Section 312 IAC 25-4-102 - Special categories of mining; prime farmlandAuthority: IC 14-10-2-4; IC 14-34-2-1
Affected: IC 4-21.5; IC 14-34; 30 CFR 785.17
Sec. 102.
(a) In an initial permit application under this article for an existing surface coal mining operation that held a valid permit on August 3, 1977, with continuous permits held since that date, the applicant shall set forth the geographical area that is encompassed by the operation. The permit applied for, however, need only cover the area to be affected during the period of the permit for which the application is made. The director shall determine the geographical areas that are exempt from the prime farmland provisions of IC 14-34 and this article. In making the determination, the director shall consider all relevant factors bearing upon the extent of the geographical area upon which the applicant intended to conduct surface coal mining operations as of August 3, 1977, including the following: (1) A map showing the geographical location of:(A) the area for which the determination is requested; and(B) the area previously affected by surface coal mining and reclamation operations.(2) Information concerning the contractual coal sales commitments that existed before August 4, 1977, for the mining operation.(3) Maps and other documents that identify the location and extent of the applicant's surface and mineral rights control for all properties within the area upon which the determination is requested and whether the applicant: (A) acquired the rights: (i) before August 4, 1977; or(ii) after August 3, 1977; or(B) does not control the rights currently.(4) Mining plans, maps, or other documents prepared before August 4, 1977, that identify the area intended to be mined by the existing operations.(5) Maps or other documents identifying the extent of coal exploration activity performed by the applicant in the area before August 4, 1977.(6) Copies of any other permits issued to the applicant by governmental agencies before August 4, 1977, with respect to those operations upon those lands for which this determination is sought.(7) The legal and financial commitments made by the applicant in connection with the mining operation as of August 3, 1977, with respect to those lands for which this determination is requested.(8) Any other relevant information.(b) In making the determination required under subsection (a), no one (1) or group of factors is controlling. The determination shall be made by the director based upon all relevant factors of the particular surface coal mining operation for which the permit and determination is sought. The determination applies: (1) to all subsequent and continuous permits for the existing surface coal mining operation; or(2) until the director determines the operations have permanently ceased.(c) The requirements of subsection (d) apply to a permittee who conducts or intends to conduct surface coal mining and reclamation operations on prime farmland historically used for cropland. Subsection (d) does not apply to an existing surface coal mining operation that held a valid permit on August 3, 1977, with continuous permits held since that date.(d) If land within the proposed permit area is identified as prime farmland under section 39 or 80 of this rule, the applicant shall submit a plan for the mining and restoration of the land. Each plan must include the following: (1) A soil survey of the permit area under the standards of the National Cooperative Soil Survey and under the procedures set forth in United States Department of Agriculture Handbooks 436 (Soil Taxonomy, 1975) and 18 (Soil Survey Manual, 1951). The soil survey shall include a description of soil mapping units and a representative soil profile as determined by the United States Natural Resources Conservation Service, including, but not limited to:(C) the range of soil densities; for each prime farmland soil unit within the permit area. Other representative soil-profile descriptions from the locality, prepared according to the standards of the National Cooperative Soil Survey, may be used if their use is approved by the state conservationist, United States Natural Resources Conservation Service. The director may request the operator to provide information on other physical and chemical soil properties as needed to make a determination that the operator has the technical capability to restore the prime farmland within the permit area to the soil reconstruction standards of 312 IAC 25-6-139 through 312 IAC 25-6-143.(2) The proposed method and type of equipment to be used for removal, storage, and replacement of soil under 312 IAC 25-6-139 through 312 IAC 25-6-143.(3) The location of areas to be used for the separate stockpiling of the soil and a plan for soil stabilization before redistribution.(4) Applicable: (A) agricultural school studies;(B) scientific data from comparable areas; or(C) similar documentation; that supports the use of suitable material other than the A horizon, B horizon, or C horizon to obtain on the restored area equivalent or higher levels of yield as nonmined prime farmlands in the surrounding area under equivalent levels of management.(5) A plan describing the conservation practices to be used to adequately control erosion and sedimentation and restoration of an adequate soil moisture regime during the period from completion of regrading until release of the performance bond under 312 IAC 25-5. Proper adjustments must be proposed so that final graded land is not exposed to erosion during seasons when vegetation or conservation practices cannot be established due to weather conditions.(6) A demonstration based on: (C) standard agronomic practices; that the applicant using the proposed method of reclamation has the capability, within a reasonable time, to achieve equivalent or higher levels of yield after mining as existed before mining.(7) Current estimated level of yields under high levels of management of prime farmland.(8) If the applicant proposes to establish commercial forest resources on the prime farmland, the plan must also include the following: (A) A commercial forest planting plan that shall include the following: (ii) A plan for replanting as needed.(B) A commercial forest management plan.(C) Documentation of landowner consent.(e) Before any permit is issued for areas that include prime farmland, the director shall consult with the state conservationist of the Natural Resources Conservation Service. The state conservationist shall do the following: (1) Provide for the review of and comment on the proposed method of soil reconstruction in the plan submitted under subsection (d).(2) Suggest revisions resulting in more complete and adequate reconstruction if the state conservationist considers the soil reconstruction methods to be inadequate. The state conservationist has fifteen (15) days after consultation with the director to respond.(3) Provide to the director a list of prime farmland soils and their: (B) physical and chemical characteristics;(D) associated data necessary to support adequate prime farmland descriptions.(4) Assist the director in determining the adequacy of all soil surveys required in subsection (d)(1) through (d)(3).(f) A permit for the mining and reclamation of prime farmland may be granted by the director if the director finds, in writing, upon the basis of a complete application, the following:(1) The approved proposed postmining land use of prime farmland will be cropland.(2) The permit incorporates as specific conditions the contents of the plan submitted under subsection (d), after consideration of any revisions to that plan suggested by the state conservationist under subsection (e).(3) The applicant has the technological capability to restore the prime farmland, within a reasonable time, to equivalent or higher levels of yield as nonmined prime farmland in the surrounding area under equivalent levels of management.(4) The proposed operations will be conducted in compliance with the requirements of 312 IAC 25-6-139 through 312 IAC 25-6-143 and other environmental protection performance and reclamation standards for mining and reclamation of prime farmland of the regulatory program.(5) The aggregate total prime farmland acreage shall not be decreased from that which existed before mining. Waterbodies, if any, to be constructed during mining and reclamation must be located within the postreclamation nonprime farmland portions of the permit area. The: (A) creation of any waterbody must be approved by the director; and(B) consent of all affected property owners within the permit area shall be obtained.Natural Resources Commission; 312 IAC 25-4-102; filed Jun 21, 2001, 2:53 p.m.: 24 IR 3481, eff Dec 1, 2001; filed Apr 1, 2004, 3:00 p.m.: 27 IR 2449, eff Jan 1, 2005; errata filed Sep 8, 2004, 2:42 p.m.: 28 IR 214; filed Sep 19, 2006, 9:27 a.m.: 20061018-IR-312060067FRA, eff May 30, 2007; readopted filed May 29, 2007, 9:51 a.m.: 20070613-IR-312070146RFA; readopted filed Sep 19, 2013, 10:12 a.m.: 20131016-IR-312130125RFAReadopted filed 3/26/2019, 3:40 p.m.: 20190424-IR-312190011RFA