(a) Coal refuse shall be hauled or conveyed
to and placed in designated disposal areas authorized for that purpose. The
refuse shall be placed in a controlled manner to ensure the following:
(1) The land mass designated as the disposal
area is suitable for reclamation and revegetation compatible with the natural
surroundings.
(2) Stability of the
disposal area.
(3) Leachate and
surface runoff from the disposal area will not degrade surface waters or
groundwaters or exceed the established effluent
limitations.
(b) The
disposal area shall be designed using recognized professional standards and
approved by the Department. The design shall be certified by a registered
professional engineer.
(c) Trees,
grasses, shrubs and other organic materials shall be removed for a distance of
50 feet from the current disposal area concurrent with the placement of
refuse.
(d) Slope protection shall
be provided to minimize surface erosion at the site. The disturbed areas,
including diversion ditches that are not riprapped, shall be vegetated upon
completion of construction.
(e) The
coal refuse to be placed in the fill shall be hauled or conveyed and placed in
horizontal lifts in a controlled manner, concurrently compacted as necessary to
ensure mass stability and prevent mass movement, covered and graded to allow
surface and subsurface drainage to be compatible with the natural surroundings,
and ensure a long-term static safety factor of 1.5 and seismic safety factor of
1.2.
(f) The final configuration of
the disposal shall be suitable for the approved postmining land uses.
(g) Terraces may be utilized to control
erosion and enhance stability if approved by the Department.
(h) If the disposal area contains springs,
natural or manmade water-courses or wet-weather seeps, an underdrain system
consisting of durable rock shall be constructed from the wet areas in a manner
that prevents infiltration of the water into the spoil material. The underdrain
system shall be designed and constructed using standard geotechnical
engineering methods.
(i) Coal
refuse may be returned to underground mine workings, but only in accordance
with a disposal program approved by the Department and the Mine Safety and
Health Administration.
(j) The
system to prevent adverse impacts to the surface water and groundwater shall be
constructed in accordance with design schematics, test results, descriptions,
plans, maps, profiles or cross-sections approved in the permit and shall
function to prevent adverse impacts to surface water and groundwater.
(k) The system to prevent precipitation from
coming in contact with the coal refuse shall be constructed in accordance with
design schematics, test results, descriptions, plans, maps, profiles and
cross-sections approved in the permit and shall function to prevent
precipitation from contacting the coal refuse. The following apply:
(1) The system shall be installed:
(i) as phases reach capacity;
(ii) as specified in the permit;
(iii) when the operation temporarily ceases
for a period in excess of 90 days unless the Department approves an operator's
request for a longer period for installation of the system; or
(iv) when the operation permanently
ceases.
(2) The system
shall be designed to allow for revegetation of the site in accordance with the
standard of success under §
88.330 (relating to revegetation:
standards for successful revegetation) and for prevention of erosion.