Section 240.1151  Procedures for Plugging Coal Seams

a)         When the owner or manager of any inactive, nonproductive or nonoperative well in an active coal mine area desires to plug such well or partially plug back to a different formation or to withdraw casing from such well, he shall notify the well inspector for the county in which the well is located and notify the owner or operator of such coal mine at least eight (8) hours in advance of the time he expects to begin plugging or pulling casing.  The commencement of such operations, including shooting off casing, is prohibited until an authorized Department Representative is present.

b)         Protection of Coal Seams

1)         Each coal seam of thirty (30) inches or more of thickness and lying above the depth of one thousand (1000) feet shall be protected by a cement plug extending one hundred (100) feet above said coal seam to a distance of fifty (50) feet below the same or to the bottom of the hole, whichever is less.

2)         In wells penetrating an active mine or the worked out area of a mine or the undeveloped limits of a mine property having workable coal seam or seams, a substantial support shall be provided for each cement plug required for coal seam protection.  The supporting plug shall consist of wood or other suitable material having adequate strength and shall be set and tested to determine that settlement or a movement of the cement plug will not take place during the period required for the setting of the cement.

c)         The provisions of this Section are in addition to the plugging requirements of this Subpart.

(Source:  Added at 14 Ill. Reg. 20427, effective January 1, 1991)