HB0247 - Wyoming geological survey board-filing of reports.

 

2001

State of Wyoming

01LSO-0320.E1

ENGROSSED

 

 

 

HOUSE BILL NO.  HB0247

 

 

Wyoming geological survey board-filing of reports.

 

Sponsored by:

 

 

A BILL

 

for

 

 1  AN ACT relating to the Wyoming geological survey board;
 2  requiring mineral exploration drilling and results to be
 3  reported to the board; providing exceptions; requiring
 4  rules providing for the filing of reports as specified;
 5  providing for confidentiality of reports as specified;
 6  providing denial of permits for violation of reporting
 7  requirements; providing for application; and providing for
 8  an effective date.

 9 

10  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

11 

12         Section 1.  W.S. 9-2-811 is created to read:

13 

14         9-2-811.  Mineral exploration reporting requirements;
15  rulemaking; penalties.

16 

 

Page  1

 

 

 

 1         (a)  The geological survey board shall require by rule
 2  the making and filing with the office of the state
 3  geologist logs, surveys, assays or other documents relating
 4  to exploration drilling within the borders of Wyoming for
 5  any nonleasable mineral. The board shall establish by rule
 6  the period of time after drilling when the log, survey,
 7  assay or other factual document related to drilling must be
 8  filed, but until the board establishes the time period by
 9  rule, the period of time shall be ninety (90) days. All
10  logs, surveys, assays and other factual documents related
11  to drilling filed under this subsection shall be sealed and
12  held confidential for a period of two (2) years after
13  initial receipt by the state geologist and confidentiality
14  may be extended in one (1) year increments indefinitely
15  upon timely receipt by the state geologist of a written
16  request from the person or company who initially filed the
17  report, log, survey, assay or other factual document
18  related to drilling by certified mail, return receipt
19  requested, requesting confidentiality be extended, except
20  as otherwise provided by law. All logs, surveys, assays and
21  other documents shall become the property of the state to
22  be retained within the permanent files of the Wyoming
23  geological survey for the use of the staff and public after
24  the period of confidentiality has expired. The requirements

Page  2

 

 

 

 1  of this subsection shall not apply to exploration within
 2  the boundaries applicable to a permit for mining issued by
 3  the Wyoming department of environmental quality or to
 4  drilling at a depth of less than one hundred (100) feet.

 5 

 6         (b)  A person who violates the provisions of
 7  subsection (a) of this section or who willfully and
 8  knowingly authorizes, orders or carries out the violation
 9  of the provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall
10  be denied by the Wyoming department of environmental
11  quality any request for a drilling or exploration permit
12  until all documents required to be filed under subsection
13  (a) of this section have been filed.

14 

15         Section 2.  W.S. 9-2-807(e)(ii) is amended to read:

16 

17         9-2-807.  Geological survey board; created;
18  membership; term; qualifications; removal; vacancies;
19  election of officers; meetings; quorum; compensation;
20  expenses; duties.

21 

22         (e)  The board shall:

23 

 

Page  3

 

 

 

 1              (ii)  Adopt reasonable rules and regulations for
 2  the administration of W.S. 9-2-804 through 9-2-810 9-2-811
 3  and 36-6-102, including rules specified in W.S. 9-2-811.

 4 

 5         Section 3.  This act shall not apply retroactively to
 6  require filing logs, surveys, assays or other documents
 7  relating to exploration commenced on or before the
 8  effective date of this act.

 9 

10         Section 4.  This act is effective July 1, 2001.

11 

12                         (END)

 

Page  4