OFFICE OF SURFACE MINING RECLAMATION AND ENFORCEMENT

U.S. Department of the Interior

Search conducted by: Terri Petruska and Betty Chambers Page 1 of 2

COALEX STATE INQUIRY REPORT - 10

August 13, 1984

Bob Garcia, Reclamation Specialist

Mining & Minerals Division 

Energy & Minerals Department

525 Camino de Los Marquez

Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501

TOPIC: WATER QUALITY AND CONTROL POLICY

INQUIRY: Conduct a search of state regulations concerning water quality and control policy and 

sediment control structures in southwestern states (Utah, Arizona, Colorado and Texas). Are 

especially interested in other state regulations that address the topics cited under New Mexico's 

hydrologic balance Secs. 20-45, 20-46, 20-47 and 20-49.

SEARCH RESULTS:

The four sections of the New Mexico regulations cited were located in COALEX and a search 

was conducted to identify the relevant sections in the regulatory programs of Utah, Colorado 

and Texas. The State of Arizona does not presently have a coal mining regulatory program.

Sections of the Utah regulatory program have not yet been entered into the COALEX Library. A 

hard copy of the relevant regulations has been requested from OSM and will be forwarded when 

received.

The identified sections from the Texas and Colorado regulatory programs are included as 

follows:

Hydrologic Balance: Sediment Control Measures

New Mexico Sec. 20-45

Colorado Sec. 4.05.5

Texas Sec. 051.07.04.343

Hydrologic Balance: Sedimentation Ponds

New Mexico Sec. 20-46

Colorado Sec. 4.05.6

Texas Sec. 344 (surface mining);

Sec. 514 (underground mining)

Hydrologic Balance: Discharge Structures

New Mexico Sec. 20-47

Colorado Sec. 4.05.7

Texas Sec. 345 (surface mining);

Sec. 515 (underground mining)
OFFICE OF SURFACE MINING RECLAMATION AND ENFORCEMENT

U.S. Department of the Interior

Search conducted by: Terri Petruska and Betty Chambers Page 2 of 2

Hydrologic Balance: Permanent and Temporary Impoundments

New Mexico Sec. 20-49

Colorado Sec. 4.05.9

Texas Sec. 347 (surface mining);

Sec. 527 (underground mining)

The following enclosures include the references as given above, as well as other sections in the 

Colorado and Texas state regulations.

ATTACHMENTS:

A. Excerpts from Rules and Regs. Of the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board 

pursuant to the Colorado Surface Mining Reclamation Act, 34-33-101 et seq.

Sec. 4.05.3 Diversions & Conveyance Draining Less Than One Sq. Mile.

Sec. 4.05.5 Sediment Control Measures.

Sec. 4.05.6 Sediment Ponds.

Sec. 4.05.7 Discharge Structures.

Sec. 4.05.9 Permanent and Temporary Impoundments.

Sec. 4.05.17 Postmining Rehabilitation.

Sec. 4.11.5 Dams and Embankments.

B. State program submission to OSM, prepared by the Railroad Commission of Texas, 

Surface Mining and Reclamation Division.

Surface Mining

Sec. .148 Reclamation Plan: Ponds, Impoundments, Banks, Dams & Embankments.

Sec. .343 Sediment Control Measures.

Sec. .344 Sedimentation Ponds.

Sec. .345 Discharge Structures.

Sec. .347 Permanent and Temporary Impoundments.

Sec. .354 Postmining Rehabilitation.

Sec. .376 Coal Processing Waste: Dams & Embankments: Site Preparation.

Sec. .378 Coal Processing Waste: Dams & Embankments: Design & Construction.

Underground Mining

Sec. .190 Reclamation Plan: Ponds, Impoundments, Banks, Dams & Embankments.

Sec. .510 Water Quality Standards & Effluent Limitation.

Sec. .514 Sedimentation ponds shall be used individually or in series and shall....

Sec.. .515 Discharge Structures.

Sec. .517 Permanent and Temporary Impoundments.

Sec. .523 Postmining Rehabilitation.

Sec. .545 Coal Processing Waste: Dams & Embankments: Design & Construction.