Incorporating February 3 & 4, 2005 revisions of Subgroup

Mining Plan

Rule 203. The mining plan required under Rule 201(1)(d) shall be a complete description of the mining operationincluding at a minimum, all of the following:

(a) The type and method of mining including infastructure, engineering drawings and techniques proposed.

(b) The operating life of the mine, including the rate of mining personnel required, and anticipated changes in that rate.

(c) The extent of the beneficiating process, including a discussion of the type and amount of chemicals to be added, and the types, amounts, sequence, schedule, and means of waste rock and tailings disposal.

(d) The ore body in the proposed mining area, including geologic plans and cross-sections depicting the nature and depth of overburden, mineralized zone or ore body, aquifers and springs.

(e) Lithology and thickness of each geologic unit below the mining area indicating which units are water bearing. Cross sections and potentiometric maps indicating the location of wells and the groundwater flow direction in the affected area.

(f) The mining activities to be conducted, including:

(i) The types, amounts, sequence, and schedule of mining the ore body including the distinctions among ore, lean ore, waste rock and topsoil.

(ii) Blasting plan

(g) The surface drainage systems sufficient to accommodate the seasonal variations and extremes in surface water quantity and quality within the proposed permit and affected areas.

(h) How the topsoil will be stockpiled and stabilized to resist physical degradation until used in reclamation.

(i) Plans to manage the mining area to control litter, accumulation of unnecessary equipment, and maintenance of buildings, fences, and vegetation.

(j) [Reference Part 91?] Provisions for soil erosion and sedimentation control measures before or upon commencement of the earth change activity; for maintaining the measures on a daily basis; and for removing the measures after permanent soil erosion measures are in place and the area is stabilized

(k) A list of all other applicable permits

(l) Signs, markers, fencing and other measures that will be taken to safeguard the public from unauthorized entry into shafts, adits, portals, or other openings between the land surface and underground workings and to prevent falls from highwalls or pit edges.

(m) Scaled Maps with topographic and air photo layers and design plans indicating the location, size and capacities for mine facilities including:

(i) Stockpiles

(ii) Impoundments

(iii) Ponds and wetlands

(iv) Diversions

(v) Dewatering systems

(vi) Disposal systems

(vii) Pits

(viii) Shafts, portals, or other openings between the land surface and underground mine workings.

(ix) Tailings disposal facilities

(x) Mills

(xi) Water treatments facilities

(xii) Storage areas for equipment, vehicles, chemicals, fuels, and solutions

(xiii) Topsoil stockpiles

(xiv) Waste rock piles

(xv) Other facilities or structures

(xvi) Property ownership on and adjacent to the proposed mine site

(xvii) Explosives

(xviii) Monitoring locations

(xviv) Fuel handling area

(xx) Truck and mining equipment wash down area

(xxi) Roads, rails, and site access points
 
 

Reclamation Plan

Rule 203. (1) The reclamation plan required under Rule 201(1)(e) for the mining site shall include all of the following:

(a) A final plan of the area following cessation of mining and reclamation of the entire mining operation, which shall include the following:

(i) Final land contours.

(ii) Potential uses of the land.

(iii) Ponds, streams, wetlands, roads, dikes, and drainage ditches, structures, and soil erosion and sediment control measures that will remain after completion of reclamation.

(b) Engineering design, methods, sequence, and schedules of reclamation including closure and postclosure maintenance.

(c) Evidence satisfactory to the department that the proposed reclamation will conform with the following minimum performance standards:

(i) Final disposition of all toxic and hazardous wastes, refuse, tailings and other solid waste shall be managed in conformance with applicable state and federal laws.

(ii) All tunnels, shafts or other underground openings shall be sealed in a manner which will prevent any safety, health or unacceptable environmental impacts in accordance with all applicable environmental protection and mine safety laws.

(iii) Both the mining area and the affected area shall be reclaimed to achieve a self-sustaining ecosystem appropriate for the region that does not require perpetual care following closure and with the goal that the affected area shall be returned to the ecological conditions that approximate premining conditions subject to changes caused by nonmining activities or other natural events. Any portion of the mining area owned by the applicant may be used for any legal purpose.

(iv) All surface structures, infrastructure, rock stock piles, and tailings basins constructed as a part of the mining activities shall be removed, unless they are converted to an approved alternative use.

(v) Adequate measures shall be taken to prevent surface subsidence, but if such subsidence does occur, the affected area shall be reclaimed.

