§ 816.13 - Casing and sealing of drilled holes: General requirements.

§ 816.13 What special requirements apply to drilled holes, wells, and exposed underground openings?

(a) Except as provided in paragraph (f) of this section, you must case, line, otherwise manage each exploration hole, drilled hole, borehole, shaft,

Casing and sealing of drilled holes: General requirements.

Each exploration hole, other drill or borehole, well, or other exposed underground opening

in a manner

shall be cased, sealed, or otherwise managed, as approved by the regulatory authority, to

- (1) Prevent

prevent acid or other toxic drainage from entering

groundwater and surface water. (2) Minimize

ground or surface waters, to minimize disturbance to the prevailing hydrologic balance

. (3) Ensure

, and to ensure the safety of people, livestock, fish and wildlife, and machinery in the permit area and

the

adjacent area.

(b) If the approved permit identifies an exploration hole, drilled hole, borehole, well, or other exposed underground opening for use to monitor groundwater or to return coal processing waste or water to underground workings, you must temporarily seal the hole or opening before use and protect it during use by installing barricades, fences, or other protective devices

If these openings are uncovered or exposed by surface mining activities within the permit area they shall be permanently closed, unless approved for water monitoring, or otherwise managed in a manner approved by the regulatory authority.

You must periodically inspect these devices and maintain them in good operating condition. (c) You may retain and transfer

Use of a drilled hole or

groundwater

borehole or monitoring well

for use

as a water well

under the conditions established in

must meet the provisions of § 816.

39

41 of this part.

(d) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, you must permanently close each exploration hole, drilled hole, borehole, well, or underground opening that mining activities uncover or expose within the permit area, unless the regulatory authority -

(1) Approves use of the hole, well, or opening for water monitoring purposes; or

(2) Authorizes other management of the hole or well.

(e)

(1) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, you must cap, seal, backfill, or otherwise properly manage each shaft, drift, adit, tunnel, exploratory hole, entryway or other opening to the surface from underground when no longer needed for monitoring or any other use that the regulatory authority approves after finding that the use will not adversely affect the environment or public health and safety.

(2) Permanent closure measures taken under paragraph (e)(1) of this section must be -

(i) Consistent with § 75.1771 of this title;

(ii) Designed to prevent access to the mine workings by people, livestock, fish and wildlife, and machinery; and

(iii) Designed to keep acid or toxic mine drainage from entering groundwater or surface water.

(f) The requirements of this section do not apply to holes drilled and used for blasting for surface mining purposes.

This section does not apply to holes solely drilled and used for blasting.

[44 FR 15395, Mar. 13, 1979, as amended at 48 FR 14822, Apr. 5, 1983; 48 FR 43990, Sept. 26, 1983; 81 FR 93392, Dec. 20, 2016; 82 FR 54979, Nov. 17, 2017]