Section 90.115. Hydrologic balance: groundwater monitoring

(a) Groundwater levels, infiltration rates, subsurface flow and storage characteristics, and the quality of groundwater shall be monitored in a manner approved by the Department to determine the effects of coal refuse disposal activities on the recharge capacity of reclaimed lands and on the quantity and quality of groundwater in the permit and adjacent areas.

(b) When coal refuse disposal activities may affect the groundwater systems which serve as aquifers which ensure the hydrologic balance of water use on or off the permit area, groundwater levels and groundwater quality shall be monitored. Monitoring shall include measurements from a sufficient number of wells and chemical analyses of water from aquifers that are adequate to reflect changes in groundwater quality and quantity resulting from those activities. Monitoring shall be adequate to plan for modification of coal refuse disposal activities, if necessary, to prevent, to the maximum extent possible, disturbance of the prevailing hydrologic balance. At a minimum, total dissolved solids or specific conductance corrected to 25°C, pH, acidity, alkalinity, total iron, total manganese and water levels shall be monitored and reported to the Department at least every 3 months for each monitoring location.

(c) The person who conducts coal refuse disposal activities shall conduct additional hydrologic tests, as specified and approved by the Department, including but not limited to drilling, infiltration tests, chemical and mineralogical analysis of overburden and spoil, and aquifer tests, and shall submit the results to the Department to demonstrate protection of the groundwater.

(d) The Department may require the operator to conduct monitoring and reporting more frequently than every 3 months, and to monitor additional parameters beyond the minimum specified in this section.

The provisions of this § 90.115 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 December 15, 1995, effective December 16, 1995, 25 Pa.B. 5821. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (180943).

Notation

Authority

The provisions of this § 90.115 amended under the Surface Mining Conservation and Reclamation Act (52 P. S. § § 1396.1—1396.19a); The Clean Streams Law (35 P. S. § § 691.1—691.1001); and section 1920-A of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P. S. § 510-20).

Cross References

This section cited in 25 Pa. Code § 90.35 (relating to protection of the hydrologic balance); and 25 Pa. Code § 90.93 (relating to casing and sealing of drilled holes and underground workings).