(a) Surface entries and accesses to the mine,
including drifts, adits, slopes and shafts, shall be located, designed,
constructed and utilized to prevent gravity discharge of water from the
mine.
(b) Barriers of coal left
around an underground mine shall be located and designed to prevent gravity
discharge from the mine and assist in returning the water table to near its
premining condition.
(c) Each
exploration hole, drill hole or borehole, shaft, well or other opening to an
underground mine shall be cased, lined, sealed or otherwise managed to prevent
degradation of the quality of groundwaters and 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 permit and adjacent
area. Each exploration hole, drill hole, borehole or well that is uncovered or
exposed by mining activities within the permit area shall be permanently closed
in a water-tight manner, unless approved for water monitoring or otherwise
managed in a manner approved by the Department. This section does not apply to
holes drilled and used for blasting in the area affected by surface
operations.
(d) Gas and oil wells
that are uncovered or exposed by mining activities within the permit area shall
be sealed in accordance with the Oil and Gas Act (58 P. S. §§
601.101-601.605).
Notes
The
provisions of this § 89.54 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;
amended December 15, 1995, effective 12/16/1995, 25 Pa.B. 5821. Imediately
preceding text appears at serial page
(199227).
The provisions of this § 89.54 amended under
the Surface Mining Conservation and Reclamation Act (52 P.S. §§
1396.1-1396.19a); The Bituminous
Mine Subsidence and Land Conservation Act (52 P.S. §§
1406.1-1406.21); 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 §
86.133 (relating to general
requirements); 25 Pa. Code §
86.134 (relating to coal
exploration performance and design standards); 25 Pa. Code §
88.492 (relating to minimum
requirements for reclamation and operation plan); 25 Pa. Code §
88.493 (relating to minimum
environmental protection performance standards); and 25 Pa. Code §
89.36 (relating to protection of
the hydrologic balance).
