Indiana Administrative Code › Title 312 - NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION › Article 25 - COAL MINING AND RECLAMATION OPERATIONS › Rule 4 - Permitting Procedures › Section 4-11 - Exploration of more than 250 tons; special requirements

Current through July 10, 2024
Authority: IC
				  14-34-2-1
Affected: IC 14-34
Sec. 11.
(a) Each
				application for approval of exploration operations removing more than two
				hundred fifty (250) tons of coal shall include the following, in addition to
				information required under section 10 of this rule:
(1) A statement of why extraction of more
				than two hundred fifty (250) tons of coal is necessary for
				exploration.
(2) A narrative
				description of the proposed exploration area, cross-referenced to a United
				States Geological Survey topographic map to a scale of not less than
				1:24,000.
(3) An exploration and
				reclamation operations plan, including the following:
(A) A narrative description of the following:
(i) The proposed exploration area,
				cross-referenced to the map required under subdivision (5).
(ii) Vegetative cover.
(iii) The distribution and important habitats
				of fish, wildlife, and plants, including, but not limited to, any endangered or
				threatened species listed pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (
				16
				U.S.C. 1531, et seq.).
(iv) Cultural, archaeological, or historic
				resources listed, or eligible for listing, on the National Register of Historic
				Places or the Indiana state register of historic sites and structures, known
				archaeological resources located within the proposed exploration area, and any
				other information that the director may require regarding known or unknown
				cultural, archaeological, or historic resources consistent with section 27 or
				68 of this rule.
(B) A
				narrative description of the methods to be used to conduct coal exploration and
				reclamation, including, but not limited to, the following:
(i) The types and uses of
				equipment.
(ii) Drilling.
(iii) Blasting.
(iv) Road or other access route
				construction.
(v) Excavated earth
				or other debris.
(C) The
				estimated amount of coal to be removed and a description of the methods to be
				used to determine this amount.
(4) The name and address of the owner of
				record of the surface land and of the subsurface mineral estate of the area to
				be explored. If the surface is owned by a person other than the applicant, a
				description of the basis upon which the applicant claims the right to enter
				that land for the purpose of conducting exploration and reclamation.
(5) A map at a scale of 1:24,000 or larger,
				showing the areas of land to be disturbed by the proposed exploration and
				reclamation. The map shall specifically show the following:
(A) Existing roads, occupied dwellings, and
				pipelines.
(B) Proposed location of
				trenches, roads, and other access routes and structures to be
				constructed.
(C) The location of
				land excavations to be conducted.
(D) Water or coal exploratory holes and wells
				to be drilled or altered.
(E) Earth
				or debris disposal areas.
(F)
				Existing bodies of surface water.
(G) Historic, topographic, geologic,
				cultural, and drainage features.
(H) Habitats of any endangered or threatened
				species listed pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (
				16
				U.S.C. 1531, et seq.).