§ 817.132 - Cessation of operations: Permanent.

§ 817.132 What actions must I take when I permanently cease mining operations?Cessation of operations: Permanent.

(a) Persons who permanently cease conducting The person who conducts underground mining activities at a particular site must close, backfill, shall close or backfill or otherwise permanently reclaim all disturbed affected areas, in accordance with this chapter and according to the permit approved by the regulatory authority.

(b) All underground openings, surface equipment, surface structures, or other surface facilities must be removed and the affected land reclaimed, unless the regulatory authority approves retention of those features because they are facilities not required for continued underground mining activities and monitoring, unless approved as suitable for the postmining land use or environmental monitoring, shall be removed and the affected lands reclaimed.

[44 FR 15422, Mar. 13, 1979, as amended at 81 FR 93418, Dec. 20, 2016; 82 FR 54999, Nov. 17, 2017]