§ 88.509. Criteria and schedule for release of bonds on pollution abatement areas.
(a) The Department will release up to 60% of the amount of bond for the authorized pollution abatement area if the applicant demonstrates and the Department finds that:
(1) The surface mining activities were conducted on the permit area, including the pollution abatement area, under the requirements of the permit and the authorization, Chapter 86 (relating to surface and underground coal mining: general) and this chapter, except as specifically modified by this subchapter.
(2) The operator has satisfactorily completed backfilling, regrading and drainage control in accordance with the approved reclamation plan.
(3) The operator has properly implemented each step of the pollution abatement plan approved and authorized under this subchapter.
(4) The operator has not caused degradation of the baseline pollution load at any time during the 6 months prior to the submittal of the request for bond release under this subsection and until the bond release is approved as shown by all ground and surface water monitoring conducted by the permittee under § 88.506(1) (relating to operational requirements) or conducted by the Department.
(5) The operator has not caused or contributed to surface water pollution or groundwater degradation by reaffecting or mining the pollution abatement area.
(b) The Department will release an additional amount of bond for the authorized pollution abatement area but retaining an amount sufficient to cover the cost to the Department of re-establishing vegetation if completed by a third party if the operator demonstrates and the Department finds that:
(1) The operator has replaced the topsoil or material conserved under § § 88.87, 88.183 and 88.287 (relating to vegetation-supporting material: available soil removal; vegetation-supporting material: soil; and vegetation supporting material: available soil removal), completed final grading, planting and established revegetation in accordance with the approved reclamation plan and achieved the standard of success for revegetation in § 88.505(a)(5) (relating to approval or denial).
(2) The operator has not caused or contributed to surface water pollution or groundwater degradation by reaffecting or mining the pollution abatement area.
(3) The operator has complied with one of the following:
(i) Achieved the actual improvement of the baseline pollution load described in the approved pollution abatement plan as shown by all ground and surface water monitoring conducted by the permittee for the period of time provided in the pollution abatement plan after completion of backfilling, final grading, drainage control, topsoiling and establishment of revegetation to achieve the standard of success for revegetation in § 88.505(a)(5).
(ii) Achieved all of the following:
(A) At a minimum has not caused degradation of the baseline pollution load as shown by all ground and surface water monitoring conducted by the operator or the Department:
(I) For 12 months prior to the date of application for bond release and until the bond release is approved under subsection (b), if backfilling, final grading, drainage control, topsoiling and establishment of revegetation to achieve the standard of success for revegetation in § 88.505(a)(5) have been completed.
(II) If treatment has been initiated at any time after initial bond release under subsection (a) and in accordance with § 88.507(e) (relating to treatment of discharges), for 12 months from the discontinuance of treatment under § 88.507(d), if backfilling, final grading, drainage control, topsoiling and establishment of revegetation to achieve the standard of success for revegetation in § 88.505(a)(5) have been completed.
(B) Conducted all measures provided in the approved pollution abatement plan and additional measures specified by the Department in writing at the time of initial bond release under subsection (a) for the area requested for bond release.
(C) Caused aesthetic or other environmental improvements or elimination of public health and safety problems by remining and reaffecting the pollution abatement area.
(D) Stabilized the pollution abatement area.
(c) The Department will release the remaining portion of the amount of bond on the authorized pollution abatement area if the applicant demonstrates and the Department finds that:
(1) The operator has successfully completed all the approved pollution abatement and reclamation plans and the pollution abatement area is capable of supporting the postmining land use approved under § § 88.133, 88.221 and 88.334 (relating to postmining land use; postmining land use; and postdisposal land use).
(2) The operator has complied with the permit and the authorization, Chapter 86 and this chapter, except as specifically modified by this subchapter.
(3) The operator has not caused degradation of the baseline pollution load from the time of bond release under subsection (b) or, if treatment has been initiated after bond release under subsection (b) in accordance with § 88.507(e) for 5 years from the discontinuance of treatment under § 88.507(d).
(4) The applicable liability period has expired under § 86.151 (relating to period of liability).
Authority The provisions of this § 88.509 amended under section 5 of The Clean Streams Law (35 P.S. § 691.5); sections 4(a) and 4.2 of the Surface Mining Conservation and Reclamation Act (52 P.S. § § 1396.4(a) and 1396.4b); and section 1920-A of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P.S. § 510-20).
Source The provisions of this § 88.509 adopted June 28, 1985, 15 Pa.B. 2377, effective March 8, 1986, 16 Pa.B. 673; amended May 8, 1998, effective May 9, 1998, 28 Pa.B. 2227; amended October 21, 2016, effective October 22, 2016, 46 Pa.B. 6780. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (244243) to (244245).
Cross References This section cited in 25 Pa. Code § 88.506 (relating to operational requirements); 25 Pa. Code § 88.507 (relating to treatment of discharges); and 25 Pa. Code § 88.508 (relating to request for bond release).
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