Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 12, March 22, 2024
Refuse piles shall meet the requirements of Section
1817.81,
the additional requirements of this Section, and the requirements of
30 CFR
77.214 and
77.215(1989).
30 CFR
77.214 and
77.215(1989)
do not include any later amendments or editions.
a) Drainage control.
1) If the disposal area contains springs,
natural or man-made water courses, or wet weather seeps, the design shall
include diversions and underdrains as necessary to control erosion, prevent
water infiltration into the disposal facility and ensure stability.
2) Uncontrolled surface drainage may not be
diverted over the outslope of the refuse pile. Runoff from the areas above the
refuse pile and runoff from the surface of the refuse pile shall be diverted
into stabilized diversion channels designed to meet the requirements of Section
1817.43 to safely pass
the runoff from a 100 year, six hour precipitation event. Runoff diverted from
undisturbed areas need not be commingled with runoff from the surface of the
refuse pile.
3) Underdrains shall
comply with the requirements of Section
1817.71(1)(2).
b) Surface area stabilization.
Slope protection shall be provided to minimize erosion at the site. All
disturbed areas, including diversion channels that are not riprapped or
otherwise protected from erosion, shall be revegetated upon completion of
construction.
c) Placement.
1) All vegetative and organic materials shall
be removed from the disposal area prior to placement of coal mine waste.
Topsoil shall be removed, segregated and stored or redistributed in accordance
with Section
1817.22. If
approved by the Department, organic material may be used as mulch, or may be
included in the topsoil to control erosion, promote growth of vegetation or
increase the moisture retention of the soil.
2) The final configuration of the refuse pile
shall be suitable for the approved post-mining land use. Terraces may be
constructed on the outslope of the refuse pile if required for stability,
erosion control, conservation of soil moisture, or facilitation of the approved
post-mining land use. The grade of the outslope between terrace benches shall
not be steeper than 2h:1v ( 50%).
3) No permanent impoundments shall be allowed
on the completed refuse pile. Small depressions may be allowed by the
Department if they are needed to retain moisture, minimize erosion, create and
enhance wildlife habitat, or assist revegetation, and if they are not
incompatible with stability of the refuse pile.
4) Following final grading of the refuse
pile, the coal mine waste shall be covered with a minimum of four feet of the
best available nontoxic and noncombustible material, in a manner that does not
impede drainage from the underdrains. The Department may allow less than four
feet of cover material based on physical and chemical analyses which show that
the requirements of Sections
1817.111
through
1817.116
will be met. The Department shall require neutralization material to be added
to the coal mine waste if, based on physical and chemical analyses, this
material is needed to prevent acid mine drainage. This subsection (c)(4) is
also applicable to the reclamation of fine coal waste (slurry) not meeting the
definition of refuse piles.
d) Inspections. A qualified registered
professional engineer, or other qualified professional specialist under the
direction of the professional engineer, shall inspect the refuse pile during
construction. The professional engineer or specialist shall be experienced in
the construction of similar earth and waste structures.
1) Such inspections shall be made at least
quarterly throughout construction and during critical construction periods.
A) Critical construction periods shall
include at a minimum:
i) Foundation
preparation including the removal of all organic material and
topsoil;
ii) Placement of
underdrains and protective filter systems;
iii) Installation of final surface drainage
systems; and
iv) The final graded
and revegetated facility.
B) Regular inspections by the engineer or
specialist shall also be conducted during placement and compaction of coal mine
waste materials. More frequent inspections shall be conducted if a danger or
harm exists to the public health and safety or the environment. Inspections
shall continue until the refuse pile has been finally graded and
revegetated.
2) The
qualified registered professional engineer shall provide a sealed report to the
Department promptly after each inspection that the refuse pile has been
constructed and maintained as designed and in accordance with the approved plan
and 62 Ill Adm. Code 1700 through 1850. The report shall include appearances of
instability, structural weakness, and other hazardous conditions.
3) The sealed report on the drainage system
and protective filters shall include color photographs taken during and after
construction, but before underdrains are covered with coal mine waste. If the
underdrain system is constructed in phases, each phase shall be sealed
separately. The photographs accompanying each sealed report shall be taken in
adequate size and number with enough terrain or other physical features of the
site shown to provide a relative scale to the photographs and to specifically
and clearly identify the site.
4) A
copy of each inspection report shall be retained at or near the mine
site.