§ 89.54. Preventing discharges from underground mines.
(a) Surface entries and accesses to the mine, including drifts, adits, slopes and shafts, shall be located, designed, constructed and utilized to prevent gravity discharge of water from the mine.
(b) Barriers of coal left around an underground mine shall be located and designed to prevent gravity discharge from the mine and assist in returning the water table to near its premining condition.
(c) Each exploration hole, drill hole or borehole, shaft, well or other opening to an underground mine shall be cased, lined, sealed or otherwise managed to prevent degradation of the quality of groundwaters and 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 permit and adjacent area. Each exploration hole, drill hole, borehole or well that is uncovered or exposed by mining activities within the permit area shall be permanently closed in a water-tight manner, unless approved for water monitoring or otherwise managed in a manner approved by the Department. This section does not apply to holes drilled and used for blasting in the area affected by surface operations.
(d) Gas and oil wells that are uncovered or exposed by mining activities within the permit area shall be sealed in accordance with the Oil and Gas Act (58 P. S. § § 601.101—601.605).
Authority The provisions of this § 89.54 amended under the Surface Mining Conservation and Reclamation Act (52 P.S. § § 1396.1—1396.19a); The Bituminous Mine Subsidence and Land Conservation Act (52 P.S. § § 1406.1—1406.21); The Clean Streams Law (35 P.S. § § 691.1—691.1001); and section 1920-A of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P.S. § 510-20).
Source The provisions of this § 89.54 adopted December 19, 1980, 10 Pa.B. 4789, effective July 31, 1982, 12 Pa.B. 2382; amended July 30, 1982, 12 Pa.B. 2473, effective July 31, 1982, 12 Pa.B. 2382; amended December 15, 1995, effective December 16, 1995, 25 Pa.B. 5821. Imediately preceding text appears at serial page (199227).
Cross References This section cited in 25 Pa. Code § 86.133 (relating to general requirements); 25 Pa. Code § 86.134 (relating to coal exploration performance and design standards); 25 Pa. Code § 88.492 (relating to minimum requirements for reclamation and operation plan); 25 Pa. Code § 88.493 (relating to minimum environmental protection performance standards); and 25 Pa. Code § 89.36 (relating to protection of the hydrologic balance).
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