Explosives & Safety Section Announcement

• Posted on Oct 21, 2024

August 23, 2024 – The following is an important announcement from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to all licensed blasters. You are receiving this message because you are a licensed blaster in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or have asked to be included on this mailing list.

It has come to the Department’s attention that in 25 Pa. Code § 77.564(g)(7) of the noncoal mining regulations, one use of the term blast area is better understood as blast site.

The regulation currently reads:
7) When explosives are being loaded in drill holes in preparation for a shot, work within a adius of 50 feet of
the blast area, except for the work being accomplished by the persons engaged in the blasting operation, shall
cease, and machinery, other than machinery necessary to the blasting operation, within the confines of this
area shall be brought to a complete rest. After inspection of the blast area by the Department, the Department
may establish an alternate distance limitation.

In DEP’s Chapter 211 regulations, the term blast site is understood to be where the explosives are being loaded and is formed by the perimeter of the holes being loaded, while blast area is the wider area that must later be cleared and secured prior to detonation. It is a minor inconsistency but it could make a real difference in the application of § 77.564(g)(7) since the current use of blast area, as highlighted above, implies that during loading all work would have to cease in a much larger area than is necessary.

The Department recognizes that this inconsistency exists and we are actively working to change this instance of the term blast area to blast site. In the meantime, industry personnel and regulators should consider this use of the term blast area to mean blast site.