312 IAC 25-6-118 Underground mining; revegetation; mulching and soil stabilizing

Sec. 118. (a) Suitable mulch or other necessary soil stabilizing practices shall be used on all regraded and topsoiled areas to do any of the following: (1) Control erosion. (2) Promote germination of seeds. (3) Increase the moisture retention capacity of the soil. The director may, on a case-by-case basis, suspend the requirement for mulch if the permittee can demonstrate that alternative procedures will achieve the requirements of sections 120 through 122 of this rule and do not cause or contribute to air or water pollution. (b) Mulches shall be mechanically or chemically anchored to the soil surface to assure effective protection of the soil and vegetation when required by the director. (c) Annual grasses and grains may be used alone, as in situ mulch, or in conjunction with another mulch, when the director determines that they will provide adequate soil erosion control and will later be replaced by perennial species approved for the postmining land use. (d) Chemical soil stabilizers alone, or in combination with appropriate mulches, may be used in conjunction with vegetative covers approved for the postmining land use.