Texas Administrative Code
Title 16 - ECONOMIC REGULATION
Part 1 - RAILROAD COMMISSION OF TEXAS
Chapter 12 - COAL MINING REGULATIONS
Subchapter G - SURFACE COAL MINING AND RECLAMATION OPERATIONS, PERMITS, AND COAL EXPLORATION PROCEDURES SYSTEMS
Division 8 - UNDERGROUND MINING PERMIT APPLICATIONS - MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR INFORMATION ON ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES
Section 12.173 - Geology Description
Current through Reg. 50, No. 13; March 28, 2025
(a) A description of the geology of the proposed permit and adjacent areas down to and including the deeper of either the stratum immediately below the lowest coal seam to be mined or any aquifer below the lowest coal seam to be mined which may be adversely impacted by mining. This description shall include the areal and structural geology of the permit and adjacent areas, and other parameters which influence the required reclamation and it shall also show how the areal and structural geology may affect the occurrence, availability, movement, quantity and quality of potentially impacted surface and ground water. It shall be based on:
(b) For any portion of a permit area in which the strata down to the coal seam to be mined will be removed or are already exposed, samples shall be collected and analyzed from test borings; drill cores; or fresh, unweathered, uncontaminated samples from rock outcrops down to and including the deeper of either the stratum immediately below the lowest coal seam to be mined or any aquifer below the coal seam to be mined which may be adversely impacted by mining. The analyses shall result in the following:
(c) For lands within the permit and adjacent areas where the strata above the coal seam to be mined will not be removed, samples shall be collected and analyzed from test borings or drill cores to provide the following data:
(d) If determined to be necessary to protect the hydrologic balance, to minimize or prevent subsidence, or to meet the performance standards of this chapter (relating to Coal Mining Regulations), the Commission may require the collection, analysis and description of geologic information in addition to that required by subsections (a), (b), and (c) of this section.
(e) An applicant may request the Commission to waive in whole or in part the requirements of subsections (b) and (c) of this section. The waiver may be granted only if the Commission finds in writing that the collection and analysis of such data is unnecessary because other information having equal value or effect is available to the Commission in a satisfactory form.