Section 780.25. Reclamation plan; siltation structures, impoundments, banks, dams, and embankments

(a) General. Each application shall include a general plan and a detailed design plan for each proposed siltation structure, water impoundment, and coal processing waste bank, dam, or embankment within the proposed permit area.

(1) Each general plan shall—

(i) Be prepared by, or under the direction of, and certified by a qualified registered professional engineer, or by a certified professional geologist with assistance from experts in related fields, such as land surveying and landscape architecture;

(ii) Contain a description, map, and cross section of the structure and its location;

(iii) Contain preliminary hydrologic and geologic information required to assess the hydrologic impact of the structure;

(iv) Contain a survey describing the potential effect on the structure from subsidence of the subsurface strata resulting from past underground mining operations if underground mining has occurred; and

(v) Contain a certification statement which includes a schedule setting forth the dates that any detailed design plans for structures that are not submitted with the general plan will be submitted to the division. The division shall have approved, in writing, the detailed design plan for the structure before construction of the structure begins.

(2) Impoundments meeting the Class B or C criteria for dams in the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service Technical Release No. 60 (210-VI-TR60), Oct. 1985). "Earth Dams and Reservoirs." Technical Release No. 60 (TR-60) shall comply with the requirements of this section for structures that meet or exceed the size of other criteria of the Mine Safety and Health Administration. The technical release is hereby incorporated by reference. Copies may be obtained from the National Technical Information Service (NTIS), 5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, Virginia 22161, Order No. PB 87-157509/AS. Copies can be inspected at the OSM Headquarters Office, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, Administrative Record, Room 660, 800 North Capitol Street, Washington, D.C. or at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW, Suite 700, Washington, D.C. Each detailed design plan for a structure that meets or exceeds the size or other criteria of the Mine Safety and Health Administration, 30 CFR 77.216(a), shall—

(i) Be prepared by, or under the direction of, and certified by a qualified registered professional engineer with assistance from experts in related fields, such as geology, land surveying, and landscape architecture;

(ii) Include any geotechnical investigation, design, and construction requirements for the structure;

(iii) Describe the operation and maintenance requirements for each structure; and

(iv) Describe the timetable and plans to remove each structure, if appropriate.

(3) Each detailed design plan for structures not included in paragraph (a)(2) of this section shall—

(i) Be prepared by, or under the direction of, and certified by a qualified registered professional engineer or registered land surveyor except that all coal processing waste dams and embankments covered by 4VAC25-130-816.81 through 4VAC25-130-816.84 shall be certified by a qualified registered professional engineer;

(ii) Include any design and construction requirements for the structure, including any required geotechnical information;

(iii) Describe the operation and maintenance requirements for each structure; and

(iv) Describe the timetable and plans to remove each structure, if appropriate.

(b) Siltation structures. Siltation structures shall be designed in compliance with the requirements of 4VAC25-130-816.46.

(c) Permanent and temporary impoundments.

(1) Permanent and temporary impoundments shall be designed to comply with the requirements of 4VAC25-130-816.49.

(2) Each plan for an impoundment meeting the size or other criteria of the Mine Safety and Health Administration shall comply with the requirements of 30 CFR 77.216-1 and 77.216-2. The plan required to be submitted to the District Manager of MSHA under 30 CFR 77.216 shall be submitted to the division as part of the permit application in accordance with paragraph (a) of this section.

(3) For impoundments not included in paragraph (a)(2) of this section, the division may establish engineering design standards that ensure stability comparable to a 1.3 minimum static safety factor in lieu of engineering tests to establish compliance with the minimum static factor of 1.3 specified in 4VAC25-130-816.49(a)(4)(ii) of this chapter.

(d) Coal processing waste banks. Coal processing waste banks shall be designed to comply with the requirements of 4VAC25-130-816.81 through 4VAC25-130-816.84.

(e) Coal processing waste dams and embankments. Coal processing waste dams and embankments shall be designed to comply with the requirements of 4VAC25-130-816.81 through 4VAC25-130-816.84. Each plan shall comply with the requirements of the Mine Safety and Health Administration, 30 CFR 77.216-1 and 77.216-2, and shall contain the results of a geotechnical investigation of the proposed dam or embankment foundation area, to determine the structural competence of the foundation which will support the proposed dam or embankment structure and the impounded material. The geotechnical investigation shall be planned and supervised by an engineer or engineering geologist, according to the following:

(1) The number, location, and depth of borings and test pits shall be determined using current prudent engineering practice for the size of the dam or embankment, quantity of material to be impounded, and subsurface conditions.

(2) The character of the overburden and bedrock, the proposed abutment sites, and any adverse geotechnical conditions which may affect the particular dam, embankment, or reservoir site shall be considered.

(3) All springs, seepage, and ground water flow observed or anticipated during wet periods, in the area of the proposed dam or embankment shall be identified on each plan.

(4) Consideration shall be given to the possibility of mud flows, rock debris falls, or other landslides into the dam, embankment, or impounded material.

(f) If the structure meets the Class B or C criteria for dams in TR-60 or meets the size or other criteria of 30 CFR 77.216(a), each plan under paragraphs (b), (c), and (e) of this section shall include a stability analysis of each structure. The stability analysis shall include, but not be limited to, strength parameters, pore pressures, and long-term seepage conditions. The plan shall also contain a description of each engineering design assumption and calculation with a discussion of each alternative considered in selecting the specific design parameters and construction methods.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR480-03-19 § 780.25, 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; Volume 15, Issue 06, eff. January 6, 1999.

Statutory Authority

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