Section 87.173. Support facilities and utility installations

(a) Support facilities required for, or used incidentally to, the operation of the mine, including, but not limited to, mine buildings, coal loading facilities at or near the mine-site, coal storage facilities, equipment storage facilities, fan buildings, hoist buildings, preparation plants, sheds, shops and other buildings shall be located, maintained and used in a manner that does the following:

(1) Prevents or controls erosion and siltation, water pollution and damage to public or private property.

(2) To the extent possible using the best technology currently available minimizes:

(i) Damage to fish, wildlife and related environmental values.

(ii) Additional contributions of suspended solids to streamflow or runoff outside the permit area. These contributions may not be in excess of limitations of State or Federal law.

(b) All surface mining activities shall be conducted in a manner which minimizes damage, destruction or disruption of services provided by oil, gas and water wells; oil, gas and coal-slurry pipelines; railroads; electric and telephone lines; and water and sewage lines which pass over, under or through the permit area, unless otherwise approved by the owner of those facilities and the Department.

The provisions of this § 87.173 adopted December 19, 1980, 10 Pa.B. 4789, effective July 31, 1982, 12 Pa.B. 2382; amended July 30, 1982, 12 Pa.B. 2473, effective July 31, 1982, 12 Pa.B. 2382; amended May 8, 1998, effective May 9, 1998, 28 Pa.B. 2227. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (206853).