Administrative Rules of Montana
Department 17 - ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
Chapter 17.24 - RECLAMATION
Subchapter 17.24.3 - Strip and Underground Mine Reclamation Act: Definitions and Strip Mine Permit Application Requirements
Rule 17.24.313 - RECLAMATION PLAN
Universal Citation: MT Admin Rules 17.24.313
Current through Register Vol. 6, March 22, 2024
(1) Each reclamation plan must contain a description of the reclamation operations proposed, including the following information:
(a) the proposed postmining land use pursuant
to ARM 17.24.762;
(b) a detailed timetable for the estimated
completion of each major step in the reclamation plan;
(c) a detailed estimate of the cost of
reclamation of the proposed operations that will be covered by a performance
bond with supporting calculations for the estimate;
(d) a plan for backfilling, stabilization,
compacting, and grading of the proposed permit area. The plan for backfilling
must contain:
(i) a description of the final
location of all overburden and parting materials in the fill. Diagrams must be
included, as necessary;
(ii) a
narrative and cross-sections, or other means as approved by the department,
showing the plan of highwall backfilling, reduction, or an alternative thereof,
including the limits of buffer zone consistent with the performance standards
of ARM 17.24.501 and
17.24.515;
(iii) a narrative description of the
derivation of the bulking factor (swell) used by the applicant in calculation
of spoil volumes and generation of postmining contour maps. Calculations used
in the derivation must be included;
(iv) a map showing the postmining topography
that the applicant proposes to meet at the time of final bond release. This map
must be prepared to reflect the performance standards; and
(v) a demonstration that the proposed
postmining topography can be achieved. This demonstration must include a
cross-section or set of cross-sections, or other method as approved by the
department, to depict the removal of overburden and mineral and the replacement
of the swelled spoil;
(e)
a description of postmining drainage basin reclamation that ensures protection
of the hydrologic balance, achievement of postmining land use performance
standards, and prevention of material damage to the hydrologic balance in
adjacent areas, including:
(i) a comparison
of premining and postmining drainage basin size, drainage density, and drainage
profiles as necessary to identify characteristics not distinguishable on the
premining and postmining topographic maps;
(ii) a discussion of how, within drainage
basins:
(A) the plan meets each performance
standard in ARM
17.24.634;
(B) the requirements of
82-4-231(10)(k),
MCA, and ARM
17.24.314 will be met where the
postmining topography differs from the premining as allowed by ARM
17.24.301(13)(c);
(f) drainage channel
designs appropriate for preventing material damage to the hydrologic balance in
the adjacent area and to meet the performance standards of ARM 17.24.634,
including:
(i) detailed drainage designs for
channels that contain critical hydrologic, ecologic or land use functions not
already addressed in this rule such as alluvial valley floors, wetlands, steep
erosive upland drainages, drainages named on USGS topographic maps, or
intermittent or perennial streams. Detailed drainage designs include fluvial
and geomorphic characteristics pertinent to the specific drainages being
addressed; and
(ii) for all other
channels, typical designs and discussions of general fluvial and geomorphic
habit, pattern, and other relevant functional
characteristics;
(g)
plans for removal, storage, and redistribution of soil, overburden, spoils, and
other material in accordance with ARM 17.24.501, 17.24.502, 17.24.503,
17.24.504, 17.24.505, 17.24.507, 17.24.510, 17.24.514, 17.24.515, 17.24.516,
17.24.517, 17.24.518, 17.24.519, 17.24.520, 17.24.521, and 17.24.522, and
17.24.701 through 17.24.703;
(i) These plans
must include or reference other narratives in the application documenting how
the information on the characteristics of the overburden and coal (ARM
17.24.304(1)(g))
and soils (ARM
17.24.304(1)(k))
was utilized in developing the plans.
(ii) Using the soil survey information (see
ARM 17.24.304(1)(k)
), the applicant shall propose estimated
salvage depths for each lift of each soil component (series or phase) of each
soil mapping unit.
(iii) The
application must also include figures with supporting calculations showing:
(A) total acreages and volumes of salvageable
soil of each lift from each soil component of each soil mapping unit;
and
(B) the anticipated
thickness(es) of soil redistribution for each lift, and in total, on the area
of land affected after regrading;
(iv) The applicant must submit plans for any
necessary monitoring of soils, overburden, spoils, or other
materials;
(h) a
narrative of the method for revegetation including, but not limited to, a
discussion of:
(i) revegetation types,
including acreage of each;
(ii) the
schedule of revegetation;
(iii)
species and amounts per acre of seeds and seedlings to be used, calculated as
pure live seed;
(iv) introduced
species to be used, if any, and documentation of the desirability and necessity
of using the introduced species to achieve the approved postmining land
use;
(v) methods to be used in
planting and seeding;
(vi)
approximate, normal, annual seeding and planting dates;
(vii) the use of nurse or cover crop and
mulching techniques;
(viii) soil
tillage, amendments or other management techniques to assist in vegetative
establishment;
(ix) vegetation
monitoring to be implemented to identify conditions during the period of
liability;
(x) measures to be used
to determine the success of revegetation, including the use of reference areas
and/or technical standards in relation to the revegetation types pursuant to
ARM 17.24.724 and
17.24.726;
(xi) plans for determining quality,
fertility, and thickness of redistributed soil and for determining quality of
regraded spoil. The purpose of these plans is to evaluate the results of the
handling of soils, overburden, wastes, and other materials and to evaluate
reclamation procedures related to revegetation; and
(xii) the types of major equipment to be used
in the above operations.
(i) a description, including appropriate
cross-sections and maps, of the measures to be used to seal or manage mine
openings, and to plug, case, or manage prospecting holes, other bore holes,
wells, and other openings within the proposed permit area in accordance with
subchapter 9 and ARM
17.24.1005; and
(j) a narrative explaining reclamation of
facilities and sites identified under ARM
17.24.308(1)(b).
AUTH: 82-4-205, MCA; IMP: 82-4-222, 82-4-231, 82-4-232, 82-4-233, 82-4-234, MCA
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