Part 819. Special Permanent Program Performance Standards—Auger Mining
4VAC25-130-819.1. Scope.
This Part sets environmental protection performance standards for surface coal mining and reclamation operations involving auger mining.
Statutory Authority
§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-230 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR480-03-19 § 819.1, eff. December 15, 1981; amended, eff. June 28, 1982; October 28, 1982; December 14, 1982; October 11, 1983; December 27, 1983; May 8, 1984; June 22, 1984; August 2, 1984; October 16, 1985; January 7, 1987; July 22, 1987; November 25, 1987; October 12, 1988; December 26, 1990; July 1, 1991; July 17, 1991; November 20, 1991; July 7, 1992; May 5, 1993; October 19, 1994.
4VAC25-130-819.11. Auger mining; general.
(a) Auger mining operations shall be conducted in accordance with the requirements of Part 816, except as provided in this Part.
(b) The division may prohibit auger mining, if necessary to--
(1) Maximize the utilization, recoverability, or conservation of the solid-fuel resource, or
(2) Protect against adverse water-quality impacts.
Statutory Authority
§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-230 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR480-03-19 § 819.11, eff. December 15, 1981; amended, eff. June 28, 1982; October 28, 1982; December 14, 1982; October 11, 1983; December 27, 1983; May 8, 1984; June 22, 1984; August 2, 1984; October 16, 1985; January 7, 1987; July 22, 1987; November 25, 1987; October 12, 1988; December 26, 1990; July 1, 1991; July 17, 1991; November 20, 1991; July 7, 1992; May 5, 1993; October 19, 1994.
4VAC25-130-819.13. Auger mining; coal recovery.
(a) Auger mining shall be conducted so as to maximize the utilization and conservation of the coal in accordance with 4VAC25-130-816.59.
(b) Auger mining shall be planned and conducted to maximize recoverability of mineral reserves remaining after the operation and reclamation are complete.
(c) The permittee shall leave areas of undisturbed coal, as approved by the division, to provide access for future underground mining activities to coal reserves remaining after augering is completed, unless it is established that the coal reserves have been depleted or are so limited in thickness or extent that it will not be practicable to recover the remaining coal. This determination shall be made by the division upon presentation of appropriate technical evidence by the permittee.
Statutory Authority
§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-230 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR480-03-19 § 819.13, eff. December 15, 1981; amended, eff. June 28, 1982; October 28, 1982; December 14, 1982; October 11, 1983; December 27, 1983; May 8, 1984; June 22, 1984; August 2, 1984; October 16, 1985; January 7, 1987; July 22, 1987; November 25, 1987; October 12, 1988; December 26, 1990; July 1, 1991; July 17, 1991; November 20, 1991; July 7, 1992; May 5, 1993; October 19, 1994.
4VAC25-130-819.15. Auger mining; hydrologic balance.
(a) Auger mining shall be planned and conducted to minimize disturbances of the prevailing hydrologic balance in accordance with the requirements of 4VAC25-130-816.41 and 4VAC25-130-816.42.
(b) All auger holes, except as provided in Paragraph (c) of this section, shall be--
(1) Sealed within 72 hours after completion with an impervious and noncombustible material, if the holes are discharging water containing acid-or toxic-forming material. If sealing is not possible within 72 hours, the discharge shall be treated commencing within 72 hours after completion to meet applicable effluent limitations and water-quality standards until the holes are sealed; and
(2) Sealed with an impervious noncombustible material, as contemporaneously as practicable with the augering operation, as approved by the division, if the holes are not discharging water containing acid- or toxic-forming material.
(c) Auger holes need not be sealed with an impervious material so as to prevent drainage if the division determines that--
(1) The resulting impoundment of water may create a hazard to the environment or public health or safety, and
(2) The drainage from the auger holes will--
(i) Not pose a threat of pollution to surface water; and
(ii) Comply with the requirements of 4VAC25-130-816.41 and 4VAC25-130-816.42.
