Certification for Coal Mine Surface Blasters

The Wyoming Land Quality Division (LQD) will proctor the Wyoming Blasting Exam (not a full class) at the State Mine Inspector's Office (2451 Foothill Blvd., Suite #101 Rock Springs, WY 82901 ) on July 21, 2025. A short review will be held beginning at 8:00 a.m. followed by the exam.  If you need to review additional material before the exam, please follow the link OSMRE Blaster PDF Training Modules (Wyoming and OSMRE collaborated on these modules).  Contact Reo Barney at (307) 675-5612 or reo.barney@wyo.gov  if you have a blaster needing to attend. You may also consult LQD Coal Chapter 6: Blasting for Surface Coal Mining Operations for your reference.

Blasters seeking issuance of the Wyoming Blaster Certificate must meet the following requirements for experience and examination:

  • Blaster must have two years of qualified blasting experience confirmed in a notarized letter (see Qualifications paragraph Wyoming DEQ Blaster Certification Issuance SOP or below).  This letter can be provided before or after taking the exam and should essentially be a summarized resume.

*To qualify for the Blaster Certification, an individual must provide the Wyoming DEQ with notarized verification of at least two years of blasting experience.  At least one of those years of experience must include shot design, loading of holes, and tying in shots.  At least six months of this experience must be hands-on experience on the pattern before a blaster can be eligible to become certified.

  • Previously attended the full Wyoming Blaster Certification Class.
  • Pass the Wyoming Blasting Exam with a score of 80%.

Wyoming DEQ Blasting Web page

Wyoming DEQ has published a WDEQ-LQD Blasting Webpage.  Visit this webpage for blasting regulations, information on Blaster Certification issuance, upcoming training announcements, Wyoming DEQ Recorded Webinars, and other useful links.

Each training program will culminate in an examination to be administered by the course instructor. Following the training and examination, the Division will review each applicant's requisite one year of blasting experience, examination results, completed application, and instructor recommendation, and determine whether the applicant qualifies for certification as a coal mine surface blaster under Utah Admin. R645-105.

Send questions about the application process, training examination session for coal mine surface blasters, or completed applications to:

Levy Woodruff
Division of Oil, Gas and Mining
1594 West North Temple, Suite 1210
Box 145801 Salt Lake City, Utah 84114-5801
(801) 538-5352 FAX (801) 359-3940

Blaster training and certification are an annual offering by the Division and occur around the first of the New Year. Follow this page for related information.

Download the Surface Coal Mine Blaster Certification Application Form in Acrobat PDF format. (You must have the Acrobat Reader to view/complete/print or a full version of Acrobat to save the completed form with the completed information.)

Blasting at Non-Coal Mines
Blasting at non-coal mines may be regulated by some federal agencies, depending on the nature of the blasting activity. The Mine Safety Health Administration (MSHA) regulates health and safety standards when using or working near explosive materials in mines. The federal Bureau of alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) regulates the importation, manufacture, distribution and storage of explosives. The federal Department of Transportation (DOT) regulates the interstate and intrastate transportation of explosives. Blasting may also be regulated by some local agencies. Contact local municipal and/or county authorities for any rules and regulations or permit requirements related to mine blasting.