Section 88.221. Postmining land use

(a) All affected areas shall be restored in a timely manner to conditions that are capable of supporting the uses which they were capable of supporting before any mining, or to higher or better uses achievable under criteria and procedures of this section, and prior to the release of land from permit area in accordance with Chapter 86, Subchapter F (relating to bonding and insurance requirements).

(b) The premining use of land to which the postmining land use is compared shall be determined by the following:

(1) The postmining land use for land that has not been previously mined and has been properly managed shall be judged on the basis of uses which the land previously supported.

(2) The postmining land use for land that has been previously mined and not reclaimed shall be judged on the condition prior to mining or to a higher or better use that can be achieved and is compatible with surrounding areas.

(c) Alternative land uses shall be approved by the Department after consultation with the landowner or the land management agency having jurisdiction over the lands and after determining the following criteria are met:

(1) The proposed postmining land use is compatible with adjacent land use and applicable land use policies, plans and programs and Federal, State and local law. A written statement of the views of the authorities with statutory responsibilities for land use policies and plans is submitted to the Department before surface mining activities begin. Any required approval, including any necessary zoning or other changes required for land use by local, State or Federal land management agencies, is obtained and remains valid throughout the surface mining activities.

(2) The owner of the surface requests in a notarized written statement that alternative land use be approved.

(3) The proposed postmining land use is reasonably likely to be achieved which may be demonstrated by one or more of the following or other similar criteria:

(i) Provision of any necessary public facilities is ensured as evidenced by letters of commitment from parties other than the person who conducts surface mining activities, as appropriate, to provide the public facilities in a manner compatible with the plans submitted under Subchapter A (relating to general provisions). The letters shall be submitted to the Department before surface mining activities begin.

(ii) Specific plans are prepared and submitted to the Department which show the feasibility of the postmining land use as related to projected land use trends and markets. The plan shall include a schedule showing how the proposed use will be developed and achieved within a reasonable time after mining and how the development will be sustained. The Department may require appropriate demonstrations to show that the planned procedures are feasible, reasonable and integrated with mining and reclamation, and that the plans will result in successful reclamation.

(4) The proposed use will neither pose an actual or potential threat to public health or safety or of water diminution, interruption, contamination or pollution.

(5) The use will not involve unreasonable delays in reclamation or implementation.

(6) Necessary approval of measures to prevent or mitigate adverse effects on fish, wildlife and related environmental values and threatened or endangered plants is obtained from the Department, and appropriate State and Federal fish and wildlife management agencies have been provided a 30-day period in which to review the plan before surface mining activities begin.

The provisions of this § 88.221 adopted December 19, 1980, 10 Pa.B. 4789, 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 (207105) to (207107).

Notation

Cross References

This section cited in 25 Pa. Code § 86.151 (relating to period of liability); 25 Pa. Code § 86.172 (relating to criteria for release of bond); and 25 Pa. Code § 88.237 (relating to haul roads and access roads: restoration).