Indiana Administrative Code › Title 312 - NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION › Article 25 - COAL MINING AND RECLAMATION OPERATIONS › Rule 4 - Permitting Procedures › Section 4-45 - Surface mining permit applications; reclamation and operations plan; reclamation plan; general requirements

Current through July 10, 2024
Authority: IC 14-34-2-1
Affected: IC 14-34-10
Sec. 45.
(a) Each
				application shall contain a plan for reclamation of the lands within the
				proposed permit area, showing how the applicant will comply with IC 14-34-10,
				312 IAC 25-6, and the environmental protection standards of IC 14-34 and this
				article. The plan shall include, at a minimum, all information required under
				sections 40 and 44 of this rule, this section, and sections 46 through 56 of
				this rule.
(b) Each plan shall
				contain the following information for the proposed permit area:
(1) A detailed timetable for the completion
				of each major step in the reclamation plan.
(2) A detailed estimate of the cost of
				reclamation of the proposed operations required to be covered by a performance
				bond under 312 IAC 25-5, with supporting calculations for the
				estimates.
(3) A plan for
				backfilling, soil stabilization, compacting, and grading, with contour maps,
				topographical maps, or cross sections that show the anticipated final surface
				configuration of the proposed permit area in accordance with
				312 IAC
				25-6-48 through
				312
				IAC 25-6-53 and
				312 IAC
				25-6-144.
(4) A plan for removal, storage, and
				redistribution of topsoil, subsoil, and other material to meet the requirements
				of
				312 IAC
				25-6-11. A demonstration of the suitability of topsoil
				substitutes or supplements under
				312 IAC
				25-6-11(c)  shall be based upon
				analysis of the:
(A) thickness of soil
				horizons;
(B) total
				depth;
(C) pH;
(D) buffer pH;
(E) phosphorous;
(F) potassium;
(G) percent coarse fragments and texture;
				and
(H) areal extent; of the
				different kinds of soils. The requirement to determine percent coarse fragments
				may be waived by an authorized representative of the director if he or she
				determines that the alternate material is a type of silt-blown, alluvial soil
				for which the analyses of percent coarse fragments would be unnecessary. The
				director may require other chemical and physical analyses, field-site trials,
				or greenhouse tests if necessary to demonstrate suitability.
(5) A plan for
				revegetation as required in
				312 IAC
				25-6-54 through
				312 IAC
				25-6-61, including descriptions of the following:
(A) Schedule of revegetation.
(B) Species and amounts per acre of seeds and
				seedlings to be used.
(C) Methods
				to be used in planting and seeding.
(D) Mulching techniques.
(E) Irrigation, if appropriate, and pest and
				disease control measures, if any.
(F) Measures proposed to be used to determine
				the success of revegetation as required in
				312
				IAC 25-6-59 through
				312 IAC
				25-6-61.
(G) Methods for evaluating the results of
				topsoil handling and reclamation procedures related to revegetation.
(6) A description of the measures
				to be used to maximize the use and conservation of the coal resource as
				required in
				312 IAC
				25-6-7.
(7) A description of measures to be employed
				to ensure that all debris, acid-forming and toxic-forming materials, and
				materials constituting a fire hazard are disposed of in accordance with
				312 IAC
				25-6-12,
				312
				IAC 25-6-19,
				312
				IAC 25-6-36,
				312 IAC
				25-6-42, and
				312
				IAC 25-6-50 and a description of the contingency plans
				that have been developed to preclude sustained combustion of such
				materials.
(8) A description,
				including appropriate cross sections and maps, of the measures to be used to
				seal or manage mine openings, and to plug, case, or manage exploration holes,
				other boreholes, wells, and other openings within the proposed permit area, in
				accordance with
				312
				IAC 25-6-8 through
				312
				IAC 25-6-10.
(9) A description of steps to be taken to
				comply with the requirements of the Clean Air Act (
				42 U.S.C.
				7401 et seq.), the Clean Water Act (
				33 U.S.C.
				1251 et seq.), and other applicable air and
				water quality laws and regulations and health and safety
				standards.