Missouri Code of State Regulations › Title 10 - DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES › Division 40 - Missouri Mining Commission › Chapter 3 - Permanent Performance Requirements for Surface Coal Mining and Related Activities › Section 10 CSR 40-3.020 - Requirements for Casing and Sealing of Drilled Holes

Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 14, July 15, 2024
PURPOSE: This rule sets forth the requirements for
				  casing and sealing of drilled holes pursuant to sections
				  444.810
				  and
				  444.855.2(10)(iii),
				  RSMo.
(1) General
				Requirements. Each exploration hole, other drill or borehole, well or other
				exposed underground opening shall be cased, sealed or otherwise managed, as
				approved in the permit and plan, to prevent acid or other toxic drainage from
				entering ground or surface waters, to minimize disturbance to the prevailing
				hydrologic balance and to ensure the safety of people, livestock, fish and
				wildlife, and machinery in the mine plan and adjacent area. If these openings
				are uncovered or exposed by surface mining activities within the permit area,
				they shall be permanently closed, unless approved for water monitoring or
				otherwise managed in a manner approved in the permit and plan. Use of a drilled
				hole or borehole or monitoring well as a water well must meet the provisions of
				10
				CSR 40-3.040(14) and those of the
				Wellhead Protection Section, Division of Geology and Land Survey, at 10 CSR 23,
				Chapter 6. This section does not apply to holes solely drilled and used for
				blasting.
(2) Temporary Casing and
				Sealing. Each exploration hole, other drill or boreholes, wells and other
				exposed underground openings which have been identified in the approved permit
				application to be used to monitor the groundwater conditions shall be
				temporarily sealed before use and protected during use by barricades, fences or
				other protective devices approved in the permit and plan. These devices shall
				be inspected periodically and maintained in good operating condition by the
				person who conducts the surface mining activities.
(3) Permanent Casing and Sealing. When no
				longer needed for monitoring or other use approved in the permit and plan, upon
				a finding of no adverse environmental or health or safety effect, or unless
				approved for transfer as a water well under
				10
				CSR 40-3.040(14) and those of the
				Wellhead Protection Section, Division of Geology and Land Survey, at 10 CSR 23,
				Chapter 6, each exploration hole, other drilled hole or borehole, well and
				other exposed underground opening shall be capped, sealed, backfilled or
				otherwise properly managed, as required in the permit and plan under section
				(1) of this rule and consistent with
				30 CFR 75.1711.
				Permanent closure measures shall be designed to prevent access to the mine
				workings by people, livestock, fish and wildlife and machinery and to keep acid
				or other toxic drainage from entering ground or surface waters.
The secretary of state has determined that the publication
					 of this rule in its entirety would be unduly cumbersome or expensive. The
					 entire text of the material referenced has been filed with the secretary of
					 state. This material may be found at the Office of the Secretary of State or at
					 the headquarters of the agency and is available to any interested person at a
					 cost established by state law.
*Original authority: 444.530, RSMo 1971, amended 1983,
					 1990, 1993, 1995.