Idaho Administrative Code
Title IDAPA 37 - Water Resources, Department of
Rule 37.03.05 - MINE TAILINGS IMPOUNDMENT STRUCTURES RULES
Section 37.03.05.040 - BONDING
Current through August 31, 2023
An active surety bond or other means of acceptable surety payable to the Director of the Department of Water Resources shall be on file with the Director throughout the active life of the tailings disposal site. The purpose of this bond is to provide a means by which the tailings impoundment can be placed in a safe maintenance-free condition if abandoned by the owner without conforming to an abandonment plan approved by the Director. (3-30-23)
01. Filing of Bond. The bond shall be filed prior to any issuance by the Director of a certificate of approval for use of the mine tailings impoundment structure to impound mine tailings slurry and shall run for the approval period covered on the certificate of approval. (3-30-23)
02. Provisions of Bond. Bond provisions shall provide that the surety may be held liable for a period of up to five (5) years following notice of default on the bond. (3-30-23)
03. Amount of Bond. The bond amount will be set by the Director and is subject to revision each time it is renewed. The owner must obtain approval for the amount of his surety bond prior to each renewal. (3-30-23)
04. Cost Estimate Submitted by Engineer. In order to provide a basis for setting the bond amount, the engineer shall submit a cost estimate acceptable to the Director, together with conceptual details needed to arrive at the estimate, for abandonment of the facility at each proposed stage of its construction. (3-30-23)
05. Current Costs for Abandonment. Bond amount will be based on current costs for abandonment of the facility based on the approved cost estimate for abandonment at the present construction condition or the next approved proposed stage, whichever represents the larger bond amount. (3-30-23)
06. Determination of Bond Amount. If the final abandonment is determined to be the most costly condition, the owner may elect to use this as a basis for bonding throughout the life of the project. The Director may, however, revise the bonding amount to reflect updated costs when he feels it is necessary in order to maintain a realistic bond. (3-30-23)
07. Filing Initial Bond. The initial bond shall be filed upon completion of the first stage of construction and before the required certificate of approval is issued to allow storage of mine tailings slurry in the impoundment. No certificate of approval shall be renewed prior to filing by the owner of a bond renewal in an amount approved by the Director. (3-30-23)
08. Filing Copy of Performance Bond. Upon the filing of a copy of a performance bond with the Director, covering the terms and conditions of a state of Idaho mineral lease or an approved reclamation plan, in which these documents specify compliance with a plan of restoration of all mining operations, including the tailings impounding structure, the Director may determine the bond required of this section has been met, if the amount of the bond accurately reflects the cost associated with the abandonment plan provided by the owner. (3-30-23)
