<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".06" citation="COMAR 26.20.24.06" title_num="26" subtitle_num="20" chapter_num="24" heading="In Situ Processing.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>In situ processing activities shall be planned and conducted to minimize disturbance to the prevailing hydrologic balance by:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Avoiding discharge of fluids into holes or wells, other than as approved by the Bureau;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Injecting process recovery fluids only into geologic zones or intervals approved as production zones by the Bureau;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Avoiding annular injection between the wall of the drill hole and the casing; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Preventing discharge of process fluid into surface waters.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Each person who conducts in situ processing activities shall submit for approval as part of the application for a permit, a plan that ensures that all acid-forming, toxic-forming, or radioactive gases, solids, or liquids constituting a fire, health, safety, or environmental hazard, and caused by the mining and recovery process, are promptly treated, confined, or disposed of in a manner that prevents contamination of ground and surface waters, damage to fish, wildlife, and related environmental values, and threats to the public health and safety.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Each person who conducts in situ processing activities shall prevent flow of the process recovery fluid:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Horizontally beyond the affected area identified in the permit; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Vertically into overlying or underlying aquifers.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>Each person who conducts in situ processing activities shall restore the quality of affected ground water in the mine plan and adjacent area, including ground water above and below the production zone, to the approximate pre-mining levels or better, to ensure that the potential for use of the ground water is not diminished.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>Monitoring.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Each person who conducts in situ processing activities shall monitor the quality and quantity of surface and ground water and the subsurface flow and storage characteristics, in a manner approved by the Bureau, to measure changes in the quantity and quality of water in surface and ground water systems in the mine plan and in adjacent areas.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Air and water quality monitoring shall be conducted in accordance with monitoring programs approved by the Bureau as necessary according to appropriate federal and State air and water quality standards.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>