SB1-SSA2,42,4
1(e) The department shall release a bond submitted under this subsection one
2year after the issuance of the last certificate of completion of exploration under sub.
3(9) (c) 3. if the explorer no longer holds an exploration license and the department
4determines that the explorer has complied with this section.
SB1-SSA2,42,13 5(4) Issuance or denial of exploration license. (a) Except as provided in par.
6(c), within 10 business days of receiving an administratively complete application for
7an exploration license, the department shall issue the exploration license or provide
8the notice required under par. (f) of intent not to issue the exploration license, unless
9the application is for an upcoming license year. If an application is for an upcoming
10license year, the department shall issue the exploration license or provide the notice
11required under par. (f) of intent not to issue the exploration license within 10
12business days of receiving an administratively complete application or on the next
13July 1, whichever is later.
SB1-SSA2,43,214 (b) An application for an exploration license is considered to be
15administratively complete on the day that it is submitted, unless, before the 10th
16business day after receiving the application, the department provides the applicant
17with written notification that the application is not administratively complete. The
18department may determine that an application is not administratively complete only
19if the application does not include an exploration plan; a reclamation plan; an
20exploration license fee; a bond; a certificate of insurance; or a copy of the applicant's
21most recent annual report to the federal securities and exchange commission on form
2210-K, or, if this is not available, a report of the applicant's current assets and
23liabilities or other data necessary to establish that the applicant is competent to
24conduct exploration in this state. The department may not consider the quality of

1the information provided. In a notice provided under this paragraph, the
2department shall identify what is missing from the application.
SB1-SSA2,43,103 (c) If the department provides notification, in compliance with par. (b), that an
4application is not administratively complete, the department shall issue the
5exploration license or provide the notice required under par. (f) of intent not to issue
6the license within 7 business days of receipt of the missing item, unless the
7application is for an upcoming license year. If the application is for an upcoming
8license year, the department shall issue the exploration license or provide the notice
9required under par. (f) of intent not to issue the exploration license within 7 business
10days of receipt of the missing item or on the next July 1, whichever is later.
SB1-SSA2,43,1511 (d) If the department does not comply with par. (a) or (c), the application is
12automatically approved and the department shall issue an exploration license that
13includes the requirements in sub. (5). The explorer may engage in exploration based
14on the automatic approval, notwithstanding any delay by the department in issuing
15the license.
SB1-SSA2,43,2016 (e) Subject to par. (f), the department shall deny an application for an
17exploration license if the department finds that, after the activities in the exploration
18plan and the reclamation plan have been completed, the exploration will have a
19substantial and irreparable adverse impact on the environment or present a
20substantial risk of injury to public health and welfare.
SB1-SSA2,44,1021 (f) Before denying an application, the department shall provide the applicant
22with written notification of its intent not to issue the exploration license, setting
23forth all of the reasons for its intent not to issue the exploration license, including
24reference to competent evidence supporting its position. The department shall
25provide the person with an opportunity to correct any deficiencies in the exploration

1plan or reclamation plan within 10 business days. If the person amends the
2exploration plan or reclamation plan and corrects the deficiencies, the department
3shall issue the exploration license within 10 business days of receipt of the amended
4exploration plan or reclamation plan, unless the application is for an upcoming
5license year. If an application is for an upcoming license year, the department shall
6issue the exploration license within 10 business days of receipt of the amended
7exploration plan or reclamation plan or on the next July 1, whichever is later. If the
8department determines that the deficiencies have not been corrected, it shall deny
9the application, in writing, setting forth all of the reasons for its determination,
10including reference to competent evidence supporting the determination.
SB1-SSA2,44,12 11(5) Requirements in exploration license. The department shall include all of
12the following in an exploration license:
SB1-SSA2,44,1613 (a) A requirement that if the explorer wishes to temporarily abandon a drillhole
14so that the explorer may use the drillhole for future exploration, the explorer leave
15the well casing in place and seal the upper end of the casing with a watertight
16threaded or welded cap.
