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Oklahoma Administrative Code (Last Updated: March 11, 2021) |
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TITLE 460. Department of Mines |
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Chapter 20. The Permanent Regulations Governing the Coal Reclamation Act of 1979 |
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Subchapter 43. Permanent Program Performance Standards: Surface Mining Standards |
SECTION 460:20-43-37. Contemporaneous reclamation
Latest version.
- Reclamation efforts, including but not limited to backfilling, grading, topsoil replacement, and revegetation, on all land that is disturbed by surface mining activities shall occur as contemporaneously as practicable with mining operations, except when such mining operations are conducted in accordance with a variance for concurrent surface and underground mining activities issued under Section 460:20-33-8 of this Chapter.(1) Timing of backfilling and grading.(A) Contour mining. Rough backfilling and grading shall follow coal removal by not more than 60 days or 1,500 linear feet. The Department may grant additional time for rough backfilling and grading if the permittee can demonstrate, through a detailed written analysis under Section 460:20-27-10(b)(3), that additional time is necessary.(B) Open pit mining with thin overburden. Rough backfilling and grading shall occur in accordance with the time schedule approved by the Department, on the basis of the materials submitted under Section 460:20-27-10(b)(3), which shall specifically establish in stated increments the period between removal of coal and completion of backfilling and grading.(C) Area strip mining. Rough backfilling and grading shall be completed within 180 days following coal removal and shall not be more than four spoil ridges behind the pit being worked, the spoil from the active pit being considered the first ridge. The Department may grant additional time for rough backfilling and grading, if the permittee can demonstrate, through a detailed written analysis under Section 460:20-27-10(b)(3), that additional time is necessary.(2) Annual reporting. Every twelve months after permit issuance and until final bond release, the permittee must submit to the Department a map or maps, signed and dated by a licensed professional engineer or licensed land surveyor, showing:(A) The current permit boundaries;(B) The cumulative disturbed acres;(C) The cumulative acres that have been backfilled and graded to the approved postmining contours;(D) The cumulative acres retopsoiled;(E) The cumulative acres where permanent vegetation has been established; and(F) A map legend detailing the data used to create the map or maps.