Geology Reference
In-Depth Information
A registered professional engineer must certify that the impounding
structure has been designed in accordance with prudent engineering practice.
Review and Approval Process
MSHA is subdivided into 11 districts, each under the direction of a district
manager who is responsible for a given geographic region of the United States
( Figure 2.1 ). The districts have multiple offices to accommodate the day-to-day
process of inspecting mines. Approval of engineering plans and inspections is
carried out by the district office staff. Most of the professional employees in
these offices are inspectors who report to the district manager through an
intermediate supervisor and who regularly visit the mines in the area.
The MSHA Mine Waste and Geotechnical Engineering Division in
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania has also been established within the agency structure
to provide districts with technical expertise in their review of the engineering
plans. This technical team acts in a consulting capacity to the district offices.
When a design for a new coal refuse impoundment, or a modification to an
existing impoundment, is submitted to the district office, the district manager
determines whether to approve the submission, ask for more information, or ask
for assistance from the technical team. In most instances, the district manager
asks the technical team for assistance. The technical team has no approval
authority and acts only in the capacity of a technical consultant to the district
manager. Facility construction or modification can only commence after the
district manager has approved the plan.
The technical team reviews the engineering plans, designs, and data
submitted by the professional engineer. The primary focus of the review is the
stability of the impounding structure. If the technical team cannot reach a
decision based on the information submitted, it asks for additional information.
Typically, several exchanges occur between the technical team and the design
engineer to ensure that the engineering plans are both complete and technically
sound. When the technical team is satisfied with the engineering design of an
impoundment, it recommends that the district manager approve the plan.
Because MSHA's primary concern is the welfare of miners, MSHA's
focus for underground mining with regard to impoundments is the effects of
mining on embankment stability, and the possibility of water inrush into an
underground mine or onto the surface area of mines. To deal with these
concerns, MSHA relies on the operator's determination of the presence of
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