17.24.904    IN SITU COAL PROCESSING OPERATION PERFORMANCE STANDARDS

(1) An operator who conducts in situ coal processing operations shall comply with ARM 17.24.903.

(2) In situ coal processing operations must also be planned and conducted to minimize disturbance to the prevailing hydrologic balance by:

(a) avoiding discharge of fluids into holes or wells, other than as approved by the department;

(b) injecting process recovery fluids only into geologic zones or intervals approved as production zones by the department;

(c) avoiding annular injection between the walls of the drill hole and the casing; and

(d) preventing discharge of process fluid into surface waters.

(3) An operator who conducts in situ coal processing operations shall follow a plan approved pursuant to ARM 17.24.902.

(4) An operator who conducts in situ coal processing operations shall prevent flow of the process recovery fluid:

(a) horizontally beyond the affected area identified in the permit; and

(b) vertically into overlying or underlying aquifers.

(5) An operator who conducts in situ coal processing operations shall restore the quality of affected ground water in the mine plan and adjacent areas, including ground water above and below the production zone, to the approximate premining levels or better, to ensure that the potential for use of the ground water is not diminished.

(6) An operator who conducts in situ coal processing operations shall monitor the quality and quantity of surface and ground water and the subsurface flow and storage characteristics, in a manner approved by the department under ARM 17.24.645 and 17.24.646 to measure changes in the quantity and quality of water in surface and ground water systems in the mine plan and adjacent areas. Air and water quality monitoring must be conducted in accordance with monitoring programs approved by the department as necessary according to appropriate federal and state air and water quality standards.

 

History: 82-4-205, MCA; IMP, 82-4-227, 82-4-231, 82-4-232, 82-4-233, MCA; NEW, 1980 MAR p. 725, Eff. 4/1/80; AMD, 1989 MAR p. 30, Eff. 1/13/89; TRANS, from DSL, 1996 MAR p. 2852; AMD, 2024 MAR p. 258, Eff. 2/10/24.