ODNR Division of Mineral Resources Management- Coal Mining

Ohio Reclamation Commission

The Commission is to provide an administrative appeal to any person claiming to be aggrieved or adversely affected by a decision of the Chief of the Division Mineral Resources Management, relating to mining and reclamation issues.

The Reclamation Commission is an adjudicatory board, established pursuant to Ohio Revised Code 1513.05.

The Commission conducts hearings and renders decisions. Based upon the information presented to the Commission in an adjudicatory hearing, the Commission will affirm, vacate or modify the Chief’s decision under appeal. The decisions of the Commission are appealable to the Court of Common Pleas for Franklin County, Ohio in industrial minerals matters and appealable to the Court of Appeals in coal mining matters.

Reclamation Commission members are appointed by the Governor to a five-year term. The Commission is composed of eight members, with only seven members sitting on any appeal. Four members constitute a quorum, and no more than four members may belong to the same political party. The members represent various interests and concerns, relevant to mining and reclamation issues:

  • Two members represent farmers
  • One member represents the public
  • One member is learned in forestry practices
  • One member is learned in agronomy
  • One member represents either the coal or industrial minerals mining industry
  • One member is learned in earth grading or civil engineering

The Reclamation Commission adopts rules to govern its procedures. These rules are found at Ohio Administrative Code 1513-3-01 through 1513-3-22.

Surface coal mine

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 

Brochure about the Reclamation Commission (pdf)

The Current Members

Richard W. Babb
Sabina, Ohio
Representing farmers

William P. Bousquet
N. Madison, Ohio
Representing minerals safety

Sean A. McCarter, Secretary
Columbus, Ohio
Representing the public

Ronnie Lee Marquardt
Rayland, Ohio
Representing coal safety

Richard E. Martin
Harrison, Ohio
Representing the industrial minerals industry

James K. McWilliams, Chairman
Baltimore, Ohio
Representing the coal industry

Craig Porter
Cadiz, Ohio
Representing earth grading

Ray Rummell, Vice Chairman
Sherrodsville, Ohio
Representing agronomy

Open
Representing farmers

Open
Representing forestry