Current through Register Vol. 6, March 22, 2024
(1) Applicant must obtain an operating permit
for each mine complex on a form prescribed by the department.
(2) To obtain an operating permit the
applicant shall pay a $500 fee.
(3)
In addition to the information required by
82-4-335(4), MCA,
an application for an operating permit must describe the following:
(a) the existing environment;
(b) soil salvage and stockpiling activities
and measures to protect soil from erosion and contamination;
(c) provisions for the prevention of wind
erosion of all disturbed areas;
(d)
the design, construction, and operation of the mine, mill, tailings, and waste
rock disposal facilities;
(e) the
facilities, buildings, and capacity of mill or processing;
(f) the proposed date for commencement of
mining, the minerals to be mined, and a proposed conceptual life of mine
operations;
(g) the designs of
diversions, impoundments, and sediment control structures to be constructed
reflecting their safety, utility, and stability;
(h) the location of access, haul, and other
support roads and provisions for their construction and maintenance that
control and minimize channeling and other erosion;
(i) the source and volume of incoming ore,
tailings, or waste rock;
(j) the
equipment and chemicals to be used in the operation by location and
task;
(k) the general chemical
processes and the purpose, amount, and source of water used in the operation
and the disposition of any process waste water or solutions;
(l) the ground and surface water monitoring
programs to be implemented and a contingency plan addressing accidental
discharges to ground or surface water;
(m) a fire protection plan;
(n) a toxic spill contingency plan with
certification that notice of the filing of the plan has been provided to the
state fire marshal;
(o) the sewage
treatment facilities and solid waste disposal sites;
(p) the power needs and source(s), including
fuel storage sites;
(q) the
anticipated employment including direct and onsite contract
employees;
(r) the transportation
network to be used during the construction and operation phases, including a
list of the type and amount of traffic at mine or mill capacity;
(s) the predicted noise levels by activities
during construction and operations;
(t) the protective measures for
archaeological and historical values in the areas to be mined;
(u) the protective measures designed to avoid
foreseeable situations of unnecessary damage to flora and fauna in or adjacent
to the area.
(4) The
application must include a map or maps to scale of the mine area and area to be
disturbed (such map must locate the proposed mine and facilities and must
locate and identify streams, and proposed roads, railroads, and utility lines
in the immediate area and residences and wells within one mile of the permit
area). All maps provided in the application must have a uniform base, a scale,
and a north directional arrow.
(5)
The application must include a reclamation plan that meets the requirements of
82-4-336, MCA, and this
subchapter.