Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 12, March 22, 2024
a)
Each application shall include geologic information in sufficient detail to
assist in determining:
1) The probable
hydrologic consequences of the operation upon the quality and quantity of
surface and ground water in the permit and adjacent areas, including the extent
to which surface and ground water monitoring is necessary;
2) All potentially acid- or toxic-forming
strata down to and including the stratum immediately below the lowest coal seam
to be mined; and
3) Whether
required reclamation can be accomplished and whether the proposed operation has
been designed to prevent material damage to the hydrologic balance outside the
permit area.
b) Geologic
information shall include, at a minimum:
1) A
description of the geology of the proposed permit and adjacent areas down to
and including the deeper of either the stratum immediately below the lowest
coal seam to mined, or any aquifer below the lowest coal seam to be mined which
may be adversely impacted by mining. The description shall include the areal
and structural geology of the permit and adjacent areas, and other parameters
which influence the required reclamation and the occurrence, availability,
movement, quality and quantity of potentially impacted surface and ground
waters. It shall be based on:
A) The
cross-sections, maps and plans required by 62 Ill. Adm. Code
1779.25;
B) The information obtained under subsections
(b)(2) and (c); and
C) Geologic
literature and practices.
2) Analyses of samples collected from test
borings, drill cores or fresh, unweathered, uncontaminated samples from rock
outcrops from the permit area, down to and including the deeper of either the
stratum immediately below the lowest coal seam to be mined or any aquifer below
the lowest coal seam to be mined which may be adversely impacted by mining. The
analyses shall result in the following:
A)
Logs showing the lithologic characteristcs including physical properties and
thickness of each stratum and location of ground water where
occurring;
B) Chemical analyses
identifying those strata that may contain acid- or toxic-forming or
alkalinity-producing materials and to determine their content except that the
Department may find that the analysis for alkalinity-producing materials is not
necessary to assure protection to the hydrologic balance; and
C) Chemical analyses of the coal seam for
acid- or toxic-forming materials, including total sulfur and pyritic sulfur,
except that the Department may find that the analysis of pyritic sulfur is
unnecessary to assure protection to the hydrologic balance.
c) If determined to be
necessary to protect the hydrologic balance or to meet the performance
standards of 62 Ill. Adm. Code 1816, the Department shall require the
collection, analysis and description of geologic information in addition to
that required by subsection (b).
d)
An applicant may request the Department to waive in whole or in part the
requirements of subsection (b)(2). The waiver shall be granted only if the
Department finds in writing that the collection and analysis of such data is
unnecessary because other equivalent information is available in a satisfactory
form.
