ASTM D7627-10 PDF

Full title and description

Standard Practice for Minimum Geospatial Data for Land Reclamation and Performance Bond Status of a Permitted Coal Mine — practice that defines the minimum geospatial data elements, feature definitions, and attribute content needed to represent land reclamation status and performance bond (bond release) status for permitted coal mining operations in accordance with SMCRA and related regulatory guidance.

Abstract

This practice specifies the minimum dataset and attribute content required to locate and describe areas of a permitted coal mine with respect to reclamation phase and performance bond status. It promotes a uniform geospatial schema and metadata approach (aligned to FGDC conventions and INCITS data-content guidance) so that regulatory authorities, industry and other stakeholders can create, share and compare consistent maps and datasets describing reclamation and bond-release status across jurisdictions. The document notes limitations where participating regulatory authorities (RAs) use different bond-phase definitions or do not collect all attributes.

General information

• Status: Withdrawn (document withdrawn and later superseded; see Related standards).
• Publication date: 2010 (designated D7627-10; published May 15, 2010 in listings).
• Publisher: ASTM International (American Society for Testing and Materials).
• ICS / categories: Geodesy / geography and mining-related ICS classifications (examples cited in catalog listings include 07.040, 35.240.99, 73.020).
• Edition / version: D7627-10 (2010 edition).
• Number of pages: Short practice — listed as approximately 6 pages in catalog records.

Scope

The practice covers the minimum elements for accurately locating and describing geospatial data that define land reclamation status and performance bond status for permitted coal mines. It addresses surface coal mining boundary data relative to the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA) and related federal regulations, and establishes that each state, tribal or federal regulatory authority (RA) is the authoritative data source (ADS) for the spatial data it creates and uses to regulate coal mining. The practice notes that RAs may use different bond-release phase definitions and that participation and completeness will vary by RA.

Key topics and requirements

• Minimum feature set and attribute fields to indicate reclamation phase and performance bond (bond release) status for permit areas.
• Requirement that geospatial boundary data be obtained from the authoritative regulatory authority (ADS) for a given area.
• Metadata and data-content conventions aligned with FGDC and INCITS spatial data content guidance to support interoperability and data sharing.
• Coordinate reference system and spatial accuracy guidance appropriate for regulatory mapping (minimum locational metadata and attribute definitions for change tracking over time).
• Notes on limitations: variations in RA definitions (three-phase vs. four-phase bond-release models), incomplete attributes in some jurisdictions, and intended use as informative (not a substitute for RA authoritative records).

Typical use and users

This practice is intended for GIS specialists, state/tribal/federal regulatory staff (RAs) who maintain coal mining permit and reclamation records, industry GIS and permitting professionals, environmental planners and consultants, and researchers or public-interest groups that require consistent geospatial representations of reclamation and bond status. Typical uses include compiling national or multi-jurisdictional datasets, producing maps for regulatory reporting and public information, and exchanging data between agencies.

Related standards

Documents and standards closely related to D7627-10 include ASTM practice D7384 (Minimum Geospatial Data for a Surface Coal Mining Permit Boundary — also withdrawn/replaced) and the later consolidated/replacement practice ASTM D7780 (Standard Practice for Minimum Geospatial Data for Representing Coal Mining Features), which expands and harmonizes geospatial content for coal mining features. The practice also references FGDC spatial data content standards and INCITS (ANSI) spatial data transfer conventions used for terminology and data-model definitions.

Keywords

coal mining, reclamation, bond status, bond release, geospatial data, GIS, permit boundary, SMCRA, regulatory authority, FGDC, spatial metadata, D7627-10.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ASTM D7627-10 is a short ASTM practice that defined the minimum geospatial data elements and attribute content needed to represent land reclamation and performance bond status for permitted coal mines (SMCRA-related). It provided a data-content approach to promote consistent mapping and data exchange across regulatory jurisdictions.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers minimum feature definitions, required attribute fields for reclamation and bond-release phases, expectations for authoritative data sources (RAs), and alignment with FGDC/INCITS spatial data conventions; it also documents limitations where RAs use different bond-phase definitions or do not supply all attributes.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: State, tribal and federal regulatory authorities (GIS and permitting staff), consultants and industry GIS teams, environmental and planning organizations, and data stewards compiling multi-jurisdictional coal mining geospatial datasets.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: D7627-10 was withdrawn (catalog records note withdrawal) and has been superseded by later, consolidated practices — most notably ASTM D7780 (Standard Practice for Minimum Geospatial Data for Representing Coal Mining Features), which provides an expanded and current geospatial schema for coal mining features. Users requiring authoritative, up-to-date guidance should consult D7780 and the responsible RA.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — it was one of several related ASTM practices developed for coal-mining geospatial content (examples include D7384 and other D7xxx practices). These practices were later consolidated and updated under the broader D7780 practice to reduce repetition and provide a more comprehensive geospatial data model.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Bond release, coal mining operation, reclamation status, permit boundary, geospatial data, SMCRA, regulatory authority, FGDC, data content.