NAC512.1546. Underground mines: Ground support plan.

     1. The operator of an underground mine shall:

     (a) Develop and maintain a ground support plan that conforms to the requirements of this section;

     (b) Provide training concerning the ground support plan to each worker who is assigned to perform excavation of the underground mine;

     (c) For each worker who is required to receive training, keep a written record of the amount and type of training completed by each worker and the name of the instructor for the training; and

     (d) Provide the Enforcement Section with a copy of the ground support plan and any changes to the plan.

     2. The ground support plan must:

     (a) Be prepared by the engineering staff that is employed by or contracted with the operator of the underground mine;

     (b) Provide that ground support be designed, installed and maintained to control the ground where a person may travel or work in the underground mine;

     (c) Provide that any damaged, loosened or dislodged timbers or steel sets used for ground support that create a hazardous condition to a person be repaired or replaced before any travel or work is permitted into that area;

     (d) Specify the methods and measures of primary ground support and secondary ground support that will be used during underground mine excavation for the development, production or exploration of ore; and

     (e) Provide an engineering plan, map or drawing of the proposed height and width of mining excavations, including, without limitation, information relating to:

          (1) Geologic strata;

          (2) Geologic faults;

          (3) Any naturally occurring water encountered; and

          (4) Underground areas that are in horizontal or vertical proximity to the proposed area of excavation.

     3. The ground support plan is subject to the requirements of 30 C.F.R. § 57.3203, as adopted by reference in NAC 512.151, and any certification required pursuant to that section must be made available to the Enforcement Section.

     4. As used in this section:

     (a) “Primary ground support” means ground support that is designed, engineered, installed and maintained to provide maximum stabilization of the ground where a person works or travels within an underground mine, including, without limitation, during the excavation and extraction process.

     (b) “Secondary ground support” means any rock fixture, wood timber, steel, arch, spilling, shotcrete with wire mesh, rock bolt bearing plate and wire mesh that is used in addition to the primary ground support.

     (Added to NAC by Div. of Industrial Relations by R125-08, eff. 5-30-2012)