SECTION 460:15-1-4. Mine map

(a)   The owner, agent, lessee, or operator of every coal mine in the State of Oklahoma shall make or cause to be made by an Oklahoma registered engineer or a registered surveyor, an accurate map of each mine. The mine shall be drawn to a scale of one (1) inch to two hundred (200) feet, and shall show in prominent lettering the name of the state, county, township, range, and section and by proper emblem the true north. The map shall carry the seal of the engineer or surveyor and be signed.

(b)   The map shall show accurately by azimuths or bearings and distances, the location of the mine openings with respect to an established legal subdivision corner. A tie to the state coordinate system shall be provided. All mine traverses shall be advanced by closed loop methods of traversing, or other equally accurate methods of traversing.

(1)   The map shall accurately show the property lines and surface boundary of the coal. The tracks and sidetracks of any and all railroads.

(2)   The location and depth of holes drilled for coal, oil, gas, or water that penetrates the workable coal seam, and the location and elevation of any body of water.

(3)   Such map shall also show all shafts, slopes, tunnels, or other openings to the surface as to the workings of any adjacent or contiguous mine, all excavations, entries, airways, manways, rooms, crosscuts or other workings. The location of the ventilating fan or fans and the direction of the air currents and the location of overcasts or undercasts.

(4)   The map must show the location and description of at least two (2) permanent base line points coordinated with the underground and surface mine traverses. Distance and bearing between base line points shall be shown.

(5)   Such map shall show the outcrops of the seam or seams, dip of the coal bed, known faults, and wants or wash outs.

(6)   Elevations shall be referred to from two (2) permanent surface bench marks, which is referenced to mean sea level as a datum.

(7)   Contour lines on ten (10) feet intervals but not to exceed two hundred (200) feet shall be shown on the floor of one (1) entry in each working section, main, or cross-main.

(c)   An extension of the last preceding survey of every mine shall be made once in every six (6) months. The result of the survey shall be accurately entered upon the original map.

(1)   The operator or superintendent of every coal mine shall furnish the mine inspector and the Department of Mines a true map or print of a true map every six (6) months. A true copy shall also be maintained at the mine site.

(2)   Copies of all maps, or prints thereof, shall be maintained by the Department of Mines as official records.

(3)   The Department of Mines or assistant mine inspector may order a survey at any time.

(d)   When a mine is worked out, abandoned, or indefinitely closed, the owner, agent, lessee, or operator shall notify the Department of Mines and have a final survey made of the mine.

(1)   The final survey shall show the entire mine and the exact location of the face of every slope, plane, entry, air course, man-way, or room. Such survey shall be submitted to the Department of Mines before the mine is sealed.

(2)   If a mine is abandoned or idle for sixty (60) days or more, it must be inspected by the assistant mine inspector and approved by the Oklahoma Department of Mines before the extraction of any coal.

(3)   The shaft, slope, or drift opening into a mine must be sealed with incombustible materials after it has been abandoned according to an approved plan.

(4)   No seal shall be broken, or an abandoned mine entered without written notification to the Department of Mines stating the date and approximate time. The assistant mine inspector shall be present when either the seal is to be broken or an abandoned mine entered.