Background, Development and Contents of the PHC/CHIA Technical Reference Document Deborah Dale,...

Background, Development and Background, Development and Contents of the PHC/CHIA Contents of the PHC/CHIA

Technical Reference DocumentTechnical Reference Document

Deborah Dale, HydrogeologistDeborah Dale, HydrogeologistOSM-MCR OSM-MCR

Alton, IllinoisAlton, Illinois

Topics:Topics:• What is the PHC/CHIA reference document?•Background into the development of the document

•Contents

What is the PHC/CHIA reference document?

Hydrologic Considerations for Permitting and Liability Release

Probable Hydrologic Consequences (PHC)

Determination Cumulative Hydrologic Impact Assessment (CHIA)

Post-Mining Hydrologic Assessment (PHA)

Technical reference for the MCRTechnical reference for the MCR

Distributed by the Mid-Continent Distributed by the Mid-Continent Technology Development and Transfer Technology Development and Transfer Team Team

• To provide a systematic approach within the MCR for the review and development of PHCs & CHIAs

Purpose of the document:

• Insight into the regulatory basis for bond release and post-reclamation hydrologic balance

Authors of the document: Brian Hicks, OSM-MCR

Wayne VanBuren, ADEQ

Timothy Walter, TX RRC

Deborah Dale, OSM-MCR

Background into the development of the guidance document

• The Determination of Probable Hydrologic Consequences and The Statement of the Resultsof Test Borings or Core Sampling

Milestones in the Development of PHC/CHIA Guidance Documents

May 1980

• DRAFT Guidelines for Preparation of a Probable Hydrologic Consequences Determination (PHC)


December 1985

• DRAFT Guidelines for Preparation of a Cumulative Hydrologic Impact Assessment (CHIA)

• DRAFT Appendices to PHC and CHIA Guidelines Documents

• DRAFT Managing Hydrologic Information: A Resource for Development of Probable Hydrologic Consequences (PHC) and Cumulative Hydrologic Impact Assessment (CHIA)


January 1997

• OSM’s Hydrologic Issues Team releases to the states for review and comment a Phase I guidance document for baseline data (draft)

• Hydrologic Issues Team meets with states to review a draft outline for a Phase II guidance document for writing PHCs and CHIAs (Austin)


August 1999

April 2001

Following the Austin meeting, several states raised concerns through the Interstate Mining Compact Commission (IMCC) about OSM’s proposed approach

A main concern was that the preparation of any guidance document would carry a requirement for mandatory use rather than discretionary use


The IMCC and the Western Interstate The IMCC and the Western Interstate Energy Board (WIEB) requested, and Energy Board (WIEB) requested, and OSM agreed, to defer additional work OSM agreed, to defer additional work on Phase II PHC/CHIA guidance until on Phase II PHC/CHIA guidance until a State-Federal workshop on this a State-Federal workshop on this subject could be held and the results subject could be held and the results assessed.assessed.


March 2002

• Intergovernmental Benchmarking Workshop on PHC/CHIAs (New Orleans)

(57) topics relating to PHC/CHIA topics relating to PHC/CHIA permitting hydrology (either permitting hydrology (either concerns, issues or merely areas of concerns, issues or merely areas of interest) were identified during the interest) were identified during the course of the workshopcourse of the workshop


Milestones in the Development of Milestones in the Development of PHC/CHIA PHC/CHIA Guidance DocumentsGuidance Documents

• Draft Methodology for Review and Preparation of PHC Determinations and CHIAs in the Mid-Continent Region

January 2006

Technical Reference for the Mid-ContinentRegion:

Hydrologic Considerations for Permitting andLiability Release

Probable Hydrologic Consequences (PHC) DeterminationCumulative Hydrologic Impact Assessment (CHIA)


Distributed by the Mid-Continent Technology Development and Transfer Team

September 2006

Draft

Hydrologic Considerations for Permitting and Liability Release


Determination Cumulative Hydrologic Impact Assessment (CHIA)


