PURPOSE: This rule sets forth the requirements for
casing and sealing of drilled holes pursuant to sections
444.810
and
444.855.2(10)(iii),
RSMo.
(1) General
Requirements. Each exploration hole, other drill or borehole, well or other
exposed underground opening shall be cased, sealed or otherwise managed, as
approved in the
permit and plan, to prevent acid or other toxic drainage from
entering ground or surface waters, to minimize disturbance to the prevailing
hydrologic balance and to ensure the safety of people, livestock, fish and
wildlife, and machinery in the mine plan and
adjacent area. If these openings
are uncovered or exposed by surface mining activities within the permit area,
they shall be permanently closed, unless approved for water monitoring or
otherwise managed in a manner approved in the permit and plan. Use of a drilled
hole or borehole or monitoring well as a water well must meet the provisions of
10
CSR 40-3.040(14) and those of the
Wellhead Protection Section, Division of Geology and Land Survey, at 10 CSR 23,
Chapter 6. This section does not apply to holes solely drilled and used for
blasting.
(2) Temporary Casing and
Sealing. Each exploration hole, other drill or boreholes, wells and other
exposed underground openings which have been identified in the approved permit
application to be used to monitor the groundwater conditions shall be
temporarily sealed before use and protected during use by barricades, fences or
other protective devices approved in the permit and plan. These devices shall
be inspected periodically and maintained in good operating condition by the
person who conducts the surface mining activities.
(3) Permanent Casing and Sealing. When no
longer needed for monitoring or other use approved in the
permit and plan, upon
a finding of no adverse environmental or health or safety effect, or unless
approved for transfer as a
water well under
10
CSR 40-3.040(14) and those of the
Wellhead Protection Section, Division of Geology and Land Survey, at 10 CSR 23,
Chapter 6, each exploration hole, other drilled hole or borehole, well and
other exposed underground opening shall be capped, sealed, backfilled or
otherwise properly managed, as required in the
permit and plan under section
(1) of this rule and consistent with
30 CFR
75.1711.
Permanent closure measures shall be designed to prevent access to the mine
workings by people, livestock, fish and wildlife and machinery and to keep acid
or other toxic drainage from entering ground or surface waters.
Notes
10 CSR 40-3.020
AUTHORITY: section
444.530,
RSMo Supp. 1999.* Original rule filed Oct. 12, 1979, effective Feb. 11, 1980.
Amended: Filed March 21, 2000, effective Oct. 30, 2000.
The secretary of state has determined that the publication
of this rule in its entirety would be unduly cumbersome or expensive. The
entire text of the material referenced has been filed with the secretary of
state. This material may be found at the Office of the Secretary of State or at
the headquarters of the agency and is available to any interested person at a
cost established by state law.
*Original authority: 444.530, RSMo 1971, amended 1983,
1990, 1993, 1995.
