Amends TCA Title 68.

This bill reorganizes and revises various provisions governing blasting. The revisions are as follows: (1) Present law provides that blasting operations without instrumentation are considered as being within the limits set forth in the law, if such blasting operations are conducted in accordance with blasting standards set out in statute (the statute establishes peak velocity limits and other specifications) and such other rules and regulations as may be promulgated by the department. This bill removes this provision; (2) Present law contains a peak particle velocity limit table and provides that in lieu of utilizing the table, a blaster has the option to utilize a graph contained in present law to limit peak particle velocity based upon the frequency of the blast vibration. This bill replaces the tables in present law with the graph and specifies that, generally, the maximum ground vibration may not exceed the limitations specified in the graph to limit peak particle velocity based upon the frequency of the blast vibration; (3) Under present law, a person holding a limited blaster's registration is prohibited from conducting a blasting operation in which more than five pounds total of explosives are used in a blast. This bill specifies that this provision applies to surface blasting operations and adds a prohibition on such a person using explosives as a blaster in underground mining operation; and (4) Present law provides for, a 12-member advisory council on the commercial explosives industry, with members appointed by the commissioner of commerce and insurance. Membership includes manufacturers, distributors and users of commercial explosives who are engaged in commercial mining, construction and demolition activities. A minimum of six members must be registered blasters and three members must be representatives from other interested agencies. Members serve three-year terms. This bill adds that the industry members of the council will elect a chair of the advisory council for three-year term. ON MARCH 14, 2022, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 2055, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 revises a present law provision regarding notice of blasting. Under present law, whenever blasting operations are to be conducted within 100 feet of any pipeline distributing liquefied or liquid petroleum or manufactured, mixed or natural gas, the person who will conduct such blasting operations must notify the department of commerce and insurance and the utility company having control of such pipeline at least three full working days, except Sundays and holidays, prior to blasting. Whenever blasting operations are to be conducted on a single project for a period of more than one day, a single notification of intention constitutes compliance with this requirement. This amendment revises the above provision so that it applies to blasting within 100 feet of a pipeline distributing manufactured, mixed, or natural gas, and to blasting within 200 feet of an interstate pipeline distributing liquefied or liquid petroleum.