Authority: IC 14-34-2-1

Affected: IC 14-22-34; IC 14-34

Sec. 30. (a) Each application shall contain geologic information in sufficient detail to assist in determining each of the following:

1. (1) The probable hydrologic consequences of the operation upon the quality and quantity of surface and ground water in the permit and adjacent areas, including the extent to which surface water and ground water monitoring is necessary.
2. (2) All potentially acid-forming or toxic-forming strata down to and including the stratum immediately beneath the lowest coal seam to be mined.
3. (3) Whether reclamation as required by this article and IC 14-34 can be accomplished and whether the proposed operation has been designed to prevent material damage to the hydrologic balance outside the permit area.

(b) Geologic information shall include, at a minimum, all of the following:

1. (1) A description of the geology of the proposed permit and adjacent areas down to and including the deeper of either the stratum immediately below the lowest coal seam to be mined or any aquifer below the lowest coal seam to be mined that may be adversely impacted by mining. The description shall include the areal and structural geology of the permit and adjacent areas and other parameters that influence the required reclamation and the occurrence, availability, movement, quantity, and quality of potentially impacted surface and ground waters. The description shall be based on the following:

   1. (A) The cross sections, maps, and plans required by section 38 of this rule.
   2. (B) The information obtained under subdivision (2) and subsection (c).
   3. (C) Geologic literature and practices.

2. (2) Analyses of samples collected from test borings, drill cores, or fresh, unweathered, and uncontaminated samples from rock outcrops from the permit area, down to and including the deeper of either the stratum immediately below the lowest coal seam to be mined or any aquifer below the lowest seam to be mined, which may be adversely impacted by mining. The analyses shall result in the following:

   1. (A) Logs showing the lithologic characteristics, including physical properties and thickness of each stratum and location of ground water where occurring.
   2. (B) Chemical analyses identifying those strata that may contain acid-forming, toxic-forming, or alkalinity-producing materials and to determine their content, except that the director may find that the analysis for alkalinity-producing materials is unnecessary.
   3. (C) Chemical analyses of the coal seam for acid-forming or toxic-forming materials, including the total sulfur and pyretic sulfur, except that the director may find that the analysis of pyretic sulfur content is unnecessary.

(c) If determined to be necessary to protect the hydrologic balance or to meet the performance standards of this article, the director may require the collection analysis and description of geologic information in addition to that required by subsection (b).

(d) At the request of the applicant, the director may waive, in writing, requirements in whole or in part, of subsection (b)(2) as to a specific permit if that information is unnecessary because other reliable information is available. In any event, information provided by the applicant that pertains to physical or chemical properties of the coal shall remain confidential and not subject to public inspection.

(Natural Resources Commission; 312 IAC 25-4-30; filed Jun 21, 2001, 2:53 p.m.: 24 IR 3447, eff Dec 1, 2001; readopted filed May 29, 2007, 9:51 a.m.: 20070613-IR-312070146RFA; readopted filed Sep 19, 2013, 10:12 a.m.: 20131016-IR-312130125RFA; readopted filed Mar 26, 2019, 3:40 p.m.: 20190424-IR-312190011RFA; readopted filed Mar 25, 2025, 9:50 a.m.: 20250423-IR-312240574RFA)