For the purpose of this subchapter, the following definition shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
SURFACE MINING OPERATIONS.
(1) Activities conducted on the surface of lands in connection with a surface mine and surface impacts incident to an underground coal mine, including excavation for the purpose of obtaining coal and including such common methods as contour, strip, auger, extended depth secondary recovery systems, mountaintop removal, box cut, open pit and area mining; the use of explosives and blasting; “in situ” distillation or retorting; leaching or other chemical or physical processing; cleaning, concentrating or other processing or preparation; and the loading of coal at or near the mine site.
(2) SURFACE MINING OPERATIONS shall also include the areas upon which such activities occur or where such activities disturb the natural land surface. These areas shall also include any adjacent land the use of which is incidental to any such activities, all lands affected by the construction of new roads or the improvement or use of existing roads to gain access to the site of such activities and for haulage, and excavations, workings, impoundments, dams, ventilation shafts, entryways, refuse banks, dumps, stockpiles, overburden piles, spoil banks, culm banks, tailings, holes or depressions, repair areas, storage areas, processing areas, shipping areas and other areas upon which are sited structures, facilities or other property or materials on the surface resulting from or incident to such activities.
(3) This definition includes the terms STRIP MINING of coal and the SURFACE EFFECTS OF UNDERGROUND MINING of coal as used in this subchapter.
(Prior Code, § 92.15) (Ord. A-63, passed 10-6-1984)