30 CFR § 717.15 - Disposal of excess rock and earth materials on surface areas.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t30/s717.15"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "30 CFR § 717.15 - Disposal of excess rock and earth materials on surface areas."
title_number: 30
title_name: "Mineral Resources"
section_number: "717.15"
section_name: "Disposal of excess rock and earth materials on surface areas."
chapter_name: "OFFICE OF SURFACE MINING RECLAMATION AND ENFORCEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR"
subchapter_number: "B"
subchapter_name: "INITIAL PROGRAM REGULATIONS"
part_number: "717"
part_name: "UNDERGROUND MINING GENERAL PERFORMANCE STANDARDS"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "Secs. 201 and 501, Pub. L. 95-87, 91 Stat. 445 (30 U.S.C. 1201)."
regulatory_source: "42 FR 62695, Dec. 13, 1977, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "717"
---


# 717.15 Disposal of excess rock and earth materials on surface areas.

Excess rock and earth materials produced from an underground mine and not disposed in underground workings or used in backfilling and grading operations shall be placed in surface disposal areas in accordance with requirements of § 715.15. Where the volume of such material is small and its chemical and physical characteristics do not pose a threat to either public safety or the environment, the regulatory authority may modify the requirements of § 715.15 in accordance with § 717.14(a)(1).