Alabama Administrative Code

(1) General. All coal mine waste shall be placed in new or existing disposal areas within a permit area, which are approved by the Regulatory Authority for this purpose. Coal mine waste shall be hauled or conveyed and placed for final placement in a controlled manner to --(a) Min…

(Not Used) Notes Ala. Admin. Code r. 880-X-10D-.35

Refuse piles shall meet the requirements of Section 880-X-10D-.34, the additional requirements of this section, and the requirements of 30 CFR 77.214 and 30 CFR 77.215 of this title. (1) Drainage control. (a) If the disposal area contains springs, natural or manmade water courses…

New and existing impounding structures constructed of coal mine waste or intended to impound coal mine waste shall meet the requirements of Section 880-X-10D-.34. (1) Coal mine waste shall not be used for construction of impounding structures unless it has been demonstrated to th…

(Not Used) Notes Ala. Admin. Code r. 880-X-10D-.38

(1) Coal mine waste fires shall be extinguished by the person who conducts the surface mining activities, in accordance with a plan approved by the Regulatory Authority and the Mine Safety and Health Administration. The plan shall contain, at a minimum, provisions to ensure that …

(Not Used) Notes Ala. Admin. Code r. 880-X-10D-.40

(1) Noncoal mine wastes including, but not limited to grease, lubricants, paints, flammable liquids, garbage, abandoned mining machinery, lumber and other combustible materials generated during mining activities shall be placed and stored in a controlled manner in a designated po…

(Not Used) Notes Ala. Admin. Code r. 880-X-10D-.42

(Not Used) Notes Ala. Admin. Code r. 880-X-10D-.43

(Not Used) Notes Ala. Admin. Code r. 880-X-10D-.44

(1) The operator shall, to the extent possible using the best technology currently available, minimize disturbances and adverse impacts on fish, wildlife, and related environmental values and shall achieve enhancement of such resources where practicable. (2) Endangered and threat…

At any time a slide occurs which may have a potential adverse affect on public property, health, safety, or the environment, the person who conducts the underground mining activities shall notify the State Regulatory Authority by the fastest available means and comply with any re…

Reclamation efforts, including, but not limited to, backfilling, grading, topsoil replacement and revegetation of all areas affected by surface operations, shall occur as contemporaneously as practicable with mining operations. Author: Notes Ala. Admin. Code r. 880-X-10D-.47 Stat…

(1) Disturbed areas shall be backfilled and graded to(a) Achieve the approximate original contour, except as provided in paragraph (11) of this section; (b) Eliminate all highwall, spoil piles, and depressions, except as provided in paragraph (8) (small depressions) and in paragr…

(1) Remining operations on previously mined areas that contain a preexisting highwall shall comply with the requirements of Section 880-X-10D-.48 and 880-X-10I-.04 of this chapter, except as provided in this section. (2) The requirements of Section 880-X-10D-.53(1)(a) and (1)(b) …

(1) Covering or treating. (a) A person who conducts underground mining activities shall treat, or cover with a minimum of 4 feet of the best available non-toxic and noncombustible material, all exposed coal seams remaining after mining, and all acid-forming materials, toxic-formi…

When rills or gullies deeper than 9 inches form in areas that have been regraded and topsoiled, the rills and gullies shall be filled, graded, or otherwise stabilized and the area reseeded or replanted according to Rules 880-X-10D-.52 - 880-X-10D-.57. The State Regulatory Authori…

(1) The permittee shall establish on regraded areas and on all other disturbed areas except water areas and surface areas of roads that are approved as part of the postmining land use, a vegetative cover that is in accordance with the approved permit and reclamation plan and that…

(Not Used) Notes Ala. Admin. Code r. 880-X-10D-.53

The permittee shall plant disturbed areas during the first normal period for favorable planting conditions after replacement of the plant growth medium. The normal period for favorable planting is that planting time generally accepted locally for the type of plant materials selec…

(Not Used) Notes Ala. Admin. Code r. 880-X-10D-.55

(1) Success of Revegetation shall be judged on the effectiveness of the vegetation for the approved post-mining landuse, the extent of cover compared to the cover occurring in natural vegetation of the area, and the general requirements of Section 880-X-10D-.52. (a) The permittee…

(Not Used) Notes Ala. Admin. Code r. 880-X-10D-.57

(1) Measures to prevent or minimize damage. (a) The permittee must either adopt measures consistent with known technology that prevent subsidence from causing material damage to the extent technologically and economically feasible, maximize mine stability, and maintain the value …

At least six (6) months prior to mining, or within that period if approved by the Regulatory Authority, the underground mine operator shall mail a notification to all owners and occupants of surface property and structures above the underground workings. The notification shall in…

