Louisiana Administrative Code
Title 43 - NATURAL RESOURCES
Part XV - Office of Conservation-Surface Mining
Subpart 5 - Permanent Program Performance Standards
Chapter 53 - Permanent Program Performance Standards: Surface Mining Activities
Section XV-5405 - Backfilling and Grading: General Requirements

1. Contour Mining. Rough backfilling and grading shall follow removal by not more than 60 days or 1,500 linear feet. The office may grant additional time for rough backfilling and grading if the permittee can demonstrate, through a detailed written analysis under §2715. B 3, that additional time is necessary.

2. Open Pit Mining with Thin Overburden. Rough backfilling and grading shall occur in accordance with the time schedule approved by the office, on the basis of the materials submitted under §2715. B 3, which shall specifically establish in stated increments the period between removal of coal and completion of backfilling and grading.

3. Area Strip Mining. Rough backfilling and grading shall be completed within 180 days following coal removal and shall not be more than four spoil ridges behind the pit being worked, the spoil from the active pit being considered the first ridge. The office may grant additional time for rough backfilling and grading if the permittee can demonstrate, through a detailed written analysis under §2715. B 3, that additional time is necessary.

1. All disturbed areas shall be returned to their approximate original contour, except as provided in §2905 All spoil shall be transported, backfilled, compacted (where advisable to insure stability or to prevent leaching), and graded to eliminate all highwalls, spoil piles and depressions, except as provided in §5407 C

2. Open Pit Mining with Thin Overburden. Rough backfilling and grading shall occur in accordance with the approved post-mining land use.

3. The post-mining graded slopes need not be of uniform slope.

4. Cut-and-fill terraces may be used only in those situations expressly identified in §5407