§ 88.138. Haul roads and access roads: general.
(a) Haul roads and access roads shall be designed, constructed and maintained to control or prevent erosion and contributions of sediment to streams or runoff outside the affected area; air and water pollution; damage to fish and wildlife or their habitat; flooding; and damage to public or private property. Upon completion of the associated surface mining activities, the area disturbed by the road shall be restored in accordance with § 88.144 (relating to haul roads and access roads: restoration) unless retention of the road is approved as part of the postmining land use.
(b) The haul road may not be located in or within 100 feet (30.48 meters) of a perennial or intermittent stream except in accordance with § 86.102 (relating to areas where mining is prohibited or limited). Any crossing of a perennial or intermittent stream shall be made using bridges, culverts or similar structures. Bridges, culverts or other encroachment or water obstruction shall meet the requirements of Chapter 105 (relating to dam safety and waterway management).
(c) Each road shall have a drainage system that is compatible with the natural drainage system, structurally stable and which will pass safely the peak flow from a 10-year precipitation event or larger event if required by the Department. The drainage system shall include sloped or crowned road surfaces, cross drains or culverts, stabilized ditches, erosion resistant surfacing, sediment traps and other appropriate sediment control measures as required by § 88.96 (relating to hydrologic balance: sediment control measures).
(d) Roads shall be constructed on stable areas that avoid wet or unstable soils.
(e) Prior to the construction of the road, all topsoil shall be removed, stored on a stable site and protected against erosion and compaction until restoration of the haul road.
(f) Any disturbed area adjacent to the road shall be vegetated or otherwise stabilized to prevent erosion.
(g) Acid-forming or toxic-forming material may not be used for surfacing or construction of a road except where the road is within the confines of a road refuse disposal or reprocessing area and the effluent meets the requirements of § 88.92 (relating to hydrologic balance: effluent standards).
Authority The provisions of this § 88.138 amended under section 4.2(a) of the Surface Mining Conservation and Reclamation Act (52 P. S. § 1396.4b(a)); section 3.2 of the Coal Refuse Disposal Control Act (52 P. S. § 30.53b); and section 1920-A of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P. S. § 510-20).
Source The provisions of this § 88.138 adopted December 19, 1980, 10 Pa.B. 4789, effective July 31, 1982, 12 Pa.B. 2382; amended March 30, 1984, 14 Pa.B. 1143, effective August 10, 1985, 15 Pa.B. 2872; amended May 8, 1998, effective May 9, 1998, 28 Pa.B. 2227; amended May 31, 2002, effective June 1, 2002, 32 Pa.B. 2686. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (244188) to (244189).
Cross References This section cited in 25 Pa. Code § 88.381 (relating to general requirements); and 25 Pa. Code § 88.493 (relating to minimum environmental protection performance standards).
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