An operator must get a mine site permit from the division before starting mining or removing overburden.
1. a. Prior to beginning mining or removal of overburden at mining site, an operator shall obtain a permit from the division for the site. Application for a permit shall be made upon a form provided by the division. The permit fee shall be established by the division in an amount not to exceed the cost of administering the permit provisions of this chapter. b. The application shall include but not be limited to: (1) A legal description of the land where the site is located and the estimated number of acres affected. (2) A statement explaining the authority of the applicant’s legal right to operate a mine on the land. (3) A reclamation plan meeting the requirements of this chapter. (4) A determination by an appropriate state or federal agency of the probable hydrologic consequences of the mining and reclamation operations, both on and off the mine site, with respect to the hydrologic regime, quantity, and quality of water in surface and groundwater systems including the dissolved and suspended solids under seasonal flow conditions and the collection of sufficient data for the mine site and surrounding areas so that an assessment can be made by the division of the probable cumulative impacts of all anticipated mining in the area upon the hydrology of the area and particularly upon water availability. If the division finds that the probable total annual production at all locations of a coal mining operator will not exceed one hundred thousand tons, the determination of probable hydrologic consequences and a statement of the result of test borings on core samplings which the division may require shall upon the written request of the operator be performed by a qualified public or private laboratory designated by the division and the cost of the preparation of the determination and statement shall be assumed by the division. 2. All permits issued pursuant to the requirements of this chapter shall be issued for a term not to exceed five years. If the applicant demonstrates that a specified longer term is reasonably needed to allow the applicant to obtain necessary financing for equipment and the opening of the operation and if the application is full and complete for the longer term, the division may grant a permit for the longer term. A successor in interest to a permittee who applies for a new permit within thirty days of succeeding to the interest and is able to continue the bond coverage may continue coal mining and reclamation operations according to the approved mining and reclamation plan of the original permittee until the successor’s application is granted or denied. 3. A permit terminates if the permittee has not commenced the coal mining operations covered by the permit within three years of issuance of the permit. However, the division may grant reasonable extensions of time upon a showing that the extensions are necessary because of litigation precluding the commencement or threatening substantial economic loss to the permittee or because of conditions beyond the control and without the fault or negligence of the permittee. If a coal lease is issued under the federal Mineral Leasing Act, as amended, extensions of time may not extend beyond the period allowed for diligent development in accordance with section 7 of that Act. If coal is to be mined for use in a synthetic fuel facility or specific major electric generating facility, the permittee is deemed to have commenced mining operations when the construction of the synthetic fuel or generating facility is initiated. 4. A valid permit carries the right of successive renewal upon expiration within the boundaries of the existing permit. On application for renewal the burden shall be on the opponents of approval. Upon application the renewal shall be issued unless the division establishes any of the following: a. The terms and conditions of the existing permit are not being satisfactorily met. b. The present coal mining and reclamation operation is not in compliance with the environmental protection standards of this chapter. c. The renewal requested substantially jeopardizes the operator’s continuing responsibility on existing permit areas. d. The operator has not shown that the performance bond for the operation and any additional bond the division may require will continue in full force and effect for the renewal requested. e. Additional revised or updated information required by the division has not been provided. 5. a. A permit renewal shall be for a term not to exceed the period of the original permit. b. Application for renewal shall be made at least one hundred twenty days prior to the expiration of the permit. Prior to the approval of a renewal of permit the division shall provide notice to the appropriate public authorities. [C81, §83.4] C93, §207.4 2014 Acts, ch 1026, §43; 2015 Acts, ch 29, §32 Mine site permit fee set at fifteen dollars per site acre; 88 Acts, ch 1272, §4