Mich. Comp. Laws § 324.63534 — MI Code / Chapter 324 / Act Act-451-of-1994 / Section 324.63534
Conducting inspections and requiring monitoring and reporting of surface coal mining and reclamation operations; taking necessary actions to administer part and meet program requirements; right of entry and access to records; notice and report of violation; removal or disturbance of strata serving as aquifer; specifications; rules; inspection requirements.
Status: in_force

Sec. 63534.

The department shall conduct inspections and require monitoring and reporting of surface coal mining and reclamation operations, and shall take all actions necessary to administer, enforce, and evaluate the administration of this part and to meet the state program requirements of the surface mining control and reclamation act of 1977, and for those purposes, the department or an authorized representative of the department, without advance notice and on presentation of appropriate credentials, has a right of entry to any surface coal mining and reclamation operation or any premises in which any records required to be maintained are located, and may at reasonable times, without delay, have access to and copy any records and inspect any monitoring equipment and method of operation required under this part or the rules promulgated under this part.

Each inspector, on detection of each alleged violation of any requirement of this part, shall give written notice to the operator of the violation and shall report the violation, in writing, to the department. The notice of violation shall include a warning that the violation may result in a fine or penalty under subpart 8.

If a surface coal mining and reclamation operation removes or disturbs strata that serve as an aquifer that significantly ensures the hydrologic balance of water use either on or off the mining site, the department shall specify:

Monitoring sites to record the quantity and quality of surface drainage above and below the mine site as well as in the potential zone of influence.

Monitoring sites to record level, amount, and samples of groundwater and aquifers that are affected or potentially affected by the mining and also directly below the lowermost, deepest coal seam to be mined.

Records of well logs and boreholes data to be maintained.

Monitoring sites to record precipitation.

The department shall promulgate rules that provide for informing the operator of an alleged violation detected by an inspector and for making public all inspection and monitoring reports and other records and reports required to be kept pursuant to this part and the rules promulgated under this part.

Inspections by the department shall comply with all of the following requirements:

Occur on an irregular basis averaging not less than 1 partial inspection per month and 1 complete inspection per calendar quarter for the surface coal mining and reclamation operation covered by each permit.

Occur without prior notice to the permittee or agents or employees of the permittee except for necessary on-site meetings with the permittee.

Include the filing of inspection reports adequate to enforce the requirements of and to carry out the terms and purposes of this part.

History: Add. 1995, Act 57, Imd. Eff. May 24, 1995