CMM Environmental Reclamation Standards 3

Question 1

What is the standard minimum liability period for revegetation success in areas of 26 inches or more annual precipitation under SMCRA?

Accepted Answer

5 years

Answer

SMCRA requires a minimum 5-year liability period for revegetation success in areas receiving 26 or more inches of average annual precipitation.

Question 2

Under 30 CFR Part 816, what is required regarding topsoil removal and storage during surface mining?

Accepted Answer

Topsoil must be separately removed, segregated, and stockpiled for later redistribution

Answer

Regulations require that topsoil be separately removed and stored to preserve its productivity for redistribution over regraded areas during final reclamation.

Question 3

What is 'acid mine drainage' (AMD) and what geochemical process causes it?

Accepted Answer

Acidic water produced when sulfide minerals oxidize upon exposure to air and water

Answer

AMD occurs when sulfide minerals like pyrite oxidize upon exposure to oxygen and water, producing sulfuric acid that can leach heavy metals from surrounding rock.

Question 4

Which reclamation technique is most effective for preventing acid mine drainage from waste rock piles?

Accepted Answer

Encapsulation of acid-generating material with a low-permeability cover

Answer

Encapsulating acid-generating sulfide-bearing waste with a low-permeability cover limits oxygen and water infiltration, preventing the oxidation reactions that produce AMD.

Question 5

When reclaiming prime farmland under SMCRA, what must be demonstrated before bond release?

Accepted Answer

That soil productivity equals or exceeds that of the pre-mining condition

Answer

SMCRA requires that reclaimed prime farmland achieve equivalent or greater soil productivity compared to pre-mining conditions before bonds can be released.

(CMM) Certified Mineral Manager Practice Test

(CMM) Certified Mineral Manager Practice Test

CMM Environmental Reclamation Standards 3