Coal

Guidelines

This tab contains the Land Quality Division's "Guidelines" for coal and non-coal operations.  The following is a break down of which Guidelines apply to what type of operations (coal, non-coal or both):

  • Coal Operations: Guidelines 6A, 6AR, 9, 13, 14, 18, 20-23 and 25;
  • Non-coal Operations: Guidelines 2, 4, 6, 12A, 16 and 19; and 
  • Both Coal and Non-coal Operations: Guidelines 1, 1A, 3, 5, 8, 10-12, 15, 17 and 24.

Guidelines are based upon applicable provisions of the Environmental Quality Act, LQD Regulations and they contain statements of LQD policy and preferred procedures.  Except for specifically referenced statutory provisions and regulations guidelines are not subject to rulemaking procedures and are therefore not to be interpreted as regulatory requirements.  The documents below are guidelines only and should not be interpreted by permittees, interested parties, DEQ/LQD staff or other local, state or Federal governmental agencies as mandatory.

**  Please note that Guideline 1 is currently under revision but the information regarding overburden remains applicable until the completion of Guideline 1B.  Sections regarding topsoil and subsoil have been superseded by Guideline 1A and the information contained in Guideline 1 should be disregarded for those sections.  Guideline 1A may be viewed below.  

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MOUs

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Standard Operating Procedures

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Enforcement Actions

Rules and Regulations

All official Wyoming State Rules and Regulations are kept at the Wyoming Secretary of State's Office. Click here to view all current Rules and Regulations. 

 

Coal

The LQD regulates the permitting of coal production in the state. The LQD’s regulations include issuing a variety of permits for coal mining activities, preparing cumulative hydrologic impact assessments (CHIA), and issuing annual reports on coal mining sites around the state.

To assist producers, we provide a .PDF Handbook of Approved Sampling and Statistical Methods for Evaluation of Revegetation Success on Wyoming Coal Mines, which you may access by Clicking Here. We recommend producers review this document before completing the necessary forms to comply with state rules and regulations.

We also provide sample public notice formats for coal producers, as well as the instructions and forms that are necessary for coal bonds.

Annual Reports

A revised Coal Annual Report Format (CARF) is now available for download.  Be advised that the requirements of the revised CARF will not be imposed until May 1, 2015, but operators are encouraged to use it immediately.  Visit the reports tab above to find annual reports on coal, wells, surface and groundwater, precipitation sites and the state drill hole report.

Annual Reports

This tab contains downloadable forms and information that pertain to submitting annual reports required by the LQD. 

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Handbook

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Permit Forms

This page contains a variety of downloadable forms pertaining to LQD coal permits. 

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Guidelines

This tab contains the Land Quality Division's "Guidelines" for coal and non-coal operations.  The following is a break down of which Guidelines apply to what type of operations (coal, non-coal or both):

  • Coal Operations: Guidelines 6A, 6AR, 9, 13, 14, 18, 20-23 and 25;
  • Non-coal Operations: Guidelines 2, 4, 6, 12A, 16 and 19; and 
  • Both Coal and Non-coal Operations: Guidelines 1, 1A, 3, 5, 8, 10-12, 15, 17 and 24.

Guidelines are based upon applicable provisions of the Environmental Quality Act, LQD Regulations and they contain statements of LQD policy and preferred procedures.  Except for specifically referenced statutory provisions and regulations guidelines are not subject to rulemaking procedures and are therefore not to be interpreted as regulatory requirements.  The documents below are guidelines only and should not be interpreted by permittees, interested parties, DEQ/LQD staff or other local, state or Federal governmental agencies as mandatory.

**  Please note that Guideline 1 is currently under revision but the information regarding overburden remains applicable until the completion of Guideline 1B.  Sections regarding topsoil and subsoil have been superseded by Guideline 1A and the information contained in Guideline 1 should be disregarded for those sections.  Guideline 1A may be viewed below.  

If the download box is not working below, please click here.

Sample Public Notices

If the download box is not working below, please click here.

Related Links

This page contains a variety of helpful links for more information about coal mining operations. 

Links to Office of Surface Mining Entities:

Office of Surface Mining

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement

OSM Reclamation Award