Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 91.djvu/530

 91 STAT. 496 Ante, p. 467.

PUBLIC LAW 95-87—AUG. 3, 1977

the procedures established under section 501 of this Act: Provided, however, That in adopting any rules and regulations the Secretary shall consider the distinct difference between surface coal mining and underground coal mining. Such rules and regulations shall not conflict with nor supersede any provision of the Federal Coal Mine 30 USC 801 note. Health and Safety Act of 1969 nor any regulation issued pursuant thereto, and shall not be promulgated until the Secretary has obtained the written concurrence of the head of the department which administers such Act. Requirements. (b) Each permit issued under any approved State or Federal program pursuant to this Act and relating to underground coal miningshall require the operator to— I (1) adopt measures consistent with known technology in order to prevent subsidence causing material damage to the extent technologically and economically feasible, maximize mine stability, and maintain the value and reasonably foreseeable use of such i surface lands, except in those instances where the mining technology used requires planned subsidence in a predictable and controlled manner: Provided, That nothing in this subsection pillar mining; i (2) seal all portals, entry ways, drifts, shafts, or other openings between the surface and underground mine working when no longer needed for the conduct of the mining operations; t: <, !: (3) fill or seal exploratory holes no longer necessary for mining, maximizing to the extent technologically and economically feasit ble return of mine and processing waste, tailings, and any other waste incident to the mining operation, to the mine workings or > « •, B;. excavations; '. <;(j> rv J (4) with respect to surface disposal of mine wastes, tailings, coal processing wastes, and other wastes in areas other than the r mine workings or excavations, stabilize all waste piles created by the permittee from current operations through construction V -, „ V . in compacted layers including the use of incombustible and imper'•••=•- -i. vious materials if necessary and assure that the leachate will not • • - ' '* degrade below water quality standards established pursuant to applicable Federal and State law surface or ground waters and that the final contour of the waste accumulation will be compatible '•• with natural surroundings and that the site is stabilized and revegetated according to the provisions of this section; (5) design, locate, construct, operate, maintain, enlarge, modify, I and remove, or abandon, in accordance with the standards and criteria developed pursuant to section 515(f), 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; (6) establish on regraded areas and all other lands affected, a diverse and permanent vegetative cover capable of self-regenera'• tion and plant succession and at least equal in extent of cover to the natural vegetation of the area; (7) protect off site areas from damages which may result from such mining operations; (8) eliminate fire hazards and otherwise eliminate conditions which constitute a hazard to health and safety of the public; 7 (9) minimize the disturbances of the prevailing hydrologic balance at the minesite and in associated offsite areas and to the
 * shall be construed to prohibit the standard method of room and

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