4 Va. Admin. Code § 25-130-816.41

Current through Register Vol. 41, No. 4, October 8, 2024

Section 4VAC25-130-816.41 - Hydrologic-balance protection

(a) General. All surface mining and reclamation activities shall be conducted to minimize disturbance of the hydrologic balance within the permit and adjacent areas, to prevent material damage to the hydrologic balance outside the permit area, to assure the protection or replacement of water rights, and to support approved postmining land uses in accordance with the terms and conditions of the approved permit and the performance standards of this Part. The division may require additional preventative, remedial, or monitoring measures to assure that material damage to the hydrologic balance outside the permit area is prevented. Mining and reclamation practices that minimize water pollution and changes in flow shall be used in preference to water treatment.

(b) Ground-water protection. In order to protect the hydrologic balance, surface mining activities shall be conducted according to the plan approved under 4VAC25-130-780.21(h) and the following:

(1) Ground-water quality shall be protected by handling earth materials and runoff in a manner that minimizes acidic, toxic, or other harmful infiltration to ground-water systems and by managing excavations and other disturbances to prevent or control the discharge of pollutants into the ground water.

(2) Ground-water quantity shall be protected by handling earth materials and runoff in a manner that will restore the approximate premining recharge capacity of the reclaimed area as a whole, excluding coal mine waste disposal areas and fills, so as to allow the movement of water to the ground water system.

(c) Ground-water monitoring.

(1) Ground-water monitoring shall be conducted according to the ground-water monitoring plan approved under 4VAC25-130-780.21(i). The division may require additional monitoring when necessary.

(2) Representative monitoring.

(i) Representative monitoring points shall be established within 100 feet downgradient from the initial disturbance within each representative area. This distance may be modified by the division if it is demonstrated in the permit application that the 100 feet distance is inappropriate for the monitoring point.

(ii) If degradation, contamination or diminution of water quality or quantity are evident through monitoring, then additional monitoring and/or remedial action may be required by the division.

(3) Source monitoring.

(i). Source monitoring shall be used near isolated acid-producing or toxic-producing material. Monitoring shall be by piezometers or other equipment suitable for monitoring in the unsaturated zone. Piezometers or alternate equipment shall be installed in backfilled material during or within 45 days after final grading of the area. Installation in fill or temporary storage areas shall be as soon as practicable. Monitoring points shall be of sufficient number and locations so that adverse impacts can be readily detected.

(ii) Representative monitoring may be required by the division in addition to source monitoring when the operation may adversely impact usable ground waters.

(4) Well drilling, construction and completion.

(i) When wells are used, they shall be drilled either to the first water-producing zone or, if no water is encountered, to a depth of 100 feet below each coal seam to be mined. The division may require deeper drilling if site conditions indicate the potential for adverse impacts to a known water-producing zone which is at greater depth.

(ii) Monitoring wells shall be drilled an additional 20 feet into the water-producing zone to aid in pumping.

(iii) Monitoring wells shall:

(A) Accommodate a four inch (4") submersible pump for sample extraction and measurement of field parameters. Other diameters may be approved by the division if sample extraction is allowed.

(B) Be constructed in a manner which isolates the water-producing zone to be monitored and prevents the mixing of ground waters.

(C) Be grouted from the surface to at least one foot into bedrock, with all leakage around the well casing prevented.

(D) Be capped, locked, and labeled with an identification number.

(E) Be properly developed and the final yield reported.

(F) Not be constructed or packed with materials which would adversely affect the monitoring results obtained.

(iv) Existing wells may be used for monitoring provided that:

(A) The well is located at a point where data representative of the permit or adjacent area will be obtained.

(B) The well penetrates the water-producing zone to be monitored.

(C) The well is constructed in a manner which effectively isolates the water-producing zone.

(D) The well meets the standards of Paragraph (c)(4) above.

(E) Filtering systems and water softeners are not present which may alter the quality of the water sample. Filters or softeners may be disconnected or bypassed during sampling.

(5) Ground-water monitoring data shall be submitted within 30 days after the end of the calendar quarter to the division. More frequent reporting may be prescribed by the division. Monitoring reports shall include analytical results from each sample taken during the reporting period. When the analysis of any ground-water sample indicates noncompliance with the permit conditions, then the permittee shall promptly notify the division and immediately take the actions provided for in 4VAC25-130-773.17(e) and 4VAC25-130-780.21(h).

(6) Ground-water monitoring shall proceed through mining and continue during reclamation until bond release. Consistent with the procedures of 4VAC25-130-774.13, the division may modify the monitoring requirements, including the parameters covered and the sampling frequency, if the permittee demonstrates, using the monitoring data obtained under this Paragraph, that--

(i) The operation has minimized disturbance to the hydrologic balance in the permit and adjacent areas and prevented material damage to the hydrologic balance outside the permit area; water quantity and quality are suitable to support approved postmining land uses; and the water rights of other users have been protected or replaced; or

(ii) Monitoring is no longer necessary to achieve the purposes set forth in the monitoring plan approved under 4VAC25-130-780.21(i).

