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-5413 - Backfilling and Grading: Thick Overburden
Universal Citation: LA Admin Code XV-5413
Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024
A. Thick Overburden-more than sufficient spoil and other waste materials available from the entire permit area to restore the disturbed area to its approximate original contour.
1. More than sufficient spoil and other waste
materials occur where the overburden thickness times the swell factor exceeds
the combined thickness of the overburden and coal bed prior to removing the
coal, so that after backfilling and grading the surface configuration of the
reclaimed area would not:
a. closely resemble
the surface configuration of the land prior to mining; or
b. blend into and complement the drainage
pattern of the surrounding terrain.
B. In surface mining activities where the volume of spoil over the mine plan area is demonstrated to be more than sufficient to achieve the approximate original contour, surface mining activities shall be conducted to meet, at a minimum, the following standards:
1. haul or convey, backfill and grade all
spoil and wastes, not required to achieve the approximate original contour of
the mine plan area, to the lowest practicable grade, to achieve a static factor
of safety of 1.3 and cover all acid-forming and toxic-forming
materials;
2. haul or convey,
backfill and grade excess spoil and wastes only within the permit area and
dispose of such materials in accordance with §§5365-5371;
3. haul or convey, backfill and grade excess
spoil and wastes to maintain the hydrologic balance, in accordance with
§5319-5347 and to provide long-term stability by preventing slides, erosion and
water pollution;
4. haul or convey,
backfill, grade and revegetate wastes and excess spoil to achieve an
ecologically sound land use approved by the office as compatible with the
prevailing land uses in unmined areas surrounding the mine plan area;
5. eliminate all highwalls by backfilling
with spoil and suitable waste materials; and
6. meet the revegetation requirements of
§5417-5423 for all disturbed areas.
AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 30:901-932.
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Louisiana may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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