mining Conservation and Reclamation Act (52 P. S. §  1396.4b); section 11 of the Noncoal Surface Mining Conservation and Reclamation Act (52 P. S. §  3311); and sections 1917-A and 1920-A of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P. S. § §  510-17 and 510-20).

 This chapter applies to persons engaging in the detonation of explosives within this Commonwealth. Except for persons engaging in mine opening blasting, this chapter does not apply to persons authorized to detonate explosives or to supervise blasting activities under:

   (1)  The Pennsylvania Anthracite Coal Mine Act (52 P. S. § §  70.101—70.1405).

   (2)  The Pennsylvania Bituminous Coal Mine Act (52 P. S. § §  701-101—701-706).

   The provisions of this §  210.12 amended under section 4.2 of the Surface Mining Conservation and Reclamation Act (52 P. S. §  1396.4b); section 11 of the Noncoal Surface Mining Conservation and Reclamation Act (52 P. S. §  3311); and sections 1917-A and 1920-A of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P. S. § §  510-17 and 510-20).

 (a)  A person may not detonate explosives or supervise blasting activities unless the person has obtained a blaster’s license.

 (b)  The Department may exempt certain individuals from needing a blaster’s license if the person is detonating extremely small amounts of explosives for industrial or research purposes. The Department will consider a written request for an exemption from the person seeking the exemption.

 (c)  Upon request, a blaster shall exhibit a blaster’s license to the following:

   (1)  An authorized representative of the Department.

   (2)  The blaster’s employer or an authorized representative of the employer.

   (3)  A police officer acting in the line of duty.

 (d)  A blaster’s license is not transferable.

 (a)  To be eligible for a blaster’s license, a person shall:

   (1)  Be 21 years of age or older.

   (2)  Have at least 1 year of experience as a blaster learner in preparing blasts in the classification for which a license is being sought.

   (3)  Have taken the Department’s class on explosives. It is not necessary for a blaster to retake the class when adding an additional classification to a license.

   (4)  Have successfully passed the Department’s examination for a blaster’s license.

 (b)  The Department will not issue or renew a license if the applicant, as indicated by past or continuing violations, has demonstrated a lack of ability or intention to comply with the Department’s regulations concerning blasting activities.

   The provisions of this §  210.14 adopted July 13, 2001, effective July 14, 2001, 31 Pa.B. 3751.

 (a)  The license application shall be on forms provided by the Department and be accompanied by a check for $50 payable to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The complete application shall be submitted to the Department at least 2 weeks prior to the examination.

 (b)  The license application shall include a signed notarized statement from a person who has direct knowledge of the applicant’s expertise, such as the blaster who supervised the applicant, or the applicant’s employer. The statement shall:

   (1)  Describe the applicant’s experience in blasting. In particular, the statement shall describe in detail how the applicant assisted in the preparation of the blasts and for how long.

   (2)  State whether the applicant is competent to prepare and detonate blasts in the classification for which the license is being sought.

   The provisions of this §  210.15 adopted July 13, 2001, effective July 14, 2001, 31 Pa.B. 3751.

 (a)  The Department will conduct examinations for specific types of blasting, as specified in §  210.17(a) (relating to issuance and renewal of licenses).

 (b)  The Department will schedule and conduct examinations as needed.

 (c)  An applicant failing to appear for a scheduled examination forfeits the application fee unless the applicant provides written notice to the Department prior to the examination date or submits a valid medical excuse in writing.

 (d)  Refund of the fee or admittance to a subsequent examination without a reapplication fee will be at the discretion of the Department.

   The provisions of this §  210.16 adopted July 13, 2001, effective July 14, 2001, 31 Pa.B. 3751.

 (a)  A blaster’s license is issued for a specific classification of blasting activities. The classifications will be determined by the Department and may include general blasting (which includes all classifications except demolition, mine opening blasting and underground noncoal mining), trenching and construction, seismic and pole line work, well perforation, surface mining, underground noncoal mining, mine opening blasting, industrial, limited and demolition.

 (b)  A person may apply to amend the blaster’s license for other classifications by meeting the requirements of §  210.14 (relating to eligibility requirements) and by submitting a complete application.

 (c)  A blaster’s license will be issued for 3 years.

 (d)  A blaster’s license is renewable if the blaster can demonstrate that he has had 8 hours of continuing education in Department-approved courses related to blasting and safety within the 3 year period.

 (e)  The blaster’s license may be renewed for a 3-year term by submitting a renewal application to the Department and a check for $30, payable to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

 (f)  A person who intends to be a blaster and whose blaster’s license was not renewed within 1 year of its expiration date shall apply for a new license under § §  210.14—210.16 (relating to eligibility requirements; license application; and examinations).

 (g)  A person who conducted demolition blasting under a general blaster’s license may conduct demolition blasting after July 14, 2001, by applying for and receiving a demolition blaster’s license. The Department may waive the examination required by §  210.14 and the application fee if the blaster demonstrates at least 3 years of experience in demolition blasting. The demonstration shall be in the form of a notarized statement from the blaster’s employer that describes the blaster’s experience.

   The provisions of this §  210.17 amended under section 4.2 of the Surface Mining Conservation and Reclamation Act (52 P. S. §  1396.4b); section 11 of the Noncoal Surface Mining Conservation and Reclamation Act (52 P. S. §  3311); and sections 1917-A and 1920-A of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P. S. § §  510-17 and 510-20).

   The provisions of this §  210.17 adopted July 13, 2001, effective July 14, 2001, 31 Pa.B. 3751; amended August 8, 2008, effective August 9, 2008, 38 Pa.B. 4355. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (281294) to (281295).

 (a)  The Department may license a person who holds a blaster’s license or its equivalent in another state. The Department may issue the license if, in the opinion of the Department, that state’s licensing program provides training on the storage, handling and use of explosives and an examination that is equivalent to the requirements of this chapter.

 (b)  A request for a license under this section shall be made in writing. Copies of the other state’s explosives training and examination material and proof that the applicant holds a license in the other state shall be provided to the Department in order to make a proper evaluation.

 The Department may issue orders suspending, modifying or revoking a blaster’s license. Before an order is issued, the Department will give the blaster an opportunity for an informal meeting to discuss the facts and issues that form the basis of the Department’s determination to suspend, modify or revoke the license. The Department may suspend, modify or revoke a blaster’s license for violations of this chapter and Chapter 211 (relating to storage, handling and use of explosives in surface applications).

   The provisions of this §  210.19 adopted July 13, 2001, effective July 14, 2001, 31 Pa.B. 3751.