(7) Equipment, structures, and other devices used in conjunction with monitoring the quality and quantity of ground water onsite and offsite shall be properly installed, maintained, and operated and shall be removed by the permittee when no longer required by the division.

(d) Surface-water protection. In order to protect the hydrologic balance, surface mining activities shall be conducted according to the plan approved under 4VAC25-130-780.21(h), and the following:

(1) Surface-water quality shall be protected by handling earth materials, ground-water discharges, and runoff in a manner that minimizes the formation of acidic or toxic drainage; prevents, to the extent possible using the best technology currently available, additional contribution of suspended solids to streamflow outside the permit area; and otherwise prevents water pollution. If drainage control, restabilization and revegetation of disturbed areas, diversion of runoff, mulching, or other reclamation and remedial practices are not adequate to meet the requirements of this section and 4VAC25-130-816.42, the permittee shall use and maintain the necessary water treatment facilities or water quality controls.

(2) Surface-water quality and flow rates shall be protected by handling earth materials and runoff in accordance with the steps outlined in the plan approved under 4VAC25-130-780.21(h).

(e) Surface-water monitoring.

(1) Surface water monitoring shall be conducted according to the surface-water monitoring plan approved under 4VAC25-130-780.21(j). The division may require additional monitoring when necessary.

(2) Surface-water monitoring data shall be submitted every three months to the division or more frequently as prescribed by the division. Monitoring reports shall include analytical results from each sample taken during the reporting period. When the analysis of any surface-water sample indicates noncompliance with the permit conditions, the permittee shall promptly notify the division and immediately take the actions provided for in 4VAC25-130-773.17(e) and 4VAC25-130-780.21(h). Reporting shall be in accordance with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit requirements.

(3) Surface-water monitoring shall proceed through mining and continue during reclamation until bond release. Consistent with 4VAC25-130-774.13, the division may modify the monitoring requirements in accordance with the NPDES permit, including the parameters covered and sampling frequency, if the permittee demonstrates, using the monitoring data obtained under this Paragraph, that--

(ii) Monitoring is no longer necessary to achieve the purposes set forth in the monitoring plan approved under 4VAC25-130-780.21(j).

(4) Equipment, structures, and other devices used in conjunction with monitoring the quality and quantity of surface water onsite and offsite shall be properly installed, maintained, and operated and shall be removed by the permittee when no longer required by the division.

(f) Acid-and toxic-forming materials.

(1) Drainage from acid- and toxic-forming materials into surface water and ground water shall be avoided by--

(i) Identifying and burying and/or treating, when necessary, materials which may adversely affect water quality, or be detrimental to vegetation or to public health and safety if not buried and/or treated, and

(ii) Storing materials in a manner that will protect surface water and ground water by preventing erosion, the formation of polluted runoff, and the infiltration of polluted water. Storage shall be limited to the period until burial and/or treatment first become feasible, and so long as storage will not result in any risk of water pollution or other environmental damage.

(2) Storage, burial or treatment practices shall be consistent with other material handling and disposal provisions of this chapter.

(g) Transfer of wells. Before final release of bond, exploratory or monitoring wells shall be sealed in a safe and environmentally sound manner in accordance with 4VAC25-130-816.13 through 4VAC25-130-816.15. With the prior approval of the division, wells may be transferred to another party, or retained by the permittee for further use. At a minimum, the conditions of such transfer shall comply with State and local law and the permittee shall remain responsible for the proper management of the well until bond release in accordance with 4VAC25-130-816.13 through 4VAC25-130-816.15.

(h) Water rights and replacement. Any person who conducts surface mining activities shall replace the water supply of an owner of interest in real property who obtains all or part of his supply of water for domestic, agricultural, industrial, or other legitimate use from an underground or surface source, where the water supply has been adversely impacted by contamination, diminution, or interruption proximately resulting from the surface mining activities. Baseline hydrologic information required in 4VAC25-130-780.21 and 4VAC25-130-780.22 shall be used in the determination of the extent of the impact of mining upon ground water and surface water.

(i) Discharges into an underground mine.

(1) Discharges into an underground mine are prohibited, unless specifically approved by the division after a demonstration that the discharge will--

(i) Minimize disturbance to the hydrologic balance on the permit area, prevent material damage outside the permit area and otherwise eliminate public hazards resulting from surface mining activities;

(ii) Not result in a violation of applicable water quality standards or effluent limitations.

(iii) Be at a known rate and quality which shall meet the effluent limitations of 4VAC25-130-816.42 for pH and total suspended solids, except that the pH and total suspended solids limitations may be exceeded, if approved by the division; and

(iv) Meet the approval of the Mine Safety and Health Administration.

(2) Discharges shall be limited to the following:

(i) Water;

(ii) Coal processing waste;

(iii) Fly ash from a coal-fired facility;

(iv) Sludge from an acid-mine drainage treatment facility;

(v) Flue-gas desulfurization sludge;

(vi) Inert materials used for stabilizing underground mines; and

(vii) Underground mine development wastes.

4 Va. Admin. Code § 25-130-816.41

Derived from VR480-03-19 § 816.41, 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.

Statutory Authority

§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-230 of the Code of Virginia.