Minnesota Administrative Rules

6132.2500 TAILINGS BASINS.

Subpart 1.

Goals.

Tailings basins shall be designed, constructed, and operated to be structurally sound, control air emissions, minimize hydrologic impacts, promote progressive reclamation, and enhance the survival and propagation of vegetation.

Subp. 2.

Requirements.

Tailings basins must meet the requirements in items A to C.

A.

Tailings basins shall be designed by professional engineers, registered in this state, who are proficient in the design, construction, operation, and reclamation of tailings basins.

B.

The tailings basin design shall:

(1)

provide rationale for site selection, with regard to dam safety and characteristics of the site that could affect, or could be affected by, the tailings basin;

(2)

describe materials, construction, and operating performance specifications and limitations that must be maintained to ensure protection of natural resources;

(3)

ensure that precipitation events do not result in overtopping the basin;

(4)

describe the specific steps that must be taken to achieve reclamation on tailings and dam surfaces;

(5)

identify monitoring locations to ensure compliance with the design;

(6)

comply with the requirements of part 6132.2200, if the tailings basin contains reactive mine waste; and

(7)

include a schedule for the design engineers to inspect the construction, operation, and reclamation of the tailings basins, including closure and postclosure maintenance, to assure compliance with the design. In the event design engineers become unable to perform the inspections, the engineers shall be replaced by persons who meet the qualifications of part 6132.2500, subpart 2, item A, and that can demonstrate an understanding of the design and an ability to perform the necessary inspections.

C.

During the mining operation, dust generation shall be reduced by maximizing progressive reclamation, or controlled by the application of dust suppression techniques under part 6132.2800, subpart 2.

Statutory Authority:

MS s 93.44 to 93.51; 103G.222

History:

17 SR 2207

Published Electronically:

June 11, 2008