SB1-SSA2,44,1917 (b) A requirement to permanently abandon a drillhole 4 inches in diameter or
18smaller by filling the drillhole from the bottom upward to the surface of the ground
19with concrete grout or neat cement grout.
SB1-SSA2,44,2220 (c) A requirement to permanently abandon a drillhole larger than 4 inches in
21diameter by filling the drillhole from the bottom upward to the surface of the ground
22with concrete grout or neat cement grout or in one of the following ways:
SB1-SSA2,45,523 1. If the drillhole is constructed in limestone, dolomite, shale, or Precambrian
24formations, such as granite, gabbro, gneiss, schist, slate, greenstone, or quartzite, by
25filling the drillhole with gravel or crushed rock or, if it is physically impracticable to

1use gravel or crushed rock and if the department approves, with clay slurry, from the
2bottom upward to a point 20 feet below the top of the first rock formation encountered
3below the surface of the ground or to at least 40 feet below the surface of the ground,
4whichever is the greater depth, and filling the remainder of the drillhole with
5concrete grout or neat cement grout.
SB1-SSA2,45,126 2. If the drillhole is constructed in sandstone formation, by filling the drillhole
7with disinfected sand or pea gravel or, if it is physically impracticable to use sand or
8pea gravel and if the department approves, with clay slurry, from the bottom upward
9to a point 20 feet below the top of the first rock formation encountered below the
10surface of the ground or to at least 40 feet below the surface of the ground, whichever
11is the greater depth, and filling the remainder of the drillhole with concrete grout or
12neat cement grout.
SB1-SSA2,45,1613 3. If the drillhole is constructed in glacial drift or other unconsolidated
14formation, by filling the hole with clean clay slurry to a point 20 feet below the surface
15of the ground and filling the remainder of the drillhole with concrete grout or neat
16cement grout.
SB1-SSA2,45,2017 4. If the drillhole is constructed in mixed rock types, by filling the drillhole as
18provided in subds. 1., 2., and 3., and providing a concrete grout or neat cement grout
19plug that extends at least 20 feet above and below the point of surface contact
20between each recognized geologic rock type.
SB1-SSA2,45,2221 (d) 1. A requirement to use a conductor pipe or, when practical, a dump bailer
22when filling a drillhole.
SB1-SSA2,45,2523 2. A requirement to keep the bottom end of the conductor pipe submerged in
24concrete grout or neat cement grout at all times when concrete grout or neat cement
25grout is placed under water using a conductor pipe.
SB1-SSA2,46,4
13. A requirement to fill the drillhole at the same time that all or part of the
2drillhole casing is removed from an unconsolidated formation, such as sand or gravel,
3that will not remain open upon abandonment of a drillhole and to keep the end of the
4casing below the surface of the fill material throughout the operation.
SB1-SSA2,46,85 (e) A requirement to obtain approval from the department of the method of
6containing the flow from, and the method of eventual abandonment of, a drillhole
7that penetrates an aquifer under artesian pressure so that the groundwater flows at
8the surface of the ground.
SB1-SSA2,46,10 9(6) Renewals. (a) An explorer wishing to renew an exploration license shall
10file with the department a renewal application that includes all of the following:
SB1-SSA2,46,1111 1. A renewal fee of $150.
SB1-SSA2,46,1212 2. A bond that satisfies sub. (3) (a).
SB1-SSA2,46,1313 3. A certificate of insurance that satisfies sub. (2) (e).
SB1-SSA2,46,1714 4. A copy of the applicant's most recent annual report to the federal securities
15and exchange commission on form 10-K, or, if this is not available, a report of the
16applicant's current assets and liabilities or other data necessary to establish that the
17applicant is competent to conduct exploration in this state.
SB1-SSA2,46,2018 5. Either a statement that no changes are being proposed to the exploration
19plan and reclamation plan previously approved by the department or a new
20exploration plan or reclamation plan if the applicant proposes to make changes.
