New Mexico Administrative Code › Title 19 - NATURAL RESOURCES AND WILDLIFE › Chapter 8 - COAL MINING › Part 8 - PERMIT APPLICATIONS - MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR INFORMATION ON ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES › Section 19.8.8.803 - GEOLOGY DESCRIPTION

Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 13, July 16, 2024
A. The
				description shall include a general statement of the geology within the
				proposed permit area accompanied by appropriate maps and cross-sections down to
				and including the first aquifer to be affected below the lowest coal seam to be
				mined.
B. Sampling requirements.
(1) Test borings or core samples from the
				proposed permit area shall be collected and analyzed down to and including the
				stratum immediately below the lowest coal seam to be mined to provide the
				following data in the description:
(a)
				location of subsurface water, if encountered;
(b) logs of drill holes showing the
				lithologic characteristics and thickness of each stratum and each coal
				seam;
(c) physical properties of
				each stratum within the overburden including compaction, erodibility, and if
				this material is to be used as topdressing, potential soil texture;
(d) for surface mining activities, chemical
				analyses of a composite sample of each stratum within the overburden and the
				stratum immediately below the lowest coal seam to be mined and for underground
				mining activities, chemical analyses of the stratum immediately above and below
				the coal seams to be mined to identify at a minimum, those horizons which
				contain potential acid-forming, toxic-forming, or alkalinity producing
				materials and a composite sample from each stratum shall be analyzed for the
				following parameters:
Aluminum (Al)
Cyanide (CN)
Arsenic (As)
Fluoride
Silver (Ag)
Barium (Ba)
Iron (Fe)
Sulfate (SO4)
Boron (B)
Lead (Pb)
Uranium (U)
Cadmium (Cd)
Manganese (Mn)
Vanadium (V)
Chromium(Cr)
Mercury (Hg)
Zinc (Zn)
Cobalt (Co)
Molybdenum (Mo)
Radioactivity
Copper (Cu)
Nickel (Ni)
Radium Ra226
Selenium (Se)
Radium Ra228
(e)
				If this material is to be considered for use as topdressing, analyses for the
				parameters necessary for plant growth shall be performed, in addition to those
				listed above, and shall include at a minimum the following:
Calcium (Ca)
Sodium (Na)
Chloride
Carbonate (CO3)
Magnesium (Mg)
Bicarbonate (HCO3)
Phosphorous (P)
Nitrate (NO3)
Potassium (K)
Sodium Adsorption Ratio (Adjusted) (SAR)
pH
(f)
				A demonstration of the suitability of topsoil substitutes or supplements in
				Subsection E of 19.8.20.2005 NMAC shall be based upon analysis of the thickness
				of soil horizons and/or geologic strata, total depth, texture, percent coarse
				fragments, pH, and areal extent of the different kinds of soils. Analyses of
				additional parameters or additional data may be required by the
				director.
(g) If the applicant can
				demonstrate that the analyses of any particular parameter is of little or no
				significance in the proposed permit area, then such parameter(s) may be waived
				upon approval of the director;
(h)
				analysis of the coal seam, including, but not limited to an analysis of the
				sulfur, pyrite, and marcasite content.
(i) The applicant shall submit a proposed
				sampling plan to the director for approval.