(b)
Surface water. The
application shall include a description of the surface waters overlying the
permit area and adjacent area, including:
(1)
The size and depth of lakes, ponds and impoundments.
(2) The average annual flow of perennial
streams. For the purposes of this subchapter, perennial stream is a stream or
part of a stream that flows continuously throughout the calendar year as a
result of groundwater discharge or surface runoff. The term does not include
intermittent or ephemeral streams.
(3) The height, width and composition of
embankments.
(c)
Prior mining. The application shall provide the following
information relating to prior mining within, above or below the permit area:
(1) The type of mining, surface or
underground.
(2) Mine name, permit
numbers or other identification.
(3) The coal seams or other mineral strata
mined.
(4) The extent of the coal
or other minerals removed.
(5) The
location and elevation of impounded water in the mine workings either
overlying, below or within the permit area. If this information is not
available the applicant shall outline the efforts undertaken to obtain
it.
(d)
Subsidence
control plan. The permit application must include a subsidence control
plan which describes the measures to be taken to control subsidence effects
from the proposed underground mining operations. The plan must address the area
in which structures, facilities or features may be materially damaged by mine
subsidence. At a minimum, the plan must address all areas within a 30°
angle of draw of underground mining operations which will occur during the
5-year term of the permit. The subsidence control plan must include the
following information:
(1) A description of
the method of coal removal, such as longwall mining, room and pillar mining,
hydraulic mining or other extraction methods, including the size, sequence and
timing for the development of underground workings.
(2) A narrative describing whether
subsidence, if it is likely to occur, could cause material damage to or
diminish the value or reasonably foreseeable use of any structures or could
contaminate, diminish or interrupt water supplies.
(3) For each structure and feature, or class
of structures and features, described in §
89.142a(c)
(relating to subsidence control: performance standards), a detailed description
of the measures to be taken to ensure that subsidence will not cause material
damage to, or reduce the reasonably foreseeable uses of the structures or
features.
(4) A description of the
anticipated effects of planned subsidence, if any.
(5) A description of the measures to be taken
to correct any subsidence-related material damage to the surface
land.
(6) A description of the
measures to be taken to prevent irreparable damage to the structures enumerated
in §
89.142a(f)(1)(iii)-(v),
if the structure owner does not consent to the damage.
(7) A description of the monitoring, if any,
the operator will perform to determine the occurrence and extent of subsidence
so that, when appropriate, other measures can be taken to prevent or reduce or
correct damage in accordance with §
89.142a(e) and
(f).
(8) A description of the measures to be taken
to maximize mine stability and maintain the value and reasonably foreseeable
use of the surface land.
(9) For
EPACT structures other than noncommercial buildings protected under §
89.142a(c), a
description of the methods to be employed in areas of planned subsidence to
minimize damage or otherwise comply with §
89.142a(d)(1)(i).
(10) For EPACT structures other than
noncommercial buildings protected under §
89.142a(c), a
description of the subsidence control measures to be taken under §
89.142a(d)(1)(ii)
to prevent subsidence and subsidence-related
damage in areas where underground mining operations are not projected to result
in planned subsidence.
(11) A
description of the measures which will be taken to maintain the value and
foreseeable uses of perennial streams which may be impacted by underground
mining operations. The description shall include a discussion of the
effectiveness of the proposed measures as related to prior underground mining
operations under similar conditions.
(12) A description of the measures to be
taken to prevent material damage to perennial streams and aquifers which serve
as a significant source to a public water supply system.
(13) A description of utilities including
type, nature of use, composition and approximate age of pipelines, and a
description of the measures to be taken to minimize damage, destruction or
disruption in utility service in accordance with §
89.142a(g).
(14) A description of applicable measures to
be taken to control subsidence under other statutes, including:
(i) The act of December 22, 1959 (P. L. 1994,
No. 729) (52 P. S. §§
3101-3109).
(ii) The Oil and Gas Act (58 P. S.
§§
601.101-601.605).
(iii) Section 419 of the State Highway Law
(36
P. S. §
670-419).
(iv) Section 1 of the act of June 1, 1933 (P.
L. 1409, No. 296) (52 P. S. §
1501).
(15) Other information requested in
accordance with the policies and procedures of the
Department.
