25 Pa. Code § 89.71 - General requirements
(a) The
application shall contain a reclamation plan for lands which have been or will
be disturbed in support of the underground mining activities. The reclamation
plan shall include, at a minimum, the information required in this subchapter,
and shall be designed and implemented to achieve the performance standards in
this subchapter.
(b) The
reclamation plan shall contain the following information:
(1) A timetable for the completion of each
major step in the reclamation plan.
(2) An estimate of the cost of the
reclamation of the proposed operations required to be covered by a performance
bond under this title, with supporting calculations for the
estimates.
(3) A plan for mine
closure. The plan shall describe how mine closure shall achieve compliance with
the performance standards of this chapter and the requirements of the acts. The
description shall include a discussion of the hydrologic effects of closure
based on conditions at the time of closure. The plan shall also contain a
detailed description of each opening into the mine, including drifts, slopes,
shafts and boreholes. The description of each opening shall include:
(i) The location on a USGS topographic
map.
(ii) The elevation of the
opening at the surface and at the coal seam.
(iii) A drawing which shows the details of
the actual construction features.
(iv) Whether the opening is open, temporarily
closed or permanently sealed at the time of submittal of the reclamation
plan.
(v) A discussion and drawing
of the proposed or existing seals.
(vi) An engineering and hydrologic
justification for the proposed seal design.
(4) A plan for backfilling, soil
stabilization, compacting and grading, with contour maps or cross sections that
show the anticipated final surface configuration of the proposed disturbed area
in accordance with the performance standards of this chapter.
(5) A plan for redistribution of topsoil,
subsoil and other material to meet the performance standards of this
chapter.
(6) A plan for
revegetation as required in §
89.86 (relating to
revegetation).
(7) A plan for
controlling erosion and sedimentation during reclamation.
(c) The plan shall contain a description of
the proposed use, following reclamation, of the lands to be affected within the
proposed permit area by surface operations or facilities, including a
discussion of the utility and capacity of the reclaimed land to support a
variety of alternative uses, and the relationship of the proposed use to
existing land use policies and plans. This description shall explain the
following:
(1) The necessary support
activities which may be needed to achieve the proposed land use, including the
location and use of facilities that will remain after the completion of
mining.
(2) When a land use
different from the premining land use is proposed, all materials needed for
approval of the alternative use under §
89.88 (relating to postmining land
use).
(3) The consideration given
to making all the proposed underground mining activities consistent with
surface owner plans and applicable State and local land use plans and
programs.
(d) The
description shall be accompanied by a copy of the comments concerning the
proposed use from the legal or equitable owner of record of the surface areas
to be affected by surface operations or facilities within the proposed permit
area, and from the State and local government agencies which would have to
initiate, implement, approve or authorize the proposed use of the land
following reclamation.
Notes
This section cited in 25 Pa. Code § 86.149 (relating to determination of bond amount).
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