(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).
Notes
The
provisions of this § 87.178 adopted December 19, 1980, 10 Pa.B. 4789,
effective 7/31/1982, 12 Pa.B.
2382; amended July 30, 1982, 12 Pa.B. 2473, effective
7/31/1982, 12 Pa.B.
2382.
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).
