1. Deborah Dale, Hydrogeologist OSM-MCR Alton, Illinois
Background, Development and Contents of the PHC/CHIA Technical Reference Document
Deborah Dale, Hydrogeologist
OSM-MCR
Alton, Illinois

2. Topics: What is the PHC/CHIA reference document?
Background into the development of the document
Contents

3. What is the PHC/CHIA reference document?

4. DRAFT Technical reference for the MCR
Hydrologic Considerations for Permitting and Liability Release Probable Hydrologic Consequences (PHC) Determination Cumulative Hydrologic Impact Assessment (CHIA) Post-Mining Hydrologic Assessment (PHA)
Distributed by the Mid-Continent Technology Development and Transfer Team

5. Purpose of the document:
To provide a systematic approach within the MCR for the review and development of PHCs & CHIAs
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

6. Background into the development of the guidance document

7. Milestones in the Development of PHC/CHIA Guidance Documents
May 1980
The Determination of Probable Hydrologic Consequences and The Statement of the Results
of Test Borings or Core Sampling

8. Milestones in the Development of PHC/CHIA Guidance Documents
December 1985
DRAFT Guidelines for Preparation of a Probable Hydrologic Consequences Determination (PHC)
DRAFT Guidelines for Preparation of a Cumulative Hydrologic Impact Assessment (CHIA)
DRAFT Appendices to PHC and CHIA Guidelines Documents

9. Milestones in the Development of PHC/CHIA Guidance Documents
January 1997
DRAFT Managing Hydrologic Information: A Resource for Development of Probable Hydrologic Consequences (PHC) and Cumulative Hydrologic Impact Assessment (CHIA)

10. Milestones in the Development of PHC/CHIA Guidance Documents
August 1999
OSM’s Hydrologic Issues Team releases to the states for review and comment a Phase I guidance document for baseline data (draft)
April 2001
Hydrologic Issues Team meets with states to review a draft outline for a Phase II guidance document for writing PHCs and CHIAs (Austin)

11. Milestones in the Development of PHC/CHIA Guidance Documents
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

12. Milestones in the Development of PHC/CHIA Guidance Documents
The IMCC and the Western Interstate Energy Board (WIEB) requested, and OSM agreed, to defer additional work on Phase II PHC/CHIA guidance until a State-Federal workshop on this subject could be held and the results assessed.
March 2002
Intergovernmental Benchmarking Workshop on PHC/CHIAs (New Orleans)

13. Milestones in the Development of PHC/CHIA Guidance Documents
(57) topics relating to PHC/CHIA permitting hydrology (either concerns, issues or merely areas of interest) were identified during the course of the workshop

14. Milestones in the Development of PHC/CHIA Guidance Documents
January 2006
Draft Methodology for Review and Preparation of PHC Determinations and CHIAs in the Mid-Continent Region

15. Technical Reference for the Mid-Continent Region:
Draft
Technical Reference for the Mid-Continent
Region:
Hydrologic Considerations for Permitting and
Liability Release
Probable Hydrologic Consequences (PHC) Determination
Cumulative Hydrologic Impact Assessment (CHIA)
Post-Mining Hydrologic Assessment (PHA)
Distributed by the Mid-Continent Technology Development and Transfer Team
September 2006

16. Hydrologic Considerations for Permitting and Liability Release Probable Hydrologic Consequences (PHC) Determination Cumulative Hydrologic Impact Assessment (CHIA) Post-Mining Hydrologic Assessment (PHA)

17. This guidance document has (4) main sections:
Probable Hydrologic Consequence (PHC)
Hydrologic Reclamation Plan (HRP)
Cumulative Hydrologic Impact Assessment (CHIA)
Post-Mining Hydrologic Assessment (PHA)

18. Probable Hydrologic Consequences (PHC) Determination
Addresses the anticipated effects of the planned mining and reclamation on the quality/quantity of sw and gw systems
Overburden properties
Describe and characterize the subsurface strata
Determine if AFM are present

19. PHC - Disposal/storage operations Spoil Coal processing waste
Non-coal waste
Coal combustion byproducts

20. PHC -
Erosion and sediment control

21. PHC -
Mining methods

24. PHC -
Coal-bed methane recovery

25. Hydrologic Reclamation Plan (HRP)
Detailed description of how to:
Minimize impacts to sw & gw systems within and adjacent to the permit area; and
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

26. HRP Elements (continued):
Non-acidic mine drainage
High TDS (i.e. sulfates, chlorides)
Increased sediment loading
SW and GW monitoring
Recharge capacity
Disposal activities

27. HRP Elements (continued):
Water supply replacement

28. Cumulative Hydrologic Impact Assessment (CHIA)
a.k.a. the Chia Pet

29. Cumulative Hydrologic Impact Assessment (CHIA)
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

30. Cumulative Hydrologic Impact Assessment (CHIA)
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.)

31. 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 “cumulative impact area”)

32. Highlights of the CHIA section (continued):
Cumulative Impact Area (CIA)
Definition of the CIA
Qualitative delineation of the CIA (sw and gw)

33. Highlights of the CHIA section (continued):
Cumulative Impact Area (CIA)
Definition of the CIA
Qualitative delineation of the CIA (sw and gw)
Quantitative check of the working CIA
Criteria for evaluating
Baseline conditions
Identification of hydrologic concerns
Water quantity issues
Changes in water quality

34. Highlights of the CHIA section (continued):
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

35. Post-Mining Hydrologic Assessment (PHA)
Regulatory basis for release of performance bonds
Post-reclamation hydrologic balance

37. 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.)