Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 25, June 22, 2024
Section 90.162 - Prime farmland: soil removal(a) Soil materials to be used in the reconstruction of the prime farmland soil shall be removed before drilling, blasting or mining, in accordance with this section and in a manner that prevents mixing or contaminating these materials with undesirable material. Soil materials shall be removed in a manner that does not result in air and water pollution.(b) The entire A horizon shall be separately removed from other soil and overburden materials.(c) The B horizon, a combination of the B horizon and underlying C horizon, or other suitable soil material which will create a reconstructed soil of equal or greater productive capacity than that which existed before mining shall be separately removed from other topsoil and overburden materials.(d) The underlying C horizons, other strata or a combination of horizons or other strata to be used instead of the B horizon, shall be separately removed from the topsoil and overburden materials. When replaced, these combinations shall be equal to, or more favorable for plant growth than, the B horizon.(e) The minimum depth of soil and soil material to be removed for use in reconstruction of prime farmland soils shall be sufficient to meet the soil replacement requirements of § 90.164(a) (relating to prime farmland: soil replacement).The provisions of this § 90.162 adopted December 19, 1980, 10 Pa.B. 4789, effective 7/31/1982, 12 Pa.B. 2382; amended July 30, 1982, 12 Pa.B. 2473, effective 7/31/1982, 12 Pa.B. 2382. This section cited in 25 Pa. Code § 86.159 (relating to self-bonding); 25 Pa. Code § 90.45 (relating to prime farmland); 25 Pa. Code § 90.125 (relating to coal refuse disposal: construction requirements); 25 Pa. Code § 90.151 (relating to revegetation: general requirements); 25 Pa. Code § 90.161 (relating to prime farmland: special requirements); 25 Pa. Code § 90.163 (relating to prime farmland: soil stockpiling); and 25 Pa. Code § 90.164 (relating to prime farmland: soil replacement).