A. When advancing a drift, adit, level or incline toward a mine working that appears to be filled with water, a bore hole shall be kept at least twenty feet in advance of the breast of the drive and also, if necessary, in directions laterally from the course of the drive. The working place shall not exceed ten feet in width and further measures shall be taken which are deemed necessary by the inspector to obviate the danger of a sudden breaking through of water. No raise shall be allowed to approach within ten feet of a portion of a winze or a stope in which there is a dangerous accumulation of water, unless the winze or stope is first unwatered by bailing or pumping, or by means of a bore from the raise. When in the opinion of the inspector there is danger of a sudden inrush of water, additional raises, drifts or other workings shall be constructed as necessary to insure escape of persons from the lower workings. Places for the storage of water in mines shall be constructed to prevent leakage as far as possible and insure the safety of the persons working below them.

Terms Used In Arizona Laws 27-360

  • Inspector: means the state mine inspector and except in article 7 of this chapter his deputies. See Arizona Laws 27-301
  • Mine: means all lands containing excavations, underground passageways, shafts, tunnels and workings, structures, facilities, equipment, machines or other property including impoundments, retention dams, tailings and waste dumps, on the surface or underground, used in, to be used in or resulting from the work of extracting minerals or other materials, excluding hydrocarbons. See Arizona Laws 27-301
  • Operator: means a natural person, corporation, partnership association, agent, governmental entity or other public or private organization or representative owning, controlling or managing a mine. See Arizona Laws 27-301
  • workings: means any or all parts of a mine excavated or being excavated, including shafts, tunnels, drifts, crosscuts, adits, entries, winzes, raises, stopes, open cuts, and all working places, whether abandoned or in use. See Arizona Laws 27-301

B. It is unlawful for an operator to impound water or keep water impounded within a mine in which persons are working below the water so impounded in a manner which endangers the safety of the persons unless the water is impounded by a dam or wall approved by the inspector.

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