SB1-SSA2,46,2421 (b) Except as provided in par. (d), within 10 business days of receiving an
22administratively complete application for renewal of an exploration license, the
23department shall renew the exploration license or provide the notice, required under
24par. (g), of intent not to renew the exploration license.
SB1-SSA2,47,15
1(c) An application for renewal of an exploration license is considered to be
2administratively complete on the day that it is submitted, unless, before the 10th
3business day after receiving the application, the department provides the explorer
4with written notification that the application is not administratively complete. The
5department may determine that an application is not administratively complete only
6if the application does not include a renewal fee; a bond; a certificate of insurance;
7a copy of the applicant's most recent annual report to the federal securities and
8exchange commission on form 10-K, or, if this is not available, a report of the
9applicant's current assets and liabilities or other data necessary to establish that the
10applicant is competent to conduct exploration in this state; or either a statement that
11no changes are being proposed to the exploration plan and reclamation plan
12previously approved by the department or a new exploration plan or reclamation
13plan if the applicant proposes to make changes. The department may not consider
14the quality of any information provided. In a notice provided under this paragraph,
15the department shall identify what is missing from the application.
SB1-SSA2,47,1916 (d) If the department provides notification, in compliance with par. (c), that an
17application is not administratively complete, the department shall renew the
18exploration license or provide the notice, required under par. (g), of intent not to
19renew the exploration license within 7 business days of receipt of the missing item.
SB1-SSA2,47,2120 (e) If the department does not comply with par. (b) or (d), the application for
21renewal is automatically approved.
SB1-SSA2,48,222 (f) Subject to par. (g), the department shall deny an application for renewal of
23an exploration license only if the applicant has filed a new exploration plan or
24reclamation plan and the department finds that the exploration, after the activities
25in the new exploration plan and the new reclamation plan have been completed, will

1have a substantial and irreparable adverse impact on the environment or present a
2substantial risk of injury to public health and welfare.
SB1-SSA2,48,143 (g) Before denying an application, the department shall provide the person who
4submitted the application with written notification of its intent not to renew the
5exploration license, setting forth all of the reasons for its intent not to renew the
6exploration license, including reference to competent evidence supporting its
7position. The department shall provide the person with an opportunity to correct any
8deficiencies in the exploration plan or restoration plan within 10 business days. If
9the person amends the exploration plan or reclamation plan and corrects the
10deficiencies, the department shall renew the exploration license within 10 business
11days of receipt of the amended exploration plan or reclamation plan. If the
12department determines that the deficiencies have not been corrected, it shall deny
13the application, in writing, setting forth all of the reasons for it's determination,
14including reference to competent evidence supporting the determination.
SB1-SSA2,48,1615 (h) The renewal of an exploration license takes effect on the date of issuance
16and expires on the following June 30.
SB1-SSA2,48,19 17(7) Revocation or suspension of exploration license. After a hearing, the
18department may revoke or suspend an exploration license if it determines that any
19of the following apply:
SB1-SSA2,48,2120 (a) The explorer has not complied with a statute, a rule promulgated by the
21department, or a condition in the exploration license.
SB1-SSA2,48,2322 (b) The explorer has failed to increase bond amounts to adequate levels as
23provided under sub (3) (d).
SB1-SSA2,49,5 24(8) Notice procedure. (a) An explorer shall notify the department of the
25explorer's intent to drill on a parcel by registered mail at least 5 days prior to the

1beginning of drilling. Notice is considered to be given on the date that the
2department receives the notice. In the notice, the explorer shall specify which
3drillholes identified in the exploration plan the explorer intends to drill. The
4explorer shall send the notice to the subunit of the department with authority over
5mine reclamation.
SB1-SSA2,49,96 (b) A notice of intent to drill provided under par. (a) remains in effect for one
7year beginning on the date that the department receives the notice. If the explorer
8wishes to continue drilling on the parcel after the notice is no longer in effect, the
9explorer shall resubmit a notice of intent to drill on the parcel.
