Administrative Rules of Montana › Department 17 - ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY › Chapter 17.24 - RECLAMATION › Subchapter 17.24.18 - Rules and Regulations Governing the Montana Strip and Underground Mine Siting Act › Rule 17.24.1815 - PERFORMANCE STANDARDS

Current through Register Vol. 13, July 5, 2024
The operator shall:
(1) bury under adequate fill all toxic
				materials, shale, mineral, or other material determined by the department to be
				acid producing, toxic, undesirable or creating a hazard. Burial depth should be
				selected to prevent contact with ground water or infiltrating waters that will
				subsequently pollute the ground water in the area;
(2) seal off, as directed by the department,
				any break-through of water creating a hazard;
(3) impound, drain or treat all runoff water
				so as to reduce soil erosion, damage to grazing and agricultural lands, and
				pollution of surface and subsurface waters;
(4) remove or bury all metal, lumber, and
				other refuse resulting from the operation;
(5) use explosives in connection with the
				operation only in accordance with department specifications as found in the
				rules pursuant to Title 82, chapter 4, part 2, MCA, designed to minimize noise,
				surface damage to adjacent lands and water pollution, ensure public safety, and
				for other purposes;
(6) not throw,
				dump, pile or permit the dumping, piling, or throwing or otherwise placing of
				any stones, rocks, earth, soil, dirt, debris, trees, wood, logs or any other
				materials or substances of any kind or nature beyond or outside of the area of
				land which is under permit and for which a bond has been posted under
				82-4-123, MCA, or place the
				materials described in this section in such a way that normal erosion or slides
				brought about by natural physical causes will permit the materials to go beyond
				or outside of the area of land which is under permit and for which a bond has
				been posted under
				82-4-123, MCA;
(7) identify the location of a proposed
				road(s) and/or railroad loops(s), spur(s) or extension(s) on the site by
				prominent markings prior to the time the proposed preparatory work is inspected
				and prior to the commencement of construction. No such construction shall
				proceed along dry coulees and intermittent drainageways unless the operator
				takes necessary precautions to insure that no off-site sedimentation will
				result;
(8) construct drainage
				ditches on both sides of the through-cut, and the inside shoulder of a cut-fill
				section, with ditch relief cross-drains being spaced according to grade. Water
				shall be intercepted before reaching a switchback or large fill and shall be
				drained off or released below the fill. Drainage structures shall be
				constructed in order to cross a stream channel, and shall not affect the flow
				or sediment load of the stream;
(9)
				stabilize and revegetate at the first seasonal opportunity all cut and fill
				slopes resulting from construction of an access road, a railroad loop or a
				haulageway road outside of the area to be mined;
(10) not surface roads, railroad loops, spurs
				or extensions with refuse coal, acid producing or toxic material or with any
				material which will produce a concentration of suspended solids in surface
				drainage;
(11) employ all
				appropriate methods to prevent loss of haulage or access road surface material
				in the form of dust;
(12) condition
				the seed and take adequate measures to prevent erosion by means of culverts,
				water bars, or other devices upon the abandonment of any road, railroad loop,
				spur or extension. Such areas shall be abandoned in accordance with all
				provisions of Title 82, chapter 4, part 2, MCA, and the rules adopted pursuant
				thereto.
AUTH:
					 82-4-112, MCA; IMP:
					 82-4-125,
					 MCA