Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 3, March 22, 2024
A. The
basic objective of the reclamation plan shall be to establish, on a continuing
basis, a vegetative cover, soil stability, and water and safety conditions
appropriate to the area.
B.
Reclamation shall be conducted simultaneously with mining whenever feasible and
in any event shall be initiated at the earliest practicable time, but no later
than within 180 days following termination of mining on any segment of the mine
and shall be completed within two years after completion or termination of
mining on any segment of the mine.
C. The reclamation plan, shall, to the extent
applicable, include:
(1) The planned land use
or uses to which the affected lands will be rehabilitated;
(2) The specifications for surface gradient
restoration, including sketches delineating slope angle, to a surface suitable
for the proposed subsequent use of the land after reclamation is completed, and
the proposed method of accomplishment;
(3) The methods to prevent or eliminate
conditions that will be hazardous to animal or fish life in or adjacent to the
affected land;
(4) The methods for
rehabilitating settling ponds;
(5)
The method for restoring or establishing stream channels and stream banks to a
condition which will minimize erosion and siltation;
(6) The method for the control of
contaminants and disposal of the refuse including tailings;
(7) The measures to provide safety to persons
and adjoining property in all excavations;
(8) The measures to prevent the collection
and retention of small pools of water that are likely to become noxious,
odious, or foul;
(9) A plan for the
permanent revegetation, reforestation or other surface treatment of the
affected land using accepted and recommended agronomic and reforestation
practices of the South Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station of Clemson
University and the South Carolina Commission of Forestry or the State Soil and
Water Conservation Districts. The revegetation plan shall include but not be
limited to the following:
(a) Planned soil
tests;
(b) Site preparation and
fertilization;
(c) Seed or plant
selection;
(d) Rate of seeding or
amount of planting per acre;
(e)
Maintenance.
(10) A plan
for the maintenance of any revegetated or reforested area through the second
growing season or until such time as the reclaimed area shall be released from
bond;
(11) A time schedule of
reclamation activities, particularly those relating to Best Management
Practices for sediment and erosion control, which shall be keyed to the maps
required by these regulations;
(12)
Two copies of a map which shall be of the same scale, quality and legibility as
the map submitted with the mining permit application under these Regulations
and which shall show, to the extent applicable, the following:
(a) The outline of the proposed final limits
of the excavation, during the number of years for which the permit is
requested;
(b) The approximate
location of final cut or fill slopes not part of the general surface gradient
of the area to be reclaimed;
(c)
The outline of the tailings disposal area;
(d) The outline of disposal areas for spoil
and refuse (exclusive of tailings ponds);
(e) The approximate location of the mean
shore line of any impoundment or water body which will remain upon final
reclamation;
(f) The approximate
locations of access roads, haul roads, or ramps which will remain upon final
reclamation;
(g) The approximate
location of various vegetative treatments;
(h) The proposed locations of re-established
streams or ditches to provide for drainage;
(i) The proposed locations of diversions,
terraces, or other Best Management Practices to be used for preventing or
controlling erosion and off-site siltation;
(j) The proposed locations of the measures to
provide safety to persons and adjoining property;
(k) A legend showing the name of the
applicant, the name of the proposed mine, the north arrow, the county, the
scale, the date of preparation and the name and title of the person who
prepared the map;
(l) The
boundaries of the permitted area;
(m) The boundaries of the affected area for
the anticipated life of the mine.
(n) The boundaries of the 100-year
floodplain, where appropriate.
D. The Department shall be authorized to
approve a reclamation plan despite the fact that such plan does not provide for
reclamation treatment of every portion of the affected land, where the
Department finds that because of special conditions such treatment would not be
feasible for particular areas and that the plan takes all practical steps to
minimize the extent of such areas.
E. Form MR-500, entitled "Reclamation Plan",
shall be completed in typewritten or hand printed form as part of the completed
application.
