Administrative Rules of Montana
Department 17 - ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
Chapter 17.24 - RECLAMATION
Subchapter 17.24.5 - Strip and Underground Mine Reclamation Act: Backfilling and Grading Requirements
Rule 17.24.516 - ADJACENT STRIP AND UNDERGROUND MINING OPERATIONS
Universal Citation: MT Admin Rules 17.24.516
Current through Register Vol. 6, March 22, 2024
(1) An operator who conducts a strip or underground mining operation adjacent to any active or abandoned underground mining operation, must comply with the following:
(a) A 500-foot barrier pillar of
coal must be maintained between the strip and underground mining operations in
any one seam. The department, the mine safety and health administration, and
the Montana division of worker's compensation of the department of labor and
industry, however, may approve a lesser distance after a finding by the
department that mining at a lesser distance will result in:
(i) improved coal resources
recovery;
(ii) abatement of water
pollution; or
(iii) elimination of
hazards to the health and safety of the public.
(b) The vertical distance between strip and
underground mining operations working separate seams must be sufficient to
provide for the health and safety of the workers and to prevent surface water
from entering the underground workings.
(2) The operator must also comply with ARM 17.24.632.
AUTH: 82-4-205, MCA; IMP: 82-4-227, MCA
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