(vi) All topsoil from surface areas disturbed by the mining operation shall be removed and stored in an environmentally acceptable manner for use and used in reclamation.

(vii) All disturbed surface areas shall be stabilized to resist physical degradation and prevent air pollution caused by fugitive dust, with the objective of reestablishing a variety of plants native to the area immediately prior to mining. Plant species not native to the area may be used if necessary to provide rapid stabilization of slopes and prevention of erosion, if such species are acceptable to the department, but the ultimate goal of reestablishment of native species shall be maintained.

(d) Detailed information and maps on reclamation procedures including:

(i) Manner, location, sequence and anticipated duration of reclamation.

(ii) Ongoing reclamation procedures during mining operations.

(iii) Proposed interim and final topography and slope stabilization.

(iv) Proposed final land use and relationship to surrounding land and land use.

(v) Plans for long-term maintenance of mining area and affected area including monitoring of rock stockpiles, tailings basins, and ground and surface water quality.

(vi) Estimated reclamation cost.

(2) A permittee shall, to the extent feasible, conduct reclamation activities concurrently with the mining operation.
 
 
 
 

Environmental Protection Plan

Rule 203. The environmental protection plan required under Rule 201(1)(f) shall describe how the operator will assure compliance with the provisions of the Act and Rules in order to protect all areas that have the potential to be affected by the mining operation and shall include all of the following:

(a) Plans and schedules for regulating or controlling drainage of water, including surface runoff, from within the diked area of a tailings disposal area to prevent breaching of the dikes, both during and after termination of the mining operation.

(b) Provisions to limit the exposed area of any disturbed land to the shortest feasible period of time.

(c) Provisions for temporary soil erosion and sedimentation control measures before or upon commencement of the earth change activity; for maintaining the measures on a daily basis; and for removing the measures after permanent soil erosion measures are in place and the area is stabilized.

(d) Measures to minimize impacts to the volumes and rates of recharge, flow, and discharge of groundwater and surface waters on the mining area and in the affected area.

(e) If a threatened or endangered species may be impacted, a plan to protect the threatened or endangered species that conforms to the requirements of state and federal endangered species laws.

(f) Plans to prevent, minimize, and mitigate any impacts of the proposed mining operation on flora, fauna, fish or wildlife habitats, and biodiversity.

(g) Provisions for the prevention, control, and monitoring of acid-forming or toxic ore and waste products from the mining process so as to prevent leaching into groundwater or runoff into surface water. Provisions may include, but are not limited to:

(i) Lining or covering, or both, of the ore and waste products with synthetic or earth material that will effectively isolate the ore and waste products from the air, surface water, and groundwater.

(ii) Mixing the ore and waste products with a material or materials that counteract or neutralize the acid-forming or toxic characteristics of the ore and waste products

(iii) Grading or diking to assure that surface water drains away from the storage or disposal area. [STOPPING POINT ON 2/4/2005]

(h) Provisions for preventing damage to the environment or public health or safety from caving or collapse of underground mine workings.

Contingency Plan

Rule 204. (1) The contingency plan required under Rule 201(1)(g) shall include all of the following:

(a) An assessment of the risk to the environment or public health and safety associated with potential accidents or failures involving the following, and the response measures that shall be followed in each case:

(i) Release or threat of release of toxic or acid-forming materials.

(ii) Storage, transportation, and handling of explosives.

(iii) Fuel storage and distribution.

(iv) Fires.

(v) Wastewater collection and treatment system.

(vi) Settling pond or tailings disposal area embankment failure.

(vii) Air emissions.

(viii) Ore or metallic product toxic and hazardous waste spill.

(ix) Severe natural phenomena.

(x) Power disruption.

(b) A list, by title, of personnel to be contacted and their duties and responsibilities.

(c) A section that contains all of the following information:

(i) The procedure for notifying the general public, public authorities, and safety agencies in the event of an emergency.

(ii) The actions to be taken to restrict access of nonessential personnel to the area.

(iii) If evacuation of the public is necessary, the procedure for conducting the evacuation

(d) A list of emergency telephone numbers, including the following:

(i) Representatives of the permittee.

(ii) The emergency management coordinator.

(iii) Local ambulance services.

(iv) Local hospitals.

(v) Local fire departments.

(vi) The department of environmental quality.

(vii) The pollution emergency alerting system.

(2) The applicant shall submit a copy of the contingency plan to each emergency management coordinator having jurisdiction over the affected area at the time the application is submitted to the department.