Current through Register Vol. 63, No. 9, September 1, 2024
The Operating Plan section of a consolidated application shall
include but not be limited to the following:
(1) A detailed description of the proposed
mining and ore processing methods.
(2) A general list of equipment required for
the proposed operation.
(3) A
general schedule of construction and operation starting with the beginning of
construction and ending with the completion of mining.
(4) General design assumptions and plan
profile, cross sections and capacities for mine facilities including but not
limited to:
(a) Leach pads;
(b) Impoundments;
(c) Ponds;
(d) Stormwater and surface water diversion
systems;
(e) Waste disposal
systems;
(f) Stockpiles and dumps;
(g) Pits;
(h) Tailing disposal facilities; and
(i) Transportation and storage
systems for hazardous chemicals.
(5) A process water budget analysis including
but not limited to:
(a) Precipitation and
evaporation data;
(b) Make-up
water needs;
(c) Make-up water
source;
(d) Procedures to dispose
of precipitation and ground water in excess of designed capacities to include
but not be limited to solution treatment facilities or proposed treatment,
disposal or discharge strategies. This section should be coordinated with
procedures for seasonal or temporary closure and decommissioning of the
operation;
(e) Surface water
runoff determination for the watershed containing the mining operation.
(6) Seasonal or
temporary closure procedures if applicable including but not limited to:
(a) Target seasonal or temporary storage
volumes;
(b) Total system storage
capacity;
(c) Procedures to handle
volumes of water in excess of seasonal or temporary storage capacities;
(d) Estimated schedule for
closure; and
(e) Monitoring and
reporting programs, including but not limited to:
(A) Surface and ground water monitoring
systems within and outside of the permit area and reporting frequency;
(B) Water balance of the process
system and leak detection systems and reporting frequency;
(C) Biological monitoring and reporting
procedures and frequency; and
(D)
Fish and wildlife injury and mortality monitoring and reporting frequency
developed according to standards adopted by the Department of Fish and
Wildlife.
(7) Operational monitoring and reporting
programs, including but not limited to:
(a)
Surface and ground water monitoring systems within and outside of the permit
area and reporting frequency;
(b)
Water balance of the process system and leak detection systems and reporting
frequency;
(c) Biological
monitoring and reporting procedures and frequency; and
(d) Fish and wildlife injury and mortality
monitoring and reporting frequency developed according to standards adopted by
the Department of Fish and Wildlife.
(8) Surface water management procedures to
provide for protection against contamination of ground water and the off-site
discharge of sediments into adjacent waterways.
(9) Plans for stable storage of the
following:
(a) Overburden;
(b) Waste rock and low grade ore: The
pre-dump topography, ground preparation, method of emplacement of dump
material, height of lifts, total height and final slopes shall be described.
The Department shall require design and review by a registered professional
engineer or certified engineering geologist;
(c) Topsoil or suitable growth media
maintained for use in revegetation;
(d) Mill tailings: Plans and specifications
of all dams, impoundments or landfills proposed to be constructed for the
purpose of storing or disposing of mill tailings, processing solutions or other
materials consequent to the mining and milling operation may be required by the
Department to be prepared by a registered professional engineer or certified
engineering geologist. Procedures to prevent pollution of air, water and land
shall be described. Details on how each tailings disposal facility will be
reclaimed shall be submitted; and
(e) Mined ore: Plans and specifications
prepared by a registered professional engineer or certified engineering
geologist of all ore storage facilities may be required by the Department. Ore
storage facilities may include but not be limited to reusable or permanent
leach pads, stockpiles, storage bins and silos.
(10) A subsidence control plan for
underground mines:
(a) An application for an
underground mine operation must include an inventory that shows whether
structures, renewable or nonrenewable resources, or water resources exist
within the proposed permit area and adjacent area, and whether subsidence may
in the professional judgment of the Department cause damage to, or diminution
of reasonable foreseeable uses of the structures, renewable or nonrenewable
resources, or water resources;
(b)
If the Department finds, after reviewing the inventory, that no structure or
renewable or nonrenewable resource exists and in the professional judgment of
the Department no damage or diminution could be caused in the event of mine
subsidence, the Department will not require further information under this
subsection;
(c) If the Department
finds, after reviewing the inventory, that any structure, renewable or
nonrenewable resource, or water resources exists and that subsidence could in
the professional judgment of the Department cause damage or diminution of value
of subsequent land use, then the applicant shall submit a subsidence control
plan that contains:
(A) A detailed
description of all proposed methods of operation that may cause subsidence
including the technique of ore removal and the extent, if any, to which planned
and controlled subsidence is intended;
(B) A detailed description of the measures to
be taken to mitigate or prevent damage caused by subsidence, or diminution of
value of subsequent land use, including the anticipated effects of planned
subsidence, if any, and measures to be taken to reduce the likelihood of
subsidence;
(C) Measures to be
taken on the surface to prevent damage or lessening of the value of subsequent
land use;
(D) A detailed
description of measures to be taken to determine the degree of damage or
diminution of value of subsequent land use including measures such as the
results of pre-subsidence surveys of all structures and surface features that
might be damaged by subsidence and monitoring, if any, proposed to measure
deformation near specified structures or features or otherwise as appropriate
for the operations.
(11) A list of chemicals and the quantity of
such chemicals to be used and procedures for the handling, storage and disposal
of any chemicals, acid-forming materials or radioactive or hazardous material
or wastes generated from or required for mining or processing at the proposed
operation.
(12) A fish and
wildlife protection and mitigation plan developed according to standards
adopted by the Department of Fish and Wildlife.
(13) A plan for the transportation of toxic
chemicals developed according to standards adopted by the State Fire Marshal.
(14) An employee safety training
plan developed according to state and federal law.
(15) A spill prevention plan that includes
but is not limited to initial response, safety, reporting procedures,
notification to appropriate state and local agencies and a corrective action
plan.
(16) Characterization and
management plan for all wastes, including quantity and quality.
(17) Within 30 days after completion of
construction, but before mine operation, a signed registered engineers' or
certified engineering geologists' report, complete with accurate drawings and
specifications depicting the actual construction shall be submitted to the
Department. Specific provisions shall be made for inspections by the
Department, other permitting agencies and cooperating agencies during
construction and installation of any mine facilities.
Stat. Auth.: ORS
517.750 - 517.995
Stats. Implemented: ORS
517.971
