§ 193-8. Blasting operations.

A. 

No blast shall be initiated at any location within the Village limits unless a written permit has first been obtained from Building Inspector authorizing blasting at the specific location.

B. 

Blasting conducted within the Village must comply with the terms of the permit and, in addition, all applicable state and federal heath and safety standards.

C. 

At least five business days prior to the scheduled start of blasting, the permit holder shall request a preblast meeting with the Building Inspector to review and finalize the proposed blasting plan. No blasting shall be conducted unless a preblast meeting has been held with the Building Inspector and the Building Inspector is satisfied that the proposed blasting plan is reasonable.

D. 

Each blasting permit holder shall establish and delineate a blast zone prior to detonating a blast. The blast zone must be clearly marked and adequate precautions must be implemented to prevent unauthorized entry into the area.

E. 

Prior to each blast, the blaster or his designee shall be responsible for notifying all persons in the general area that blasting operations are scheduled to begin within a specified period of time. In addition, the blaster shall sound a recognized whistle, siren or horn loud enough to be heard throughout the designated blast zone approximately three minutes prior to blasting and again 30 seconds prior to blasting, warning all persons that blasting is imminent.

F. 

The Building Inspector or his representative shall be permitted access to observe all aspects of the blasting operation, including but not limited to observation of all preblast preparatory site work, the explosion/detonation and access to the postblast site. The property owner shall reimburse the Village for the cost of all inspection services, including the cost of retaining an on-site inspector to monitor all aspects of blasting, where the Building Inspector deems such services necessary, by depositing the estimated cost of inspection services in a designated account to be held in escrow by the Village and applied to reimburse the Village for costs incurred in administering compliance with this chapter. The permit holder and the blaster shall, upon request, make available to the Building Inspector a copy of all seismic readings and any and all other documentation and data collected regarding any blast.

G. 

The blasting permit holder shall notify the Building Inspector or his designated representative and the Police Department of an impending blast at least two hours, but not more than 12 hours, prior to the time each blast is scheduled.

H. 

The applicant shall be responsible for any costs incurred by the Village in providing police, emergency services or any other personnel deemed necessary to ensure public safety.

I. 

Notwithstanding any other regulations, no blasting shall be performed in such manner or under such circumstances as to eject debris into the air so as to constitute a hazard or danger or do harm or damage to persons or property. Before firing a blast which could cause injury to persons or damage property from fly rock, the material to be blasted shall be properly covered or screened by a buffer of sufficient mass and strength to prevent, with a margin of safety, the ejection of any material capable of causing any injury or damage.

J. 

No person shall use a quantity of explosives greater than necessary to break or move the target material or use an amount of explosives that poses a risk of injury to persons or property.

K. 

Unless otherwise permitted by the Building Inspector, all holes drilled or otherwise excavated for holding an explosive charge shall be at least six feet deep. If, however, the permit holder/blaster can demonstrate a need to use a hole less than six feet deep and that such a cavity will not endanger public safety, the Building Inspector or his designated representative may, in his discretion, authorize the use of blast holes less than six feet deep.

L. 

The blaster shall plan each blast and take every precaution in loading, delaying, initiation, confinement and stemming to control the throw of rock fragments and debris and limit ground vibrations and the effect of air concussions to the greatest extent possible. When blasting is to be conducted within 50 feet or less of a property line and the adjacent property owner is not a party to the blasting operation, the blaster shall take all precautions practicable, utilizing any combination of recognized methods, to control blasting effects to the greatest degree possible.

M. 

A record of each blast shall be kept by the blaster on a form approved by the Building Inspector. All such records shall be retained by the permit holder and blaster as prescribed by state law and made available for inspection as a matter of public record.

(1) 

The permit holder shall record the following information for each blast and provide the Building Inspector with a duplicate copy at the end of each day:

(a) 

The name and license number of the blaster.

(b) 

The location of the blast.

(c) 

The date and time of each blast.

(d) 

The number of blasts.

(e) 

The number, diameter and depth of each hole and distance between holes.

(f) 

The burden depth.

(g) 

The stemming length.

(h) 

The make and type of explosives.

(i) 

The delay make, number and period.

(j) 

The weather conditions, including temperature, wind direction and speed.

(2) 

In addition, the following seismograph information must be recorded for each blast, with a duplicate copy provided to the Building Inspector:

(a) 

The seismograph serial number.

(b) 

The range/gain setting.

(c) 

The date of last shake table calibration and microphone calibration.

(d) 

The air channel low frequency limit.

(e) 

The exact seismograph location and location in relation to the blast.

(f) 

The peak over pressure readout.

(g) 

The peak particle velocity readout.

(h) 

The name of the operator.

N. 

Where an accident involves personal injury, the permit holder shall immediately notify the Building Inspector that an accident has occurred, and no further blasting shall be conducted until the Building Inspector has had an opportunity to review the accident report and the permit. Any injury, accident or misfire involving explosives shall be recorded, and a full written report shall be attached to the blast report filed with the Building Inspector, including the names of all participants and witnesses and remedial actions taken. The Building Inspector may require such additional, specific information from the blaster as he deems necessary and appropriate to assure the public health and safety. Following an accident involving personal injury, the Building Inspector may amend the permit by adding whatever additional restrictions are deemed necessary to assure public health and safety is maintained and another similar accident does not reoccur.