1. (a) Vegetation shall be established on land affected by surface mining activities.

2. (b) Revegetation shall provide for a diverse, effective and permanent vegetative cover of the same seasonal variety native to the area of land to be affected and capable of self-regeneration and plant succession at least equal in extent of cover to the natural vegetation of the area, except that introduced species may be used in the revegetation process when desirable and necessary to achieve the approved postmining land use plan. Vegetative cover shall be considered of the same seasonal variety when it consists of a mixture of species of equal or superior utility for the approved postmining land use, when compared with the utility of naturally occurring vegetation during each season of the year.

   1. (1) For areas previously disturbed by surface mining activities that were not reclaimed to the standards of SMCRA and this chapter, and are proposed to be reaffected or redisturbed, the Department may approve a vegetative cover which, at a minimum, may not be less than the vegetative cover existing before redisturbance and shall be adequate to control erosion and achieve the approved postmining land use.
   2. (2) For areas designated as prime farmland, § § 87.177—87.181 apply.
3. (c) Revegetation shall provide a quick-germinating, fast-growing vegetative cover capable of stabilizing the soil surface from erosion.
4. (d) Revegetation shall be completed in compliance with the plans submitted under § 87.68 (relating to reclamation information) as approved by the Department in the permit and carried out in a manner that encourages a prompt vegetative cover and recovery of productivity levels compatible with the approved postmining land use.

Source

The provisions of this § 87.147 adopted December 19, 1980, 10 Pa.B. 4789, effective July 31, 1982, 12 Pa.B. 2382; amended July 30, 1982, 12 Pa.B. 2473, effective July 31, 1982, 12 Pa.B. 2382; amended May 8, 1998, effective May 9, 1998, 28 Pa.B. 2215. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (206840) to (206841).

Cross References

This section cited in 25 Pa. Code § 86.151 (relating to period of liability); 25 Pa. Code § 87.68 (relating to reclamation information); 25 Pa. Code § 87.100 (relating to topsoil: nutrients and soil amendments); 25 Pa. Code § 87.104 (relating to stream channel diversions); 25 Pa. Code § 87.105 (relating to hydrologic balance: diversions); 25 Pa. Code § 87.108 (relating to hydrologic balance: sedimentation ponds); 25 Pa. Code § 87.138 (relating to protection of fish, wildlife and related environmental values); 25 Pa. Code § 87.140 (relating to contemporaneous reclamation); 25 Pa. Code § 87.150 (relating to revegetation: agriculture crops); and 25 Pa. Code § 87.166 (relating to haul roads and access roads: restoration).