Ohio Code § 1563.36

§ 1563.36.

The method of mining followed in any coal mine shall not expose the miner to unusual

dangers from roof falls caused by excessive widths of rooms and entries or faulty

pillar recovery methods. (A) The method of mining shall provide widths of openings and pillar dimensions compatible

with effective roof control.  These widths and dimensions shall be incorporated into the roof control plan submitted

for approval. Where excessive widths result from poor mining practices, additional roof support

shall be installed before any travel or other work is done in such area.  If excessive widths of openings are a result of coal sloughing, additional support

shall be installed and the mining system reevaluated to determine changes that are

necessary to minimize such occurrences. (B) In addition to the criteria set forth in division (E) of section 1563.35 of the Revised Code , the following shall apply to pillar recovery: (1) The overall pillar recovery system shall be designed to minimize the possibility

of outbursts or squeezes.  The manner and sequence of recovery shall be included in the roof control plan submitted

for approval. (2) Where full pillar recovery is being done, extraction shall be such as to allow total

caving of the main roof in the pillared area. (3) During partial pillar recovery sufficient coal shall be left in place to support

the main roof to the extent that the possibility of undue forces overriding the working

places will be minimized. (4) A combination of full and partial pillar recovery shall not be conducted on the same

pillar line. (5) If full extraction of pillars is being done and physical conditions such as standing

water, adverse roof conditions, and falls of roof, or law requirements concerning

oil and gas wells or surface subsidence dictate that some pillars of coal are to be

left in place, a sufficient amount of coal shall be left to support the main roof

so as to minimize the possibility of undue forces overriding the working places. (6) Where full recovery of pillars is planned, the design of the pillars shall be compatible

with the planned method of extraction. (7) Pillaring methods shall eliminate pillar points and pillars that project inby the

brakeline. (8) When recovering adjacent pillars left and right from the same opening, mining shall

be completed in one such pillar left and the openings posted off with at least two

rows of breaker posts on not more than four foot centers before operations are started

in the second pillar. (C) Longwall mining shall be considered as modification of the open-end method of pillar

extraction and the support system for the longwall shall be approved on an individual

basis. (D) No person shall refuse or neglect to comply with this section.