(a) Groundwater levels, subsurface flow and
the quality of groundwater shall be monitored in a manner approved by the
Department to determine the effects of surface mining activities on the
reclaimed lands and on the quantity and quality of water in groundwater systems
in the permit and adjacent areas.
(b) When surface mining 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 sources 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, sulfates and
water levels shall be monitored and reported to the Department at least every 3
months for each monitoring location.
(c) The Department may require the operator
to conduct additional hydrologic tests, including but not limited to, drilling,
infiltration tests, aquifer tests, chemical and mineralogic analyses of
overburden and spoil to demonstrate compliance with this section.
(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.
Notes
The
provisions of this § 88.105 adopted December 19, 1980,
10 Pa.B. 4789, effective 7/31/1982, 12 Pa.B. 2382; amended March 30,
1984, 14 Pa.B. 1143, effective 8/10/1985, 15 Pa.B. 2872; amended December 15,
1995, effective 12/16/1995, 25
Pa.B. 5821.
The provisions of this § 88.105 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).
This section cited in 25 Pa. Code §
88.49 (relating to protection of
hydrologic balance); 25 Pa. Code §
88.381 (relating to general
requirements); 25 Pa. Code §
88.492 (relating to minimum
requirements for reclamation); and 25 Pa. Code §
88.493 (relating to minimum
environmental protection performance
standards).