This guidance document has (4) main sections:

Probable Hydrologic Consequence (PHC)

Hydrologic Reclamation Plan (HRP)

Cumulative Hydrologic Impact Assessment (CHIA)



DeterminationAddresses the anticipated effects of the

planned mining and reclamation on the quality/quantity of sw and gw systems

Determine if AFM are present

Describe and characterize the subsurface strata

Overburden properties

Disposal/storage operations

• Non-coal waste

• Spoil• Coal processing waste

• Coal combustion byproducts

PHC - -

PHC - Erosion and sediment control

PHC - Mining methods

PHC - Coal-bed methane recovery

Hydrologic Reclamation Plan (HRP)

Detailed description of how to:1)Minimize impacts to sw & gw systems within

and adjacent to the permit area; and2) Prevent material damage outside the permit area

*HRP must include mitigation plans for hydrologic impacts - BTCA

HRP Elements: AMD generation

• Controlled placement of overburden

• Water management• Mitigation options

HRP Elements (continued): Non-acidic mine drainage

Recharge capacity

Disposal activities

• High TDS (i.e. sulfates, chlorides)

Increased sediment loading

SW and GW monitoring

HRP Elements (continued): Water supply replacement

a.k.a. the Chia Pet



An assessment of the probable cumulative impacts of all anticipated mining in an area to assure the operation has been designed to prevent material damage to the hydrologic balance outside the permit area


An assessment of the probable cumulative impacts of all anticipated mining in an area to assure the operation has been designed to prevent material damage to the hydrologic balance outside the permit area

Hydrologic balance: Relationship between the quality/quantity of water flowing into, stored within, and discharging from a unit (i.e. drainage basin, aquifer, lake, etc.)

Highlights of the CHIA section:

When is a CHIA required? Relationship between PHC and CHIA

• Prospective mining operations + all existing operations

“Anticipated mining”(30 CFR 701.5 “cumulative impact area”)

Highlights of the CHIA section (continued):

Cumulative Impact Area (CIA)• Definition of the CIA• Qualitative delineation of the CIA (sw and

gw)


Cumulative Impact Area (CIA)• Definition of the CIA• Qualitative delineation of the CIA (sw and

gw)

Baseline conditions

• Quantitative check of the working CIA Criteria for evaluating

Identification of hydrologic concerns• Water quantity issues• Changes in water quality


Material damage• Definition (from previous draft CHIA

guidelines, OSM 1985, 1997); examples

• Functions of material damage criteria (standards, enforcement)

Methods for analysis of cumulative hydrologic impacts

Statement of findings


Regulatory basis for release of performance bondsPost-reclamation hydrologic balance

DOES CURRENT WATER QUALITY MEET APPLICABLE

STATE OR FEDERAL STANDARDS?

DO TREND

ANALYSIS

DO TREND

ANALYSIS

DO TREND

ANALYSIS

RECOMMEND

APPROVAL

RECOMMEND

APPROVAL

RECOMMEND

APPROVAL

RECOMMEND

DENIAL

RECOMMEND

DENIAL

IS CURRENT WATER QUALITY BETTER

THAN BASELINE WATER QUALITY?

CONTINUED

MONITORING MAY

BE REQUIRED

CONTINUED

MONITORING MAY

BE REQUIRED

IS WATER SUITABLE FOR

ITS INTENDED USE?

YES

NO

YESNO

+/0

+/0

+/0

NO

-

YES OR

SAME

-

-

WATER-QUALITY TREND

+ IMPROVING

0 NO CHANGE

- WORSENING

Appendices:

Appendix A: Glossary of water-related words, 153 p

Appendix B: Outline of suggested minimum requirements for PHCs

Appendix C: Outline of suggested minimum requirements for HRPs

Appendix D: Outline of suggested minimum requirements for CHIAs

Appendix E: Outline of suggested minimum requirements for PHAs

Appendix F: Resources for processes/tools for determining impacts, 17 p (databases, software, training, etc.)

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