Subchapter G. REQUIREMENTS FOR MONITORING
Sec.
211.171. General provisions for monitoring.
211.172. Monitoring instruments.
211.173. Monitoring records.
Source The provisions of this Subchapter G adopted July 13, 2001, effective July 14, 2001, 31 Pa.B. 3751, unless otherwise noted.
Cross References This subchapter cited in 25 Pa. Code § 211.124 (relating to blasting activity permits); and 25 Pa. Code § 211.191 (relating to scope).
§ 211.171. General provisions for monitoring.
(a) If the square root scaled distance of a blast is 90 or numerically less at the closest building not owned or leased by the blasting activity permittee or its customer, ground vibration and airblast monitoring shall be conducted. The Department may require the permittee to conduct ground vibration and airblast monitoring at other buildings or structures even if the scaled distance is greater than 90.
(b) If monitoring is required, a ground vibration and airblast record of each blast shall be made part of the blast report.
(c) If monitoring is performed with instruments that have variable ‘‘trigger levels,’’ the trigger for ground vibration shall be set at a particle velocity of no more than 0.25 inch per second unless otherwise directed by the Department.
(d) If the peak particle velocity and airblast from a blast are below the set trigger level of the instrument, a printout from the instrument must be attached to the blast report. This printout must provide the date and time when the instrument was turned on and off, the set trigger levels and information concerning the status of the instrument during the activation period. When an instrument is used that does not provide this information, the Department will allow the permittee to supply on/off times on a signed statement.
(e) Blasting seismographs shall be deployed in the field according to the guidelines established by the International Society of Explosives Engineers’ Standards Committee.
Authority The provisions of this § 211.171 amended under sections 1917-A and 1920-A of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P.S. § § 510-17 and 510-20); section 4.2 of the Surface Mining Conservation and Reclamation Act (52 P.S. § 1396.4b); section 11(e) of the Noncoal Surface Mining Conservation and Reclamation Act (52 P.S. § 3311(e)); sections 7 and 11 of the act of July 1, 1937 (P.L. 2681, No. 537) (73 P.S. § § 157 and 161); sections 3 and 4 of the act of July 10, 1957 (P.L. 685, No. 362) (73 P.S. § § 166 and 167); Reorganization Plan No. 8 of 1981 (71 P.S. § 751-35); section 2(f) of the act of May 18, 1937 (P.L. 654, No. 174) (43 P.S. § 25-2(f)); and Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1975 (71 P.S. § 751-22).
Source The provisions of this § 211.171 amended June 22, 2018, effective June 23, 2018, 48 Pa.B. 3711. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (281318) to (281319).
§ 211.172. Monitoring instruments.
(a) If monitoring is required, the monitoring instrument must provide a permanent record of each blast.
(b) The monitoring instrument must be constructed to meet the guideline established by the International Society of Explosives Engineers’ Standards Committee.
(c) A monitoring instrument shall be calibrated annually and when an instrument is repaired and the repair may affect the response of the instrument. Calibration shall be done by the manufacturer of the equipment, by an organization approved by the manufacturer or by an organization having verifiable knowledge of the calibration procedures developed by the manufacturer. The calibration procedure shall include testing the response of the entire system to externally-generated dynamic inputs. These inputs must test the entire monitoring system at a sufficient number of discrete frequency intervals to assure flat response throughout the frequency ranges specified by this chapter. Dynamic reference standards used for calibration shall be traceable to the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Calibration procedures and documentation of calibration shall be made available for review by the Department.
(d) A nonalterable sticker that is clearly visible must be firmly affixed to the instrument. The sticker must indicate the name of the calibration facility, the calibration technician, the date of calibration and frequency range of the airblast monitor.
Authority The provisions of this § 211.172 amended under sections 1917-A and 1920-A of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P.S. § § 510-17 and 510-20); section 4.2 of the Surface Mining Conservation and Reclamation Act (52 P.S. § 1396.4b); section 11(e) of the Noncoal Surface Mining Conservation and Reclamation Act (52 P.S. § 3311(e)); sections 7 and 11 of the act of July 1, 1937 (P.L. 2681, No. 537) (73 P.S. § § 157 and 161); sections 3 and 4 of the act of July 10, 1957 (P.L. 685, No. 362) (73 P.S. § § 166 and 167); Reorganization Plan No. 8 of 1981 (71 P.S. § 751-35); section 2(f) of the act of May 18, 1937 (P.L. 654, No. 174) (43 P.S. § 25-2(f)); and Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1975 (71 P.S. § 751-22).
Source The provisions of this § 211.172 amended June 22, 2018, effective June 23, 2018, 48 Pa.B. 3711. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (281319) to (281320).
§ 211.173. Monitoring records.
(a) Anyone using a monitoring instrument shall be trained on the proper use of that instrument by a representative of the manufacturer or distributor, or other competent individual. A record of that training is to be maintained and available for review by the Department.
(b) Monitoring records, at a minimum, shall contain:
(1) A calibration pulse on each of the mutually-perpendicular ground vibration traces. These pulses shall represent the dynamic response of the entire recording system to an internally-generated calibration signal, and shall allow the Department to verify that the seismograph is recording ground vibration to its specific accuracy.
(2) The time history of particle velocities for three mutually perpendicular ground vibration traces and one air-overpressure trace, including time base, amplitude scales and peak values for all traces.
(3) The results of a field calibration test for each channel.
(4) The frequency content of all vibration signals using either single degree of freedom (SDF) response spectrum or half-cycle zero-crossing analysis methods.
(5) Frequency versus particle velocity plots as indicated in § 211.151(c), Figure 1 (relating to prevention of damage).
(6) The name and signature of the individual taking the recording.
(7) The location of the monitoring instrument, date and time of the recording.
(8) The last calibration date of the monitoring instrument.
(c) If the Department questions the validity of a ground vibration or airblast record, or the interpretation of the record, the Department may require a ground vibration or airblast recording to be analyzed or certified by an independent, qualified consultant who is not related to the blasting activity permittee or its customer. When the Department requires that a recording be analyzed or certified, it shall be performed and included with the blast report within 30 days.
Cross References This section cited in 25 Pa. Code § 211.133 (relating to blast reports).
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