020-18 Wyo. Code R. §§ 18-4 - Application Content Requirements - Baseline Information

All applications for in situ mining permit shall contain:

(a) All information and materials required pursuant to W.S. § 35-11-406(a)(vii) through (xi) and (xv) and W.S. § 35-11-428(a)(i) and (ii).

(b) All applicable information and materials pertaining to vegetation, pursuant to Land Quality Division - Coal, Rules and Regulations, Chapter 2, Section 3 (Vegetation Baseline Requirements).

(c) All applicable information and materials required pursuant to Land Quality Division - Coal, Rules and Regulations, Chapter 2, Section 4 (Other Baseline Requirements).

(d) Geology. A description of the geology shall include the requirements of Land Quality Division - Coal, Rules and Regulations, Chapter 2, Section 4(a) (viii) through (x) and the following information:

(i) Discussions, supported by maps, cross-sections, 3-D modeling, and geologist's, driller's, and geophysical logs, which identifies:

(A) Formations and aquifers;

(B) Geologic features that could influence aquifer properties;

(C) Areal and stratigraphic position of the production zone in relation to other geologic features; and

(D) Structural features.

(ii) Discussion of geomechanical properties of coal and overburden, supported by laboratory testing or other analytical means, to include:

(A) Porosity;

(B) Permeability;

(C) Fractures; and

(D) Compressibility.

(iii) Discussion of the geochemical properties of coal, supported by laboratory testing, to include:

(A) BTU;

(B) Inorganic contaminants;

(C) Volatile organic compounds;

(D) Gas reactivity; and

(E) Ash content.

(e) Groundwater. A discussion of groundwater which may be affected in the permit area and adjacent areas which complies with Land Quality Division - Coal, Rules and Regulations, Chapter 2, Section 4(a)(xii), (xiii), and (xiv). In addition, the application shall discuss the following:

(i) For groundwater within the permit area and on adjacent lands:

(A) The names (or numbers), descriptions, and a map of all wells installed for water supply or monitoring and all wells which penetrate the production zone. The description shall include: names of present owners, well completion data, producing interval(s), and variations in water level to the extent such information is available in the public records and from a reasonable inspection of the property.

(B) A list and map of all adjudicated and permitted groundwater rights.

(ii) A list and map of all abandoned wells and drill holes, giving the location, depth, producing interval(s), type of use, condition of casing, plugging procedures and date of completion for each well or drill hole within the permit area and on adjacent lands to the extent such information is available in public records and from a reasonable inspection of the property.

(iii) A groundwater potentiometric surface contour map for each aquifer that may be affected by the mining process, including overlying and underlying aquifers in which monitoring wells are installed.

(iv) A description of aquifer characteristics for the water saturated portions of the strata proposed to be mined and aquifers which may be affected by the mining process. This shall include, but is not limited to:

(A) Aquifer thickness;

(B) Velocity and direction of groundwater movement;

(C) Storage coefficients or specific yields;

(D) Transmissivity or hydraulic conductivity;

(E) Direction(s) of preferred flow under hydraulic stress in the saturated zones of the receiving strata and/or aquifer which may be affected by the mining process;

(F) Hydraulic connection between the strata to be mined and overlying and underlying aquifers;

(G) Hydraulic characteristics of any influencing boundaries in or near in situ mining area; and

(H) Information required under Section 11 of this Chapter.

(v) Discussion of groundwater sampling, to include a tabulation of water quality analyses for samples collected from all groundwater which may be affected by proposed mining. Sampling to characterize the pre-mining groundwater quality and its variability shall be conducted in accordance with established Department guidelines. All baseline groundwater quantity and quality information must be provided in an electronic format prescribed by the Administrator.

Notes

020-18 Wyo. Code R. §§ 18-4

Amended, Eff. 11/13/2018.