SB1-SSA2,49,16 10(9) Reports. (a) Within 10 days after completing the temporary or permanent
11abandonment of a drillhole, an explorer shall file with the department an
12abandonment report that describes the means and method used in the abandonment
13and is signed by an authorized representative of the explorer attesting to the
14accuracy of the information contained in the report. The explorer shall submit the
15abandonment report to the department's district office for the district in which the
16drilling site is located.
SB1-SSA2,49,2117 (b) After permanent abandonment of a drillhole and regrading and
18revegetation of the drilling site, an explorer shall notify the department of
19completion of termination of the drilling site. The explorer shall submit the notice,
20in writing, to the department's district office for the district in which the drilling site
21is located.
SB1-SSA2,50,322 (c) 1. After receipt of a notice under par. (b), the department shall notify the
23explorer in writing whether the termination is satisfactory or unsatisfactory. If the
24termination is unsatisfactory, the department shall inform the explorer of the
25necessary corrective measures. Following the completion of corrective measures, the

1explorer shall file written notice with the department's district office for the district
2in which the drilling site is located specifying the means and method used and
3stating that termination is complete.
SB1-SSA2,50,64 2. If an explorer fails to comply with corrective measures identified under subd.
51., the department may suspend the explorer's exploration license in accordance with
6sub. (7).
SB1-SSA2,50,97 3. Upon satisfactory completion of termination of a drilling site, the
8department shall issue a certificate of completion. The department may not issue a
9certificate of completion for a drilling site that has only been temporarily abandoned.
SB1-SSA2,50,16 10(10) Drilling fees. Upon the submission of a report under sub. (9) (a) of
11temporary abandonment of a drillhole, if the drillhole is temporarily abandoned, or
12upon submission of a report under sub. (9) (a) of permanent abandonment of a
13drillhole, if the drillhole is not temporarily abandoned, the explorer shall pay a fee
14to the department. The fee is $100 per drillhole for the first 20 drillholes for which
15a report is filed in a license year and $50 for each subsequent drillhole for which a
16report is filed in that license year.
SB1-SSA2,50,22 17(11) Inspections. (a) Any duly authorized officer, employee, or representative
18of the department may enter and inspect any property, premises, or place on or at
19which exploration is being performed at any reasonable time for the purpose of
20ascertaining the state of compliance with this section. No explorer may refuse entry
21or access to any authorized representative of the department who requests entry for
22the purposes of inspection and who presents appropriate credentials.
SB1-SSA2,50,2423 (b) No person may obstruct, hamper, or interfere with any inspection
24authorized in par. (a).
SB1-SSA2,50,2525 (c) No inspector may obstruct, hamper, or interfere with exploration activities.
SB1-SSA2,51,4
1(12) Exemption. This section does not apply to an operator with a mining
2permit who is engaged in exploration activities on lands included in a mining plan
3and reclamation plan, if the mining plan or reclamation plan contains provisions
4relating to termination of the exploration activities.
SB1-SSA2,51,7 5(13) Environmental analysis not required. The department is not required
6to prepare an environmental impact statement or an environmental assessment for
7an application for an exploration license.
SB1-SSA2,51,11 8295.443 Local impact committee; local agreement. (1) A county, town,
9village, city, or tribal government likely to be substantially affected by potential or
10proposed mining may designate an existing committee, or establish a committee, for
11purposes of:
SB1-SSA2,51,1212 (a) Facilitating communications between operators and itself.
SB1-SSA2,51,1313 (b) Analyzing implications of mining.
SB1-SSA2,51,1414 (c) Reviewing and commenting on reclamation plans.
SB1-SSA2,51,1515 (d) Developing solutions to mining-induced growth problems.
SB1-SSA2,51,1616 (e) Recommending priorities for local action.
SB1-SSA2,51,1917 (f) Formulating recommendations to the investment and local impact fund
18board regarding distribution of funds under s. 70.395 (2) (g) related to mining for
19ferrous minerals.
