ASTM D7699/D7699M-11

This practice addresses AML PAs, PUs, Keyword Features, and Project Sites relative to SMCRA. This practice is significant as it provides for uniformity of geospatial data pertaining to the geographic location and description of AML sites located throughout the United States.

This geospatial data standard will help ensure uniformity of data contributed by each RA and assist organizations in efforts to create, utilize, and share geospatial data relative to SMCRA. Use of this standard will result in organized and accessible data to support programmatic decisions and work plan development, increased awareness of AML problems throughout the United States, and better communication between RA and federal offices, the public, industry, and other interested parties.

The geospatial data may be served as a layer in a national dataset and map service.

1.1 This practice covers the minimum elements for the accurate location and description of geospatial data for defining Abandoned Mine Land (AML) Problem Areas, Planning Units, Keyword Features, and Project Sites.

1.1.1 This practice addresses mining geospatial data relative to the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA). This geospatial data shall be obtained from each state, tribal or federal coal mining regulatory authority (RA), or combinations thereof, authorized under SMCRA to reclaim the surface and underground effects of past mining operations. Abandoned mine land, as specified in SMCRA Sections 404 (coal), 409 and 411 (non-coal) and cross referenced in additional sections on eligible lands, consist of those lands and waters which were mined for coal or other minerals, or both, or impacted by processing operations prior to the enactment of SMCRA and abandoned or left in an inadequate condition of reclamation and for which there is no continuing reclamation responsibility under state or other federal laws for mitigation of adverse impacts to human health and safety or environmental resources.

1.1.2 Title IV of SMCRA establishes the national AML Reclamation Program under the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI). The program was developed to reclaim land and water resources adversely affected by past coal and non-coal mining and left abandoned or inadequately restored. During the years immediately following the enactment of SMCRA, OSMRE, states, and Indian tribes conducted surveys of eligible lands and waters and created individual inventories of problems to be addressed under Title IV. In 1990, SMCRA was amended and OSMRE was required to maintain a national inventory of high priority abandoned mine sites and provide standardized procedures for states and tribes to use in updating the data. The need for an automated nationwide inventory system led to the creation of the enhanced AML Inventory System (e-AMLIS), a compilation of the individual state, tribe, Federal Reclamation Program (FRP), and Rural Abandoned Mine Program (RAMP) inventories. The e-AMLIS documents the counts for AML problem types and the costs to remedy those problems. The system captures estimated unfunded costs, estimated construction costs when funding is made available for reclamation projects, and the actual costs for completed construction projects. It is used in support of work plan development and to record the work completed under each RA’s program and to report the extent and estimated cost to reclaim remaining AML problems.

1.1.3 Each state in the United States of America has been divided into Water Cataloging Units (WCU) by the U. S. Water Resources Council. These appear in the state’s Hydrologic Unit Map prepared by the U.S. Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Water Resources Council. The WCU are divided and sub-divided into successively smaller hydrologic units, which are classified into four levels: regions, sub-regions, accounting units, and cataloging units. The hydrologic units are arranged within each other, from the smallest (cataloging units) to the largest (regions). Each hydrologic unit is identified by a unique Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC) consisting of two to eight digits based on the four levels of classification in the hydrologic unit system.

1.1.4 As used in this practice, an AML Problem Area (PA) represents a closed polygon boundary for a uniquely defined geographic area contained within an AML Planning Unit (PU) as described in the AML Inventory Manual. An AML PA is a subdivision of an AML PU that contains one or more AML keyword features together with impacted land or water resources or both. An AML PA should not cross PU boundaries.

1.1.5 As used in this practice, an AML PU represents a closed polygon boundary of a uniquely defined geographic area identified by unique numbers and names. An entire WCU may be delineated as a single PU or subdivided into multiple PUs. In general, PUs east of the Mississippi River have historically corresponded to watersheds; PUs west of the Mississippi River have been defined in a number of ways, including quadrangles, grazing districts, townships, counties, or entire WCU.

1.1.6 As used in this practice, an AML Keyword Feature is a point, line, or polygon defining the location of a specific on-the-ground feature contained within an AML Problem Area (PA) as described in the AML Inventory Manual.

1.1.7 As used in this practice, an AML Project Site is a closed polygon boundary for a uniquely defined geographic area that includes the area disturbed to achieve the reclamation. An AML Project Site may contain one or more AML keyword features together with impacted land or water resources or both.

1.2 This practice applies to pre-SMCRA AML Problem Areas, Planning Units, Keyword Features, and Project Sites that are inventoried in the e-AMLIS under the SMCRA Title IV Reauthorization to provide for identification and location of AML sites and reclamation operations and facilitate the sharing of information with the public.

1.3 Units—The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used independently of the other. Combining values from the two systems may result in non-conformance with the standard.

1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

1.5 This practice offers a set of instructions for performing one or more specific operations. This document cannot replace education or experience and should be used in conjunction with professional judgment. Not all aspects of this practice may be applicable in all circumstances. This ASTM standard is not intended to represent or replace the standard of care by which the adequacy of a given professional service must be judged, nor should this document be applied without consideration of a project’s many unique aspects. The word “Standard” in the title of this document means only that the document has been approved through the ASTM consensus process.