060-23 Wyo. Code R. § 23-11 - Surface Integrity and Minimum Reclamation

(a) Lessees shall use care and proper safeguards to prevent pollution of the soil or any water, including underground aquifers, by virtue of lessee's or lessee's designee's operation on state lands and shall capture and dispose of any operation's pollutants not permitted under Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality regulation, resulting from lessee's or lessee's designee's operations, and shall be responsible for any and all damages caused thereby related to lessee's operations.

(b) Upon completion of operations on state lands, all related disturbances on state lands must be reclaimed to leave the land in as near as practicable to the original condition of the land prior to operations. All topsoil must be salvaged before an area is disturbed by roads, buildings or other related activities. The salvaged topsoil must be stockpiled in such a way to protect it from wind and water erosion. If no topsoil exists for use in reclamation, with the Director's written approval, a cover soil that has been amended to sustain vegetation may be applied. If lessees can demonstrate that stripping and stockpiling of topsoil as precursor to their activities will be more detrimental to the topsoil as relates to reclamation, the Director may waive this requirement.

(c) New roads shall cross all drainages at right angles with culverts installed in a manner to avoid constricting the flow of surface water. All drainage or creek crossings must be constructed of erosion resistant material and constructed in a manner to prevent degradation of waters of the state from eroded sediment. No pits or impoundments shall remain after operations and reclamation activities, unless they have developed into viable wetlands as that term is defined by current federal regulation or if the pits or impoundments could potentially be of use to the state or to the surface lessee. All reclaimed areas must have slopes as approved by the Director and in conformance with existing State of Wyoming laws, rules, and regulations governing reclamation.

(d) All reclaimed areas must be reseeded, where possible, with an approved seed mixture.

Notes

060-23 Wyo. Code R. § 23-11