SB1-SSA2,51,2020 (g) Negotiating a local agreement under sub. (1m).
SB1-SSA2,52,2 21(1m) A county, town, village, city, or tribal government that requires an
22operator to obtain an approval or permit under a zoning or land use ordinance and
23a county, town, village, or city in which any portion of a proposed mining site is
24located may, individually or in conjunction with other counties, towns, villages,
25cities, or tribal governments, enter into one or more agreements with an operator for

1the development of a mining operation. The local agreement may include any of the
2following:
SB1-SSA2,52,43 (a) A legal description of the land subject to the agreement and the names of
4its legal and equitable owners.
SB1-SSA2,52,55 (b) The duration of the agreement.
SB1-SSA2,52,66 (c) The uses permitted on the land.
SB1-SSA2,52,97 (d) A description of any conditions, terms, restrictions, or other requirements
8determined to be necessary by the county, town, village, city, or tribal government for
9the public health, safety, or welfare of its residents.
SB1-SSA2,52,1110 (e) A description of any obligation undertaken by the county, town, village, city,
11or tribal government to enable the development to proceed.
SB1-SSA2,52,1312 (f) The applicability or nonapplicability of county, town, village, city, or tribal
13ordinances, approvals, or resolutions.
SB1-SSA2,52,1414 (g) A provision for the amendment of the agreement.
SB1-SSA2,52,1615 (h) Other provisions determined to be reasonable and necessary by the parties
16to the agreement.
SB1-SSA2,52,23 17(2) A county, town, village, city, or tribal government affected in common with
18another county, town, village, city, or tribal government by a proposed or existing
19mine may cooperatively designate or establish a joint committee, but may also
20maintain a separate committee under sub. (1). Committees under this section may
21include representatives of affected units of government, business, and industry,
22manpower, health, protective or service agencies, school districts, or environmental
23and other interest groups or other interested parties.
SB1-SSA2,53,4 24(3) Persons applying for an exploration license under s. 295.44 shall thereafter
25appoint a liaison person to any committee established under sub. (1) or (2), and shall

1provide such reasonable information as is requested by the committee. Operators
2and persons applying for an exploration license under s. 295.44 shall thereafter
3make reasonable efforts to design and operate mining operations in harmony with
4community development objectives.
SB1-SSA2,53,17 5(4) Committees established under sub. (1) or (2) may be funded by their
6appointing authority, and may, through their appointing authority, submit a request
7for operating funds to the investment and local impact fund board under s. 70.395.
8Committees established under sub. (1) shall be eligible for funds only if the county,
9town, village or city is also a participant in a joint committee, if any, established
10under sub. (2). The investment and local impact fund board may not grant funds for
11the use of more than one committee established under sub. (1) in relation to a
12particular mining proposal unless a joint committee has been established under sub.
13(2). The investment and local impact fund board shall grant operating funds to any
14committee that submits a request and is eligible under this subsection and s. 70.395
15(2) (fm). Committees may hire staff, enter into contracts with private firms or
16consultants or contract with a regional planning commission or other agency for staff
17services for mining-related purposes or the purposes under s. 70.395 (2) (fm).
SB1-SSA2,53,24 18295.45 Bulk sampling plan. (1) A person who intends to engage in bulk
19sampling may file a bulk sampling plan with the department. The collection of data
20under a bulk sampling plan may include sampling and analysis related to
21geophysical, geochemical, groundwater, and surface water conditions, as well as any
22other data or studies necessary to prepare an application for a mining permit,
23including the mining plan, reclamation plan, mining waste site feasibility study and
24plan of operation, or any other approval required for the proposed mining.
SB1-SSA2,53,25 25(2) A person shall include all of the following in a bulk sampling plan:
SB1-SSA2,54,4
1(a) A description and map of the bulk sampling site, including the number of
2acres in the site, the number of acres of land that will be disturbed, if any, associated
3with each bulk sampling location, and the locations and types of sampling or studies
4to be conducted at each bulk sampling location.
