{"data":{"id":"us-ky/krs-350.420","jurisdiction":"us-ky","citation":"KRS 350.420","heading":"Minimization of the disturbance to hydrologic balance.","body":"The permittee, operator, or person shall minimize disturbances to the prevailing\nhydrologic balance at the mine site and in associated offsite areas and to the quality and\nquantity of water in surface and ground water systems both during and after surface coal\nmining operations and during reclamation by:\n(1) Avoiding acid or other toxic mine drainage by such measures as, but not limited to:\n(a) Preventing or removing water from contact with toxic producing deposits;\n(b) Treating drainage to reduce toxic content which adversely affects downstream\nwater upon being released to watercourses; and\n(c) Casing, sealing, or otherwise managing boreholes, shafts, and wells and\nkeeping acid or other toxic drainage from entering ground and surface waters;\n(2) Conducting surface coal mining operations so as to prevent, to the extent possible\nusing the best technology currently available, additional contributions of suspended\nsolids to streamflow, or runoff outside the permit area, but in no event shall\ncontributions be in excess of requirements set by applicable state or federal law;\n(3) Constructing any siltation structures pursuant to subsection (2) of this section prior\nto commencement of surface coal mining operations, the structures to be certified\nby a qualified regis tered engineer to be constructed as designed and as approved in\nthe reclamation plan;\n(4) Cleaning out and removing temporary or large settling ponds or other siltation\nstructures from drainways after disturbed areas are revegetated and stabilized, and\ndepositing the silt and debris at a site and in a manner approved by the cabinet;\nhowever, settling ponds and siltation structures may be left and not removed if\ndetermined to be safe and written approval is granted by the cabinet pursuant to its\nregulations;\n(5) Restoring recharge capacity of the mined area to approximate premining conditions;\n(6) Avoiding channel deepening or enlargement in operations requiring the discharge of\nwater from mines; and\n(7) Such other actions as the cabinet may prescribe.","path":["KRS Chapter 350"],"source_url":"https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=32843","current_through":"Includes enactments through the 2026 Regular Session","vintage":"09/05/2026","retrieved_at":"2026-09-05T20:58:36Z","sha256":"511e7bf3b54cfed5afec72bcc80b3d37b3585012354a1a326cedfb96d7f16e81","source_id":"us-ky","stale":false,"prev":"us-ky/krs-350.415","next":"us-ky/krs-350.421"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}