Coal Mining ActivitiesCoal Mining Activities

Mark A. TaylorMark A. TaylorHuntington District Corps of EngineersHuntington District Corps of Engineers

Coal MiningCoal Mining

• Underground– Room and pillar– Longwall – Highwall/Auger

• Surface– Area– Steep Slope

• Mountaintop• Contour

Corps Regulatory ProgramCorps Regulatory Program

• Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 regulates structures, or work in, on, over or under navigable waters of the United States

• Section 404 of the Clean Water Act regulates the discharge of dredged or fill material in waters of the U.S.

HistoryHistory

• Court Cases– Reilly Decisions, Robertson, Rivenburg, Bulen,

Rowlette, Bulen II

• Rules and Policy– Definition of Fill– SOPs for NWPs– Mitigation RGL’s and guidance clarification– “Silt Snake” guidance

• Staffing

Typical Mining ActivitiesTypical Mining Activitiesthat require authorization from that require authorization from

the Corpsthe Corps• Valley/Hollow Fills• Refuse fills• Sediment Structures • Stream relocations• Operational Areas • Culvert placements

(road crossings)• Bank Protection• Utility Lines

Regulatory ProgramRegulatory Program

• Permit Authorization Tools

– General Permits• Nationwide and Regional

– Individual Permits• Letters of Permission and Standard

General PermitsGeneral Permits

• Definition:

– Authorization for a category of activities that are:

• similar in nature and cause only minimal individual and cumulative environmental impacts;

• adequately regulated by a local, regional, state or Federal agency and cause only minimal individual and cumulative environmental impacts.

Individual PermitsIndividual Permits

• Definition:– Required for activities which may cause more

than minimal adverse effects to the aquatic environment

– Exceeds terms and conditions of a general permit

– Public interest review – public notice– Opportunity for public hearing– Evaluated on a case-by-case basis

Current StatusCurrent Status

• NWP 21– Expires March 2007– Possible replacement out for comment now

along with proposed NWPs E & F

• IPs

InitiativesInitiatives

• Integrated process workgroup– SMCRA agency– Corps– 401 agency– USEPA– USFWS

•Timing/Permit SequencingCorps last……Conditional SMCRA issuanceJurisdictional determinationCorps and 401 reviewMitigation Plan revision

ARP on every permit

•Alternatives

•Assessment

•Mitigation

•Lengthy Delays in permitting

•Lack of Coordination among Regulators

ChallengesChallenges

Duplication of EffortsDuplication of Efforts

– BZVR – Intermittent and Perennial streams• Alternatives analysis• Avoidance and minimization

– SMCRA – CHIA– Corps – CIA on waters of US– Endangered Species Act– National Historic Preservation Act

•Improve Communication & Coordination

•Consistent Permit Requirements

•Implement Concurrent Reviews

•Reduce need for Conditional Issuances

•Reduce Permit Revisions

•Education/Awareness

Goals Goals

Other InitiativesOther Initiatives

– Stream Assessment Protocols– Consistency among the districts– Mitigation Banks – In-Lieu Fee Arrangement

• Performance Bonds

!!!!!!!!!!!!!COMMUNICATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank You