Introduction to Permitting

These pages describe what the Surface Mining Act requires an applicant and a regulatory authority to do to protect water resources before a permit can be issued.

Overview of SMCRA Permitting
How the permit applicant estimates the hydrologic impacts (the Probable Hydrologic Consequences or PHC)
How the regulatory authority assesses the cumulative hydrologic impacts (or CHIA)
On the Ground Validation
Special Section on Overburden
SMCRA Statute Sections Protecting Water During Permitting

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