Site abandonment

(1) Unless otherwise directed by the Department, any contractor, owner or operator who carries on quarry or mining, Site 140 Environmental Protection manufacturing, power generating or related activities shall, prior to closing down operations on any site– (a) remove all equipment and installations, structures, appliances from the relinquished area or site in a manner agreed with the pursuant to an abandonment plan; and (b) perform all necessary site restoration activities in accordance with the directives of the Department, and shall take all other action necessary to prevent hazards to human life, property or to the environment. (2) In order to ensure compliance with the requirements of subregulation (1) the Department may require the contractor, etc., to post a bond or guarantee acceptable to the Department, or in the alternative, to fund a reserve for future estimated abandonment and site restoration costs.