Authority: IC 14-34-2-1

Affected: IC 14-34

Sec. 71. (a) Each application shall contain geologic information in sufficient detail to assist in each of the following:

1. (1) Determining 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) Determining all potentially acid-forming or toxic-forming strata down to and including the stratum immediately beneath the coal seam to be mined.
3. (3) Determining whether reclamation as required by this article can be accomplished and whether the proposed operation has been designed to prevent material damage to the hydrologic balance outside the permit area.
4. (4) Preparing the subsidence control plan under section 91 of this rule.

(b) Geologic information shall include, at a minimum, each 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. This description shall include the areal and structural geology of the permit and adjacent areas and other parameters that influence the required reclamation, and it shall also show how the areal and structural geology may affect the occurrence, availability, movement, quantity, and quality of potentially impacted surface and ground water. It shall be based on all of the following:

   1. (A) The cross sections, maps, and plans required by section 79 of this rule.
   2. (B) The information obtained under subdivisions (2) and (3) and subsection (c).
   3. (C) Geologic literature and practices.

2. (2) For any portion of a permit area in which the strata down to the coal seam to be mined will be removed or are already exposed, samples shall be collected and analyzed from test borings, drill cores, or fresh, unweathered, and uncontaminated samples from rock outcrops, 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 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 material is unnecessary.
   3. (C) Chemical analysis of the coal seam for acid-forming or toxic-forming materials, including the total sulfur and pyritic sulfur, except that the director may find that the analysis of pyritic sulfur content is unnecessary.

3. (3) For lands within the permit and adjacent areas where the strata above the coal seam to be mined will not be removed, samples shall be collected and analyzed from test borings or drill cores to provide the following data:

   1. (A) Logs of drill holes showing the lithologic characteristics, including physical properties and thickness of each stratum that may be impacted and location of ground water where occurring.
   2. (B) Chemical analyses for acid-forming, toxic-forming, or alkalinity-producing materials and their content in the strata immediately above and below the coal seam to be mined.
   3. (C) Chemical analyses of the coal seam for acid-forming or toxic-forming materials, including the total sulfur and pyritic sulfur, except that the director may find that the analysis of pyritic sulfur content is unnecessary.
   4. (D) For standard room-and-pillar mining operations, the thickness and engineering properties of clays or soft rock such as clay shale, if any, in the stratum immediately above and below each coal seam to be mined.

(c) If determined to:

1. (1) be necessary to protect the hydrologic balance;
2. (2) minimize or prevent subsidence; or
3. (3) 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, in whole or in part, any requirement of subsection (b)(2) and (b)(3) 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 25-4-71; filed Jun 21, 2001, 2:53 p.m.: 24 IR 3465, 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)