Section 87.178. Prime farmland: soil removal

(a) Soil materials to be used in the reconstruction of the prime farmland soil shall be removed before drilling, blasting or mining, in accordance with this section and in a manner that prevents mixing or contaminating these materials with undesirable material. Soil materials shall be removed in a manner that controls erosion and does not result in air and water pollution.

(b) The entire A horizon shall be separately removed from other soil and overburden materials.

(c) The B horizon, a combination of the B horizon and underlying C horizon, or other suitable soil material which will create a reconstructed soil of equal or greater productive capacity than that which existed before mining shall be separately removed from other topsoil and overburden materials.

(d) The underlying C horizons, other strata, or a combination of horizons or other strata to be used instead of the B horizon shall be separately removed from other topsoil and overburden materials. When replaced, these combinations shall be equal to, or more favorable for plant growth than, the B horizon.

(e) The minimum depth of soil and soil material to be removed for use in reconstruction of prime farmland soils shall be sufficient to meet the soil replacement requirements of § 87.180(a) (relating to prime farmland: soil replacement).

The provisions of this § 87.178 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.

Notation

Cross References

This section cited in 25 Pa. Code § 86.159 (relating to self-bonding); 25 Pa. Code § 87.83 (relating to prime farmlands); 25 Pa. Code § 87.147 (relating to revegetation: general requirements); 25 Pa. Code § 87.177 (relating to prime farmland: special requirements); 25 Pa. Code § 87.179 (relating to prime farmland: soil stockpiling); and 25 Pa. Code § 87.180 (relating to prime farmland: soil replacement).