Section 1819.1  Scope

This Part sets forth environmental protection performance standards for surface coal mining and reclamation operations involving auger mining.

(Source:  Amended at 11 Ill. Reg. 8501, effective July 1, 1987)

Section 1819.2  Objectives (Repealed)

(Source:  Repealed at 11 Ill. Reg. 8501, effective July 1, 1987)

Section 1819.11  Auger Mining: General

a)         Auger mining operations shall be conducted in accordance with the requirements of 62 Ill. Adm. Code 1816 except as provided in this Part.

b)         The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (Department) shall prohibit auger mining, if necessary to:

1)         Maximize the utilization, recoverability, or conservation of the solid fuel resource, or

2)         Protect against adverse water quality impacts in accordance with 62 Ill. Adm. Code 1816.42.

(Source:  Amended at 11 Ill. Reg. 8501, effective July 1, 1987)

Section 1819.13  Auger Mining: Coal Recovery

a)         Auger mining shall be conducted so as to maximize the utilization and conservation of the coal in accordance with 62 Ill. Adm. Code 1816.59.

b)         Auger mining shall be planned and conducted to maximize recoverability of mineral reserves remaining after the operation and reclamation are complete.

c)         Each person who conducts auger mining operations shall leave areas of undisturbed coal, as approved by the Department, to provide access for future underground mining activities to coal reserves remaining after augering is completed, unless it is established that the coal reserves have been depleted or are so limited in thickness or extent that it will not be possible to recover the remaining coal through surface mining with the machinery available.  This determination shall be made by the Department upon presentation of appropriate technical evidence by the operator pertaining to the availability of the remaining coal.

(Source:  Added at 11 Ill. Reg. 8501, effective July 1, 1987)

Section 1819.15  Auger Mining: Hydrological Balance

a)         Auger mining shall be planned and conducted to minimize disturbances of the prevailing hydrologic balance in accordance with the requirements of 62 Ill. Adm. Code 1816.41 and 1816.42.

b)         All auger holes, except as provided in subsection (c), shall be:

1)         Sealed within seventy-two (72) hours after completion with an impervious and noncombustible material, if the holes are discharging water containing acid- or toxic-forming material.  If sealing is not possible within seventy-two (72) hours, the discharge shall be treated commencing within seventy-two (72) hours after completion to meet applicable effluent limitations and water quality standards of subsection (a) until the holes are sealed; and

2)         Sealed with an impervious noncombustible material, within thirty (30) days following completion, if the holes are not discharging water containing acid- or toxic-forming material.

c)         Auger holes need not be sealed with an impervious material so as to prevent drainage if the Department determines that:

1)         The resulting impoundment of water may create a hazard to the environment or public health or safety such as an unforeseen discharge, and

2)         The drainage from the auger holes will:

A)        Not pose a threat of pollution to surface water in accordance with 62 Ill. Adm. Code 1816.42 and

B)        Comply with the requirements of 62 Ill. Adm. Code 1816.41 and 1816.42.

(Source:  Added at 11 Ill. Reg. 8501, effective July 1, 1987)

Section 1819.17  Auger Mining: Subsidence Protection

Auger mining shall be conducted in accordance with the requirements of 62 Ill. Adm. Code 1817.121(a) and (c).

(Source:  Added at 11 Ill. Reg. 8501, effective July 1, 1987)

Section 1819.19  Auger Mining: Backfilling and Grading

a)         Auger mining shall be conducted in accordance with the backfilling and grading requirements of 62 Ill. Adm. Code 1816.102 and 1816.104 through 1816.106.

b)         Where auger mining operations affect previously mined areas that were not reclaimed to the standards of 62 Ill. Adm. Code 1810 - 1828 and the volume of all reasonably available spoil is demonstrated in writing to the Department to be insufficient to completely backfill the highwall, the highwall shall be eliminated to the maximum extent technically practicable in accordance with the following criteria:

1)         The person who conducts the auger mining operation shall demonstrate to the Department that the backfill, designed by a qualified registered professional engineer, has a minimum static safety factor for the stability of the backfill of at least 1.3.

2)         All spoil generated by the auger mining operation and any associated surface coal mining and reclamation operation, and any other reasonably available spoil shall be used to backfill the area.  Reasonably available spoil shall include spoil generated by the mining operation and other spoil located in the permit area that is accessible and available for use and that when rehandled will not cause a hazard to the public safety or significant damage to the environment. For this purpose, the permit area shall include spoil in the immediate vicinity of the auger mining operation.

3)         The coal seam mined shall be covered with a minimum of four (4)  feet of nonacid- , nontoxic-forming material and the backfill graded in accordance with subsection (a).

4)         Any remnant of the highwall shall be stable and not pose a hazard to the public health and safety or the environment.

5)         Spoil placed on the outslope during previous mining operations shall not be disturbed if such disturbances will cause instability of the remaining spoil or otherwise increase the hazard to the public health and safety or to the environment.

(Source:  Added at 11 Ill. Reg. 8501, effective July 1, 1987)

Section 1819.21  Auger Mining: Protection of Underground Mining

Auger holes shall not extend closer than five hundred (500) feet (measured horizontally) to any abandoned or active underground mine workings, except as approved in accordance with 62 Ill. Adm. Code 1816.79.

(Source:  Added at 11 Ill. Reg. 8501, effective July 1, 1987)