ASTM D7384-09

This practice addresses coal mining geospatial boundary data relative to the SMCRA and 30 CFR Part 700 et seq. This practice is significant to the coal mining community because it provides uniformity of geospatial data pertaining to surface coal mining boundaries throughout the United States. The surface coal mining boundary is the first of the coal mining geospatial data standards to be developed for use by a RA. Within its area of exclusive jurisdiction, each RA is the authoritative data source (ADS) for coal mining spatial data that it creates and uses to implement SMCRA. These standards will help ensure uniformity of coal mining geospatial data used in internal business practices, exchanged among business partners within the coal mining community, and contributed by each ADS in future efforts to create national datasets describing surface coal mining in the United States.

Note 1—Currently, not all RAs have established datasets for coal mining geospatial data. Of those RAs that have coal mining geospatial datasets, each organizes their data in a different method, using their own coordinate system, and their own naming conventions and terminology. By establishing national data standards, RAs will have uniform guidance for the creation and management of coal mining geospatial data. In effect, this practice creates an easier and more efficient way to utilize and share surface coal mining boundary geospatial data among affected parties.

Surface coal mining geospatial data shall be obtained from State and Federal regulatory authorities for SCMO. The coal mining community encompasses all entities directly and indirectly affected by coal mining activities, including industry, environmental groups, the general public, and the government at all levels within the United States. Use of this standard will help create consistent maps and increase understanding of SCMO sites throughout the United States. This standard promotes the creation of well organized and easily accessible surface coal mining data, and it will facilitate better communication between state and federal offices, the public, industry and environmental groups.

In addition to defining a permit boundary, use of this standard over time will allow identification of changes in the boundary as the mined area changes.

Among a few coal-producing states, some attributes of the surface coal mining boundaries will not have values. A national dataset of surface coal mining boundaries will appear to be incomplete for certain states. In some situations, surface coal mining geospatial data may not have been collected for those states. In others, it is not applicable.

This standard conforms to the definition of a Data Content Standard as promulgated by the U.S. Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC). Terminology and definitions for identifying geographical features and describing the data model has been adopted from the FGDC Spatial Data Transfer Standard (ANSI INCITS 320-1998 (R2003)) and the FGDC Framework Data Content Standard (FGDC Project 1574-D) Information Technology—Geographic Information Framework Data Content Standard, Part 5: Governmental Unit and Other Geographic Area Boundaries.

Although this standard is written specifically for the surface coal mining industry, its general purpose and content are applicable to other surface mining operations.

1.1 This practice covers the minimum elements for the accurate location and description of data for defining a surface coal mining permit boundary.

1.1.1 This practice addresses coal mining geospatial boundary data relative to the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA). This geospatial data shall be obtained from each state or federal, or both, coal mining regulatory authority (RA) authorized under SMCRA to regulate surface coal mining operations (SCMO). Each RA shall be the authoritative data source (ADS) for coal mining geospatial data.

1.1.2 As used in this practice, a surface coal mining permit boundary represents an area where coal removal and reclamation and related supporting activities have occurred, is occurring, or is planned and authorized by the RA within a defined SCMO.

1.2 This practice is limited to surface coal mining operations after passage of SMCRA.

1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

1.4 This practice offers a set of instructions for performing one or more specific operations. This document cannot replace education or experience and should be used in conjunction with professional judgment. Not all aspects of this practice may be applicable in all circumstances. This ASTM standard is not intended to represent or replace the standard of care by which the adequacy of a given professional service must be judged, nor should this document be applied without consideration of a project’s many unique aspects. The word “Standard” in the title of this document means only that the document has been approved through the ASTM consensus process.