Plain English Breakdown
The specific legal definition of 'pit dewatering' is referenced but not included in the provided source text.
Ban on Removing Water from Mining Pits Near Groundwater
This law stops people from removing water from mining pits in areas with underground river flow or where groundwater is less than 50 feet below the ground.
What This Bill Does
- Prohibits pit dewatering, as defined by the bill, in specific locations.
- Applies this ban to places with subsurface river flow.
- Applies this ban to places where groundwater is less than 50 feet below ground.
- Makes nonsubstantive changes to how the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act of 1975 is named.
Who It Names or Affects
- People conducting surface mining operations
- Areas with subsurface river flow
- Areas where groundwater levels are shallower than 50 feet below ground
Terms To Know
- Pit dewatering
- A term defined by the bill regarding removing water from a mining pit.
- Subsurface river flow
- Water flowing in rivers located underground, as referenced in the ban areas.
Limits and Unknowns
- The official text states 'pit dewatering' is defined by the bill but does not provide that specific definition.
- No effective date is listed in the provided status information.
- While exceptions exist for general surface mining, the summary does not list specific exceptions for this new pit dewatering ban.