Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 91.djvu/523

 PUBLIC LAW 95-87—AUG. 3, 1977

91 STAT. 4S9

(i) preventing or removing water from contact with toxic producing deposits; (ii) treating drainage to reduce toxic content which adversely affects downstream water upon being released to water courses; (iii) casing, sealing, or otherwise managing boreholes, -t shafts, and wells and keep acid or other toxic drainage from entering ground and surface waters; (B)(i) conducting surface coal mining operations so as to prevent, to the extent possible using the best technology currently available, additional contributions of suspended solids to streamflow, or runoff outside the permit area, but in no event shall contributions be in excess of requirements set by applicable State or Federal law; (ii) constructing any siltation structures pursuant to subparagraph (B)(i) of this subsection prior to commencement of surface coal mining operations, such structures to be certified by a qualified registered engineer to be constructed as designed and as approved in the reclamation plan; (C) cleaning out and removing temporary or large settling ponds or other siltation structures from drainways after disturbed areas are revegetated and stabilized; and depositing the silt and debris at a site and in a manner approved by the regulatory authority; (D) restoring recharge capacity of the mined area to approximate premining conditions; (E) avoiding channel deepening or enlargement in operations requiring the discharge of water from mines; (F) preserving throughout the mining and reclamation process the essential hydrologic functions of alluvial valley floors in the arid and semiarid areas of the country; and (G) such other actions as the regulatory authority may prescribe; ( i l) with respect to surface disposal of mine wastes, tailings. Waste disposal, coal processing wastes, and other wastes in areas other than the mine working or excavations, stabilize all waste piles in designated areas through construction in compacted layers including the use of incombustible and impervious materials if necessary and assure the final contour of the waste pile will be compatible with natural surroundings and that the site can and will Ibe stabilized and revegetated according to the provisions of this Act; (12) refrain from surface coal mining within five hundred Underground feet from active and abandoned underground mines in order to mines. prevent breakthroughs and to protect health or safety of miners: Provided, That the regulatory authority shall permit an operator to mine near, through or partially through an abandoned underground mine or closer to an active underground mine if (A) the nature, timing, and sequencing of the approximate coincidence of specific surface mine activities with specific underground mine activities are jointly approved by the regulatory authorities concerned with surface mine regulation and the health and safety of underground miners, and (B) such operations will result in improved resource recovery, abatement of water pollution, or elimination of hazards to the health and safety of the public; (13) design, locate, construct, operate, maintain, enlarge, mod- Coal mine waste ify, and remove or abandon, in accordance with the standards pi'es-

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