Section 88.310. Coal refuse disposal: general requirements

(a) Coal refuse shall be hauled or conveyed to and placed in designated disposal areas authorized for that purpose. The refuse shall be placed in a controlled manner to ensure the following:

(1) The land mass designated as the disposal area is suitable for reclamation and revegetation compatible with the natural surroundings.

(2) Stability of the disposal area.

(3) Leachate and surface runoff from the disposal area will not degrade surface waters or groundwaters or exceed the established effluent limitations.

(b) The disposal area shall be designed using recognized professional standards and approved by the Department. The design shall be certified by a registered professional engineer.

(c) Trees, grasses, shrubs and other organic materials shall be removed for a distance of 50 feet from the current disposal area concurrent with the placement of refuse.

(d) Slope protection shall be provided to minimize surface erosion at the site. The disturbed areas, including diversion ditches that are not riprapped, shall be vegetated upon completion of construction.

(e) The coal refuse to be placed in the fill shall be hauled or conveyed and placed in horizontal lifts in a controlled manner, concurrently compacted as necessary to ensure mass stability and prevent mass movement, covered and graded to allow surface and subsurface drainage to be compatible with the natural surroundings, and ensure a long-term static safety factor of 1.5 and seismic safety factor of 1.2.

(f) The final configuration of the disposal shall be suitable for the approved postmining land uses.

(g) Terraces may be utilized to control erosion and enhance stability if approved by the Department.

(h) If the disposal area contains springs, natural or manmade water-courses or wet-weather seeps, an underdrain system consisting of durable rock shall be constructed from the wet areas in a manner that prevents infiltration of the water into the spoil material. The underdrain system shall be designed and constructed using standard geotechnical engineering methods.

(i) Coal refuse may be returned to underground mine workings, but only in accordance with a disposal program approved by the Department and the Mine Safety and Health Administration.

(j) The system to prevent adverse impacts to the surface water and groundwater shall be constructed in accordance with design schematics, test results, descriptions, plans, maps, profiles or cross-sections approved in the permit and shall function to prevent adverse impacts to surface water and groundwater.

(k) The system to prevent precipitation from coming in contact with the coal refuse shall be constructed in accordance with design schematics, test results, descriptions, plans, maps, profiles and cross-sections approved in the permit and shall function to prevent precipitation from contacting the coal refuse.

(1) The system shall be installed as phases of the disposal area reach capacity, as specified in the permit, when the operation temporarily ceases for a period in excess of 90 days (unless the Department approves a longer period, not to exceed 1 year) or when the operation permanently ceases.

(2) The system shall be designed to allow for revegetation of the site in accordance with the standard of success under § 88.330 (relating to revegetation: standards for successful revegetation) and for prevention of erosion.

The provisions of this § 88.310 adopted December 19, 1980, 10 Pa.B. 4789, effective July 31, 1982, 12 Pa.B. 2382; amended March 30, 1984, 14 Pa.B. 1143, effective August 10, 1985, 15 Pa.B. 2872; amended July 13, 2001, effective July 14, 2001, 31 Pa.B. 3735. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (271934) and (207131).