Bill No.:                     SF0027                                   Drafter:  MDO

LSO No.:                   13LSO-0232                         Effective Date:  7/1/2013

Enrolled Act No.:    SEA0019

Chapter No.:            CH0044

Prime Sponsor:       Senator Bebout

Catch Title:              Limited mining operations.

Subject:                     Environmental Quality Act – Land Quality.

Summary/Major Elements:

· Currently, a mining operation is exempt from permitting under the Environmental Quality Act if the mining operation is 10 acres or less, posts a bond in a specified amount and meets other requirements.  This has become popularly known as the “Limited Mining Operation” exemption.

· This act:

§ Increases the limited mining exemption from 10 to 15 acres of “affected land”;

§ Specifies that “affected land” does not include roads used to access the mining operation;

§ Requires notice be mailed to all surface owners within one mile of the proposed boundary of the limited mining operation at least 30 days before commencing operations;

§ States that lands affected by the limited mining operation shall not be located within 300 feet of an occupied dwelling or other building as specified;

§ Requires a reclamation bond for limited mining operations of $2,000 per acre and $3,000 per acre for quarries or as determined necessary by the administrator of the department of environmental quality (DEQ), land quality division (LQD);

§ Specifies when reclamation of the limited mining operation must occur and that reclamation must follow the rules and regulations of the LQD.