IMPACT ANALYSIS

562-2100-002 ALTERNATIVE PEAK PARTICLE VELOCITY OR AIRBLAST LEVEL

 

GUIDANCE IMPLEMENTS LAWS OR REGULATIONS MORE STRINGENT THAN FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS
The guidance is no more stringent than the federal coal mining regulations.

PRESCRIPTIVE OR TECHNOLOGY SPECIFIC GUIDANCE
This guidance allows for flexibility in applying ground vibration and airblast limits. The Department recognizes that the current peak particle velocity and airblast limits may be over restrictive in some cases.

AFFECTED REGULATED COMMUNITY
The mining, construction and explosives industries are affected by this guidance.

ECONOMIC IMPACT-REGULATED COMMUNITY
This guidance will facilitate the consistent review of requests and actions establishing alternative peak particle velocity and airblast levels. The potential benefit of this guidance is to relieve the regulated community of the burden of unnecessarily restrictive ground vibration and airblast limits.

ECONOMIC IMPACT-DEP
DEP will need to add an additional Blasting and Explosives Inspector due to the increased workload to meet the permitting requirements of newly revised 25 PA Code Chapter 211. and review of requests of the Department to establish alternative peak particle velocities.

COMPLIANCE ASSISTANCE
The Blasting and Explosives Inspectors and other DEP personnel will assist industry when applying this guidance.

POLLUTION PREVENTION
This guidance will not minimize or reduce pollution.

DEP REVIEWS AND APPROVALS
This guidance will provide guidelines for the review process and approval or denial of requests for the Department to establish alternative peak particle velocities.

RELATIONSHIP TO EXISTING GUIDANCE
This guidance is not related to existing guidance.

CONTROVERSIAL ASPECTS OF GUIDANCE
The procedures in this guidance are not expected to be controversial.