Statutory Authority
§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-230 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR480-03-19 § 819.15, eff. December 15, 1981; amended, eff. June 28, 1982; October 28, 1982; December 14, 1982; October 11, 1983; December 27, 1983; May 8, 1984; June 22, 1984; August 2, 1984; October 16, 1985; January 7, 1987; July 22, 1987; November 25, 1987; October 12, 1988; December 26, 1990; July 1, 1991; July 17, 1991; November 20, 1991; July 7, 1992; May 5, 1993; October 19, 1994.
4VAC25-130-819.17. Auger mining; subsidence protection.
Auger mining shall be conducted in accordance with the requirements of 4VAC25-130-817.121(a) and (c).
Statutory Authority
§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-230 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR480-03-19 § 819.17, eff. December 15, 1981; amended, eff. June 28, 1982; October 28, 1982; December 14, 1982; October 11, 1983; December 27, 1983; May 8, 1984; June 22, 1984; August 2, 1984; October 16, 1985; January 7, 1987; July 22, 1987; November 25, 1987; October 12, 1988; December 26, 1990; July 1, 1991; July 17, 1991; November 20, 1991; July 7, 1992; May 5, 1993; October 19, 1994.
4VAC25-130-819.19. Auger mining; backfilling and grading.
(a) General. Auger mining shall be conducted in accordance with the backfilling and grading requirements of 4VAC25-130-816.102 and 4VAC25-130-816.104 through 4VAC25-130-816.107 and the additional requirements of this section.
(b) Remining. Where auger mining operations affect previously mined areas that were not reclaimed to the standards of this chapter and the volume of all reasonably available spoil is demonstrated in writing to the division to be insufficient to completely backfill the highwall, the highwall shall be eliminated to the maximum extent technically practical in accordance with the following criteria:
(1) The permittee shall demonstrate to the division that the backfill, designed by a qualified registered professional engineer, has a minimum static safety factor for the stability of the backfill of at least 1.3.
(2) All spoil generated by the auger mining operation and any associated surface coal mining and reclamation operation, and any other reasonably available spoil shall be used to backfill the area. Reasonably available spoil shall include spoil generated by the mining operation and other spoil located in the permit area that is accessible and available for use and that when rehandled will not cause a hazard to the public safety or significant damage to the environment. For this purpose, the permit area shall include spoil in the immediate vicinity of the auger mining operation.
(3) The coal seam mined shall be covered with a minimum of four feet of nonacid-, nontoxic-forming material and the backfill graded to a slope which is compatible with the approved postmining land use and which provides adequate drainage and long-term stability.
(4) Any remnant of the highwall shall be stable and not pose a hazard to the public health and safety or to the environment.
(5) Spoil placed on the outslope during previous mining operations shall not be disturbed if such disturbances will cause instability of the remaining spoil or otherwise increase the hazard to the public health and safety or to the environment.
Statutory Authority
§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-230 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR480-03-19 § 819.19, eff. December 15, 1981; amended, eff. June 28, 1982; October 28, 1982; December 14, 1982; October 11, 1983; December 27, 1983; May 8, 1984; June 22, 1984; August 2, 1984; October 16, 1985; January 7, 1987; July 22, 1987; November 25, 1987; October 12, 1988; December 26, 1990; July 1, 1991; July 17, 1991; November 20, 1991; July 7, 1992; May 5, 1993; October 19, 1994.
4VAC25-130-819.21. Auger mining; protection of underground mining.
Auger holes shall not extend closer than 500 feet (measured horizontally) to any abandoned or active underground mine workings, except as approved in accordance with 4VAC25-130-816.79.
Statutory Authority
§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-230 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR480-03-19 § 819.21, eff. December 15, 1981; amended, eff. June 28, 1982; October 28, 1982; December 14, 1982; October 11, 1983; December 27, 1983; May 8, 1984; June 22, 1984; August 2, 1984; October 16, 1985; January 7, 1987; July 22, 1987; November 25, 1987; October 12, 1988; December 26, 1990; July 1, 1991; July 17, 1991; November 20, 1991; July 7, 1992; May 5, 1993; October 19, 1994.