(Not Used) Notes Ala. Admin. Code r. 880-X-10D-.60

(Not Used) Notes Ala. Admin. Code r. 880-X-10D-.61

(1) Each person who conducts underground mining activities shall effectively support and maintain all surface access openings to underground operations, and secure surface facilities in areas in which there are no current operations, but operations are to be resumed under an appr…

(1) The person who conducts underground mining activities shall close or backfill or otherwise permanently reclaim all disturbed areas, in accordance with this Rule and according to the permit approved by the State Regulatory Authority. (2) All surface equipment, structures, or o…

(1) General. Surface land areas affected by mining activities shall be restored in a timely manner -- (a) To conditions that are capable of supporting the use which they were capable of supporting before any mining; or (b) To higher or better uses achievable under criteria and pr…

(1) Road classification system. (a) Each road, as defined in 880-X-2A-.06, shall be classified as either a primary road or an ancillary road. (b) A primary road is any road which is -- 1. Used for transporting coal or spoil; 2. Frequently used for access or other purposes for a p…

Primary roads shall meet the requirements of 880-X-10D-.65 and the additional requirements of this section. (1) Certification. The construction or reconstruction of primary roads shall be certified in a report to the Alabama Surface Mining Commission by a qualified registered pro…

(Not Used) Notes Ala. Admin. Code r. 880-X-10D-.67

(Not Used) Notes Ala. Admin. Code r. 880-X-10D-.68

(Not Used) Notes Ala. Admin. Code r. 880-X-10D-.69

Railroad loops, spurs, sidings, surface conveyor systems, chutes, aerial tramways, or other transportation facilities, shall be designed, constructed or reconstructed and maintained, and the area restored to -- (a) Prevent, to the extent possible using the best technology current…

(1) Support facilities required for, or used incidentally to, the operation of the underground mine, including, but not limited to, mine buildings, coal loading facilities at or near the mine-site, coal and equipment storage facilities, fan buildings, hoist buildings, preparation…

This Rule sets forth the minimum performance standards with which each person who combines surface mining activities with underground mining activities must comply under a variance from the requirement that reclamation efforts proceed as contemporaneously as practicable for speci…

The objective of this Rule is to ensure the maximum practicable recovery of coal resources and to avoid multiple disturbances of surface lands or waters. Author: Notes Ala. Admin. Code r. 880-X-10E-.02 Statutory Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§ 9-16-71, 73, 74, 75, 76, 80, 84, 85…

(1) The State Regulatory Authority shall review and grant or deny requests for variances from the requirement that reclamation efforts proceed as contemporaneously as practicable in accordance with Rule 880-X-8J-.09 and this Rule. (2) The person who conducts combined surface and …

A variance under this Rule applies only to those specific areas within the permit area that the person conducting combined surface and underground mining activities has shown to be necessary for implementing the proposed concurrent operations and that the State Regulatory Authori…

(1) Each person who conducts operations under a variance issued under Rule 880-X-8J-.09 shall comply with all applicable requirements of this Chapter, except to the extent that -- (a) A delay in compliance with these requirements is specifically authorized by the variance issued …

In addition to the requirements of Rules 880-X-10C and 880-X-10D, each person who conducts combined surface and underground mining activities shall comply with the following: (a) A 500 foot barrier pillar of coal shall be maintained between the surface and underground mining acti…

This Rule sets forth environmental protection performance standards in addition to those of Rule 880-X-10C for surface mining activities involving auger mining. Author: Notes Ala. Admin. Code r. 880-X-10F-.01 Statutory Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§ 9-16-71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76,…

The objectives of this Rule are to -- (a) Prevent adverse environmental effects from auger mining; and (b) Prevent any unnecessary loss of coal reserves. Author: Notes Ala. Admin. Code r. 880-X-10F-.02 Statutory Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§ 9-16-71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 80, 85…

(1) Auger mining operations shall be conducted to maximize recoverability of mineral reserves. Each person who conducts auger mining operations shall leave areas of undisturbed coal to provide access for removal of those reserves by future underground mining activities, unless th…

This part sets forth special environmental protection performance and reclamation and design standards for surface coal mining and reclamation operations on prime farmlands. Author: Notes Ala. Admin. Code r. 880-X-10G-.01 Original filed November 14, 1989; effective: March 7, 1991…

The State Regulatory Authority shall use the specifications set by the State Conservationist for prime farmland soil removal, storage, replacement, and reconstruction to carry out its responsibilities under these rules. Author: Notes Ala. Admin. Code r. 880-X-10G-.02 Original Fil…

The requirements of this subchapter shall not apply to: (1) Coal preparation plants, support facilities and roads of underground mines that are actively used over extended periods of time and where such uses affect a minimal amount of land. Such uses shall meet the requirements o…