(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 coal refuse disposal activities on the
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 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 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 § 88.305 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 § 88.305 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 §
88.283 (relatinig to sealing of
drilled holes: general
requirements).
