ASTM D 7780 : 2020

1.1 This practice defines a set of terms, procedures, and data required to define the accurate location and description of the minimum geospatial data for surface coal mining operations (CMO), underground coal mining extents, land reclamation and performance bond statuses, lands unsuitable for mining petitions (LUMP) and designated areas, coal spoil and refuse features, coal preparation plants, environmental resource monitoring locations (ERMLs), and postmining land uses.

1.2 Units—The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.

1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulator limitations prior to use.

1.4 Surface CMOs—As used in this practice, a surface CMO represents an area where coal removal, reclamation, and related supporting activities have occurred, is occurring, is pending authorization or is authorized by the Regulatory Authority (RA) within a defined surface CMO or any other unpermitted area that has been identified by the RA.

1.5 Underground Coal Mining Extents—This practice addresses underground coal mining extents that represent an area where coal removal has occurred within a defined underground CMO.

1.6 Land Reclamation Status—This practice addresses the land reclamation status of surface areas within a permitted CMO where coal removal, reclamation and related supporting activities has occurred, is occurring, or is planned and authorized by the RA.

1.7 Performance Bond Status—This practice shows the status of coal mine reclamation as outlined by each phase of reclamation. In addition to defining the status of individual areas covered by a performance bond, use of this standard will identify the changes of the reclamation and bond status to mined areas as they change over time. Reference to bond status means performance bond status.

1.8 Lands Unsuitable for Mining Petition—This practice addresses boundary data pertaining to areas that have been petitioned and designated as unsuitable for mining. It also addresses those lands that have been found by the RA’s process to be designated unsuitable for all or certain types of mining. These areas may be petitioned to be unsuitable for CMOs because they meet criterion that include, but are not limited to: fragile, historic, cultural, scientific, having esthetic values and natural systems such as aquifers that could be significantly damaged due to a CMO.

1.9 Refuse Structures—This practice addresses excess spoil and refuse features produced by CMOs. These features include excess spoil structures, coal refuse structures, and coal preparation plants.

1.9.4 Impounding Refuse Structures—These structures create a holding area for slurry that allows solids to settle out and water to be recovered. Cross-valley and diked impoundments utilize an embankment, often constructed of coarse coal refuse, which forms a basin for slurry retention, as shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, respectively. Incised impoundments dispose of slurry in an excavated area below the natural surface and do not utilize a significant embankment for slurry retention, see Fig. 3.

FIG. 1 Cross Sectional Depiction of a Cross-Valley Refuse Impounding Feature

FIG. 2 Cross Sectional Depiction of a Diked Refuse Impounding Feature

FIG. 3 Cross Sectional Depiction of an Incised Refuse Impounding Feature

1.10 ERML—This practice addresses locations where monitoring and sampling (such as water, air, soil sampling, and subsidence or air blasting monitoring) has occurred, is occurring, or is planned.

1.11 Postmining Land Uses—This practice describes data required to locate and identify postmining land uses for surface coal mining and reclamation operations. Postmining land use may include cropland, pasture/hayland, grazing land, forest, residential, fish and wildlife habitat, developed water resources, public utilities, industrial/commercial, and recreation.

1.12 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.