Current through Bulletin 2024-18, September 15, 2024
The rules in R645-301-600 present the requirements for
information related to geology which is to be included in each permit
application.
611. General
Requirements. Each permit application will include descriptions of:
611.100. The geology within and adjacent to
the permit area as given under R645-301-621 through R645-301-627; and
611.200. Proposed operations given under
R645-301-630.
612. All
cross sections, maps and plans as required by R645-301-622 will be prepared and
certified as described under R645-301-512.100
620. Environmental Description.
621. General Requirements. Each permit
application will include a description of the geology within the proposed
permit and adjacent areas that may be affected or impacted by the proposed coal
mining and reclamation operation.
622. Cross Sections, Maps and Plans. The
application will include cross sections, maps and plans showing:
622.100. Elevations and locations of test
borings and core samplings;
622.200. Nature, depth, and thickness of the
coal seams to be mined, any coal or rider seams above the seam to be mined,
each stratum of the overburden, and the stratum immediately below the lowest
coal seam to be mined;
622.300. All
coal crop lines and the strike and dip of the coal to be mined within the
proposed permit area; and
622.400.
Location, and depth if available, of gas and oil wells within the proposed
permit area.
623. Each
application will include geologic information in sufficient detail to assist
in:
623.100. Determining all potentially
acid- or toxic-forming strata down to and including the stratum immediately
below the coal seam to be mined;
623.200. Determining whether reclamation as
required by R645-301 and R645-302 can be accomplished; and
623.300. For the purposes of UNDERGROUND COAL
MINING AND RECLAMATION ACTIVITIES preparing the subsidence control plan
described under R645-301-525 and R645-521-142.
624. Geologic information will include, at a
minimum, the following:
624.100. 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 will include the
regional and structural geology of the permit and adjacent areas, and other
parameters which influence the required reclamation and it will also show how
the regional and structural geology may affect the occurrence, availability,
movement, quantity and quality of potentially impacted surface and ground
water. It will be based on:
624.110. The cross sections, maps, and plans
required by R645-301-622.100 through R645-301-622.400.
624.120. The information obtained under
R645-301-624.200, R645-301-624.300 and R645-301-625; and
624.130. Geologic literature and
practices.
624.200. For the
purposes of UNDERGROUND COAL MINING AND RECLAMATION ACTIVITIES, 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, and for the purposes of SURFACE COAL MINING AND
RECLAMATION ACTIVITIES, samples will 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 lowest coal
seam to be mined which may be adversely impacted by mining. The analyses will
result in the following:
624.210.
Logs showing the lithologic characteristics including physical properties and
thickness of each stratum and location of ground water where
occurring;
624.220. Chemical
analyses identifying those strata that may contain acid- or toxic-forming, or
alkalinity-producing materials and to determine their content except that the
Division may find that the analysis for alkalinity-producing material is
unnecessary; and
624.230. Chemical
analysis of the coal seam for acid- or toxic-forming materials, including the
total sulfur and pyritic sulfur, except that the Division may find that the
analysis of pyritic sulfur content is unnecessary.
624.300. For lands within the permit and
adjacent areas of UNDERGROUND COAL MINING AND RECLAMATION ACTIVITIES where the
strata above the coal seam to be mined will not be removed, samples will be
collected and analyzed from test borings or drill cores to provide the
following data:
624.310. Logs of
drill holes showing the lithologic characteristics, including physical
properties and thickness of each stratum that may be impacted, and location of
ground water where occurring;
624.320. Chemical analyses for acid- or
toxic-forming or alkalinity-producing materials and their content in the strata
immediately above and below the coal seam to be mined;
624.330. Chemical analyses of the coal seam
for acid- or toxic-forming materials, including the total sulfur and pyritic
sulfur, except that the Division may find that the analysis of pyrite sulfur
content is unnecessary; and
624.340.
For standard room and pillar mining operations, the thickness and engineering
properties of clays or soft rock such as clay shale, if any, in the stratum
immediately above and below each coal seam to be mined.
625. If determined to be necessary to protect
the hydrologic balance, to minimize or prevent subsidence, or to meet the
performance standards of R645-301 and R645-302, the Division may require the
collection, analysis and description of geologic information in addition to
that required by R645-301-624.
626.
An applicant may request the Division to waive in whole or in part the
requirements of R645-301-624.200 and R645-301-624.300. The waiver may be
granted only if the Division 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 Division in a satisfactory form.
627. An application for a permit to conduct
UNDERGROUND COAL MINING AND RECLAMATION ACTIVITIES will include, at a minimum,
a description of overburden thickness and lithology.
631. Casing and Sealing of Exploration Holes
and Boreholes. Each permit application will include a description of the
methods used to backfill, plug, case, cap, seal or otherwise manage exploration
holes or boreholes to prevent acid or toxic drainage from entering water
resources, minimize disturbance to the prevailing hydrologic balance and to
ensure the safety of people, livestock, fish and wildlife, and machinery in the
permit and adjacent area. Each exploration hole or borehole that is uncovered
or exposed by coal mining and reclamation operations within the permit area
will be permanently closed, unless approved for water monitoring or otherwise
managed in a manner approved by the Division. Use of an exploration borehole as
a monitoring or water well must meet the provisions of R645-301-551 and
R645-301-731. The requirements of R645-301-631 do not apply to boreholes
drilled for the purpose of blasting.
631.100.
Temporary Casing and Sealing of Drilled Holes. Each exploration borehole, other
drill hole or borehole which has been identified in the approved permit
application for use to return underground development waste, coal processing
waste or water to underground workings or to be used to monitor ground water
conditions will be temporarily sealed before use and for the purposes of
SURFACE COAL MINING AND RECLAMATION ACTIVITIES, protected during use by
barricades, or fences, or other protective devices approved by the Division.
These protective devices will be periodically inspected and maintained in good
operating condition by the operator conducting surface coal mining and
reclamation activities.
631.200.
Permanent Casing and Sealing of Exploration Holes and Boreholes. When no longer
needed for monitoring or other use approved by the Division upon a finding of
no adverse environmental or health and safety effect, or unless approved for
transfer as a water well under R645-301-731.400, each exploration hole or
borehole will be plugged, capped, sealed, backfilled or otherwise properly
managed under R645-301-551, R645-301-631 and consistent with
30 CFR 75.1711.
Permanent closure methods will be designed to prevent access to the mine
workings by people, livestock, fish and wildlife, and machinery and to keep
acid or other toxic drainage from entering water resources.
632. Subsidence Monitoring. Each application
for a permit to conduct UNDERGROUND COAL MINING AND RECLAMATION ACTIVITIES
will, except where planned subsidence is projected to be used, include as part
of the subsidence monitoring plan described under R645-301-525:
632.100. A determination of the commencement
and degree of subsidence so other appropriate measures can be taken to prevent
or reduce material damage; and
632.200. A map showing the locations of
subsidence monitoring points within and adjacent to the permit
area.
640. Performance
Standards.
641. All exploration
holes and boreholes will be permanently cased and sealed according to the
requirements of R645-301-631 and R645-301-631.200.
642. All monuments and surface markers used
as subsidence monitoring points and identified under R645-301-632.200 will be
reclaimed in accordance with R645-301-521.210.
