NAC519A.345. Authority of Division to require operator of mining operation to perform certain types of reclamation.

The Division may, if appropriate, require an operator of a mining operation to reclaim:

     1. Roads and drill pads by:

     (a) Recontouring or regrading to round off, cut and fill slopes to the original contour or to approximate the form of the land before its disturbance;

     (b) Removing culverts;

     (c) Ripping or scarifying the surface;

     (d) Constructing water bars;

     (e) Revegetation; and

     (f) Restoring or stabilizing drainage areas or streambeds.

     2. Drill holes from exploration by plugging the holes with the minimum surface plug required pursuant to chapter 534 of NRS.

     3. Waste and development rock piles by:

     (a) Regrading to round off sharp edges, enhance the stability, reduce susceptibility to erosion and facilitate efforts for revegetation;

     (b) Revegetation; and

     (c) Diverting runon.

     4. Dams for tailings ponds by:

     (a) Covering with waste rock, topsoil or growth medium;

     (b) Revegetation; and

     (c) Rendering the dam incapable of storing any mobile fluid in a quantity which could pose a threat to the stability of the dam or to public safety.

     5. Impoundments for tailings by:

     (a) Regrading to promote runoff and reduce infiltration;

     (b) Covering with waste rock, topsoil or growth medium;

     (c) Revegetation;

     (d) Process fluid stabilization; and

     (e) Diverting runon.

     6. Heaps from leaching by:

     (a) Regrading to enhance structural stability, promote runoff, reduce infiltration and control erosion;

     (b) Covering with waste rock, topsoil or growth medium;

     (c) Revegetation;

     (d) Process fluid stabilization; and

     (e) Diverting runon.

     7. Solution ponds, settling ponds and other nontailings impoundments by:

     (a) Backfilling and regrading to approximate the natural land form; and

     (b) Restoring the regime of the surface water to the regime that existed before the disturbance.

     8. Buildings, foundations, facilities, structures and other equipment by:

     (a) Demolishing to the level of the foundation and burying the demolished items on the site in conformance with applicable requirements for the disposal of solid waste;

     (b) Salvaging and sale;

     (c) Disposal off of the site in conformance with applicable requirements for the disposal of solid waste; and

     (d) Continuing use in a manner consistent with the postmining land use.

     9. Open pit mines by:

     (a) Performing activities that will provide for public safety;

     (b) Stabilizing pit walls or rock faces where required for public safety;

     (c) Constructing and maintaining berms, fences or other means of restricting access;

     (d) Creating a lake for recreational use, wildlife or other uses; and

     (e) Revegetation.

Ê Reclamation of open pits or rock faces does not require backfilling although backfilling in whole or in part with waste rock from an adjacent mining operation may be encouraged if backfilling is feasible and does not create additional negative environmental impacts.

     10. Underground mines by:

     (a) Sealing shafts, adits, portals and tunnels to prevent access; and

     (b) Constructing and maintaining berms, fences or other means of restricting access.

     (Added to NAC by Environmental Comm’n, eff. 9-19-90; A 9-5-91; R090-00, 7-27-2000)