(a) General performance standards: - (i) All surface land affected in conjunction with an underground mining operation will be subject to the appropriate backfilling, grading, and contouring requirements as described in Chapter 4, Section 2(b), depending on the physical land description in the permit area and the nature of the surface disturbance.
- (ii) All shafts and adits to underground mine workings must be properly sealed at closure.
- (iii) Portal entries into adits must be backfilled, graded and contoured so as to blend in with the topography of the surrounding terrain.
- (iv) All substantial surface disturbances due to subsidence into underground workings within five years after completion of mining shall be backfilled, graded, contoured and revegetated so as to blend in with the topography of the surrounding terrain. If conditions prevent such reclamation, the Administrator, after considering the conditions, and after consultation with the Advisory Board, will determine the reclamation requirements.
- (v) The applicable performance standards contained in the Act and Chapter 4 shall apply to underground mining operations.
(b) Performance standards applicable to underground coal mining operations: - (i) Underground development waste and excess spoil shall be disposed of in accordance with Chapter 4, Section 2(c).
- (ii) Surface entries and accesses to underground workings, including adits and slopes, shall be located, designed, constructed, and utilized to prevent or control gravity discharge of water from the mine in excess of State or Federal water quality standards.
- (iii) Underground mining activities shall be planned and conducted so as to prevent subsidence from causing material damage to structures, the land surface, and groundwater resources.
- (iv) Underground mining shall not be conducted beneath or adjacent to any park, cemetery, public building, facility (churches, schools, hospitals, etc.), or body of water with a volume of 20 acre-feet or more, unless the Administrator approves otherwise on the basis of detailed subsurface information demonstrating that subsidence will not cause material damage or reduce the reasonably foreseeable use of the feature or facility.
- (v) Underground mining activities beneath any aquifer that serves as a source of water for public drinking, domestic, industrial or agricultural use should be conducted so as to avoid disruption of the aquifer and consequent exchange of groundwater between the aquifer and other strata. The Administrator may prohibit mining in the vicinity of the aquifer or may limit extraction to protect the aquifer and water supply.
- (vi) The Administrator shall suspend underground mining under urbanized areas, cities, towns and communities, and adjacent to industrial or commercial buildings, major impoundments or permanent streams, if imminent danger is found to inhabitants of the urbanized areas, cities, towns, or communities or material damage is threatened to the urbanized areas, cities, towns or communities.
- (vii) All applicable regulations contained in the Act and Chapter 4, Section 2 shall apply to underground coal mining operations. The approximate original contour requirements of Section 2(b) may be waived in situations where settled surface disturbances have become stabilized and revegetated.
- (viii) The performance standards contained in the Act and Chapter 5 shall apply to underground mining operations, excluding Section 1 for areas that will be actively used over extended periods and which affect a minimal amount of land.
- (ix) Noncoal mine waste shall be managed in accordance with Chapter 4, Section 2(c).
(c) The operator of an underground coal mining operation shall submit a plan of underground workings pursuant to a schedule approved by the Administrator. The plan shall include maps and descriptions of significant features of the underground mine, extraction ratios, measures taken to prevent or minimize subsidence and related damage, areas of full extraction and other information, as required by the Administrator.