Section 53-9-47 - Promulgation of regulations relating to surface effects of underground coal mining; permit requirements; suspension of mining; applicability of chapter(1) The commission may promulgate regulations regarding the surface effects of underground coal mining operations establishing the following requirements. In promulgating any regulations, the commission shall consider the distinct difference between surface coal mining and underground coal mining. The regulations shall not conflict with the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969, as amended or any regulation issued under that law.(2) Each permit issued under this chapter and relating to underground coal mining shall require the operator to:(a) Adopt measures consistent with known technology to prevent subsidence causing material damage to the extent technologically and economically feasible to maximize mine stability, and maintain the value and reasonably foreseeable use of any surface lands, except in instances where the mining technology used requires planned subsidence in a predictable and controlled manner. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prohibit the standard method of room and pillar mining;(b) Seal all portals, entryways, drifts, shafts or other openings between the surface and underground mine working when no longer needed for the conduct of the mining operations;(c) Fill or seal exploratory holes no longer necessary for mining, maximizing to the extent technologically and economically feasible the return of mine and processing waste, tailings, and any other waste incident to the mining operation, to the mine workings or excavations;(d) Stabilize all waste piles containing mine wastes, tailings, coal processing wastes and other wastes in areas other than the mine workings or excavations created by the permittee from current operations through construction in compacted layers, including the use of incombustible and impervious materials, if necessary;(e) Assure that the leachate will not degrade surface or ground waters below water quality standards established under applicable federal and state law;(f) Assure that the final contour of the waste accumulation will be compatible with natural surroundings;(g) Assure that the site is stabilized and revegetated according to this chapter;(h) Design, locate, construct, operate, maintain, enlarge, modify, and remove, or abandon, in accordance with the standards and criteria developed by the commission, all existing and new coal mine waste piles consisting of mine wastes, tailings, coal processing wastes, or other liquid and solid wastes, and used either temporarily or permanently as dams or embankments;(i) Establish on regraded areas, and all other lands affected, a diverse and permanent vegetative cover capable of self-regeneration and plant succession and at least equal in extent of cover to the natural vegetation of the area;(j) Protect offsite areas from damages which may result from the mining operations;(k) Eliminate fire hazards and otherwise eliminate conditions which constitute a hazard to health and safety of the public;(l) Minimize the disturbances of the prevailing hydrologic balance at the mine site and in associated offsite areas and to the quality and quantity of water in surface and groundwater systems both during and after coal mining operations and during reclamation by: (i) Taking measures to avoid acid or other toxic mine drainage including, but not limited to: (A) Preventing or removing water from contact with toxic producing deposits;(B) Treating drainage to reduce toxic content which adversely affects downstream water upon being released to water courses;(C) Casing, sealing or otherwise managing boreholes, shafts and wells to keep acid or other toxic drainage from entering ground and surface waters; and(ii) Conducting surface coal mining operations to prevent, to the extent possible using the best technology currently available, additional levels of suspended solids to streamflow or runoff outside the permit area, but in no event shall those levels be in excess of requirements set by applicable state or federal law or regulations, and avoiding channel deepening or enlargement in operations requiring the discharge of water from mines;(m) Operate in accordance with the general environmental protection standards promulgated under Section 53-9-45 for any effects which result from surface coal mining operations including surface impacts from the construction of new roads or the improvement or use of existing roads to gain access to the site of the activities and for haulage, repair areas, storage areas, processing areas, shipping areas, and other areas upon which are sited structures, facilities or other property or materials on the surface, resulting from or incident to the activities. The commission shall make necessary modifications in the requirements imposed by this paragraph to accommodate the distinct difference between surface and underground coal mining;(n) Minimize disturbances and adverse impacts of the operation to the extent possible, using the best technology currently available, on fish, wildlife and related environmental values, and achieve enhancement of those resources where practicable; and(o) Locate openings for all new drift mines working acid-producing or iron-producing coal seams to prevent a gravity discharge of water from the mine.(3) To protect the stability of the land, the permit board shall suspend underground coal mining under urbanized areas, cities, towns and communities, and under areas adjacent to industrial or commercial buildings, major impoundments or permanent streams if the permit board finds imminent danger to inhabitants of the urbanized areas, cities, towns and communities.(4) The provisions of this chapter relating to permits, bonds, inspections and enforcement, public notice and hearing and administrative and judicial review shall be applicable to surface operations and surface impacts incident to an underground coal mine with any modifications to the permit application requirements, permit issuance or denial procedures and bond requirements as are necessary to accommodate the distinct difference between surface and underground coal mining.Laws, 1979, ch. 477, § 21; Laws, 1997, ch. 306, § 23, eff. 3/10/1997.