25 Pa. Code § 89.33 - Geology
(a) The operation
plan shall include a description of the areal and structural geology in the
permit and adjacent area, including the lithology of the strata that influence
the occurrence, availability, movement and quality of groundwater that may be
affected by the underground mining activities.
(1) For lands within the proposed permit and
adjacent areas and over the coal seam to be mined, the description shall
include the results of test borings, coal samplings and the stratum immediately
beneath the coal seam to be mined, and overlying strata. When an aquifer or
existing deep mine below the lowest coal to be mined may be affected, the
description shall also include the aquifer or existing deep mine and overlying
strata. For mines not underlain by existing deep mines and greater than 200
feet (60.96 meters) below surface drainage, the description need only include
the strata down to and including the stratum immediately below the coal seam to
be mined. At a minimum, the description shall include:
(i) The location and quality of
groundwater.
(ii) The depth,
lithology and structure of overburden strata.
(iii) Coal seam thickness.
(iv) Chemical analysis for pollution-forming
materials of the stratum immediately above and the stratum immediately below
the coal seam to be mined.
(v)
Chemical analyses for pollution-forming materials of the coal seam including
the sulfur content.
(2)
Additionally, for portions of a permit area in which the strata down to the
coal seam to be mined will be removed, as in the face up area, test borings or
core samples shall be collected and analyzed down to and including the stratum
immediately below the lowest coal seam to be mined. For the purposes of this
section, boreholes, drill holes, slopes and shafts do not constitute removal of
overburden. The following data shall be provided:
(i) Logs of drill holes that show the
lithologic characteristics, including physical characteristics and thickness of
each stratum, and location and quality of groundwater.
(ii) Chemical analyses of each stratum within
the overburden and the stratum immediately below the coal seam to be mined to
identify those strata that contain pollution-forming or alkalinity-producing
materials.
(iii) Chemical analyses
for pollution-forming materials of the coal seam, including the total sulfur
content.
(b) An
applicant may request that the requirements of subsection (a)(2) be waived in
part or in its entirety by the Department. The waiver can be granted only if
the Department makes a written determination that the information required by
subsection (a)(2) is unnecessary because other information having equal value
or effect is available to the Department in a satisfactory form.
Notes
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