Currently, Indiana has more seismographs than any state coal regulatory program in the nation. If you have a complaint regarding blasting activities at a mine, write a letter stating these concerns to the Division or Reclamation. A blasting specialist from the Division respond to you within 10 calendar days of receipt of your letter, and will then conduct an inspection of the blasting activities and the alleged damage. You can read more about blasting here . Back to the top Overburden Removal and Placement The coal operator places the blasted rocky material in the bottom of the pit once coal removal in the area is complete.
Overburden can contain layers with pyrite, which when exposed to air and water, can produce acid.
Mixing these layers and burying them with neutral materials in the pit, prevents acid production by blocking exposure to oxygen. To assure that a suitable rooting material is available for cropland capability, the subsoil layers are placed on top of the graded rocky overburden during reclamation. Any toxic overburden identified in the pre-mining inventory must be treated or covered with an adequate layer of nontoxic, noncombustible material. To prevent water pollution, all water affected by the mining operation must pass through approved sediment control structures before leaving the mine site, and must be in compliance with all applicable State and federal water quality laws, including water discharge permits issued by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. Coal companies maintain siltation structures on the site until permanent vegetation has been established, and water quality coming into the pond meets water quality limitations.