Colorado § 34-21-101 - Office of active and inactive mines - creation - duties.

§ 34-21-101. Office of active and inactive mines - creation - duties.

(1) There is created in the division of reclamation, mining, and safety in the department of natural resources the office of active and inactive mines, the head of which is appointed by the director of the division. The office of active and inactive mines is a type 2 entity, as defined in section 24-1-105, and exercises its powers and performs its duties and functions under the department of natural resources. The office has the following duties:

(a) To assist, upon request, operators and miners in meeting the requirements of the "Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977", Pub.L. 95-164, as amended;

(b) To assist, upon request, operators in establishing, training, equipping, and coordinating mine rescue teams;

(c) To maintain state miner training and accident reduction programs as deemed necessary by the commissioner and to provide such programs to operators and miners when requested;

(d) To secure funding for state and local training, technical assistance, and technology improvement programs;

(e) Through the board, to examine applicants for positions for which certification is required by federal law and to issue certificates of competence to those applicants who qualify;

(f) To provide for permitting of underground diesel-powered equipment and for permitting the storage and use of explosives until a federal permit is required by law;

(g) To be a repository for mine information and maps, to collect mine data and records, and to preserve information regarding the history and progress of the mining industry in the state from the earliest date to the present time;

(h) To respond to operators' or coroners' requests for assistance in investigating injuries and accidents;

(i) To provide administration and clerical support for the commissioners, the director, and the board;

(j) To prepare an annual report on the mining industry in Colorado providing information on production, employment, safety, ownership, processing and distribution, location, type, and any other information necessary to guide and promote mining in the state;

(k) To cooperate with and utilize the Colorado geological survey, consistent with its duties in sections 23-41-203 and 23-41-205, C.R.S.;

(l) To cooperate with other state agencies and institutions in the implementation of articles 1, 21, 22, 23, 24, 32, and 33 of this title;

(l.1) To develop and administer the abandoned mine reclamation program consistent with the provisions of section 34-33-133; and

(m) To perform such other duties as specified in articles 22 to 24 and article 32 of this title.

Source: L. 88: Entire article R&RE, p. 1186, § 2, effective July 1. L. 92: IP(1), (1)(e), and (1)(l) amended and (1)(l.1) added, p. 1931, § 12, effective July 1. L. 93: (1)(m) amended, p. 1198, § 17, effective July 1. L. 2006: IP(1) amended, p. 216, § 10, effective August 7. L. 2012: (1)(k) amended, (HB 12-1355), ch. 247, p. 1197, § 6, effective January 31, 2013. L. 2022: IP(1) amended, (SB 22-162), ch. 469, p. 3409, § 162, effective August 10.

Editor's note: This section is similar to former § 34-40-101 as it existed prior to 1988.

Cross references: For the short title (the "Debbie Haskins 'Administrative Organization Act of 1968' Modernization Act") in SB 22-162, see section 1 of chapter 469, Session Laws of Colorado 2022.

ANNOTATION

For appointment of board of mine examiners, see People ex rel. Inspector of Coal Mines v. Denman, 16 Colo. App. 337, 65 P. 455 (1901).