SB1-SSA2,54,55 (b) A description of the methods to be used for the bulk sampling.
SB1-SSA2,54,86 (c) A site-specific plan for controlling surface erosion that conforms to
7requirements under ss. 281.33 (3) and 283.33 and that identifies how impacts to
8plant and wildlife habitats will be avoided or minimized to the extent practicable.
SB1-SSA2,54,139 (d) A revegetation plan for each area where bulk sampling will be performed
10that describes how adverse impacts to the environment will be avoided or minimized
11to the extent practicable and how the site will be revegetated and stabilized and that
12identifies how adverse impacts to plant and wildlife habitats will be avoided or
13minimized to the extent practicable.
SB1-SSA2,54,1514 (e) The estimated time for completing the bulk sampling and revegetation of
15the bulk sampling locations.
SB1-SSA2,54,1816 (f) A description of any known adverse environmental impacts that are likely
17to be caused by the bulk sampling and how those impacts will be avoided or
18minimized to the extent practicable.
SB1-SSA2,54,2419 (g) A description of any adverse effects, as defined in s. 44.31 (1), that the bulk
20sampling might have on any historic property, as defined in s. 44.31 (3), that is a
21listed property, as defined in s. 44.31 (4), that is on the Wisconsin inventory of historic
22places, as defined in s. 44.31 (12), or that is on the list of locally designated historic
23places under s. 44.45; or any scenic or recreational areas; and plans to avoid or
24minimize those adverse effects to the extent practicable.
SB1-SSA2,55,8
1(2m) The department shall protect as confidential any information, other than
2effluent data, contained in a bulk sampling plan and in any application for an
3approval that is required before the bulk sampling may be implemented, upon a
4showing that the information is entitled to protection as a trade secret, as defined in
5s. 134.90 (1) (c), and any information relating to the location, quality, or quantity of
6a ferrous mineral deposit, to production or sales figures, or to processes or production
7unique to the applicant or that would tend to adversely affect the competitive
8position of the applicant if made public.
SB1-SSA2,55,16 9(3) Within 14 days of receipt of a bulk sampling plan, the department shall
10identify for the applicant, in writing, all approvals that are required before the bulk
11sampling may be implemented, any waivers, exemptions, or exceptions to those
12approvals that are potentially available, and any information that the department
13needs to issue the approvals or to issue a decision on any waiver, exemption, or
14exception. If no approvals are required, the department shall notify the applicant
15that no approvals are required and that the applicant may proceed with the bulk
16sampling.
SB1-SSA2,55,20 17(3e) If a storm water discharge permit under s. 283.33 (1) (a) or a water quality
18certification under rules promulgated under subch. II of ch. 281 to implement 33
19USC 1341
(a) is required before bulk sampling may be implemented, the person filing
20the bulk sampling plan may apply for and be issued the permit or certification.
SB1-SSA2,55,24 21(3m) The department shall act on any required construction site erosion
22control and storm water management approval, notwithstanding any authorization
23by the department of a local program to administer construction site erosion control
24and storm water management requirements.
SB1-SSA2,55,25 25(3s) An applicant shall submit all of the following at the same time:
SB1-SSA2,56,1
1(a) Applications for individual approvals identified under sub. (3).
SB1-SSA2,56,32 (b) Applications for coverage under general permits or registration permits
3identified under sub. (3).
SB1-SSA2,56,54 (c) Applications for waivers, exemptions, or exceptions identified under sub.
5(3).
SB1-SSA2,56,66 (d) A bond, as provided in sub. (5).
SB1-SSA2,56,15 7(4) (a) Notwithstanding any provision in ch. 23, 29, 30, 31, 169, 281, 283, 285,
8289, or 291 or in a rule promulgated under those chapters that is applicable to an
9approval identified under sub. (3), the application for any approval, for a waiver,
10exemption, or exception to an approval, or for a determination that the proposed bulk
11sampling activity is below the threshold that requires an approval, is considered to
12be complete on the 30th day after the department receives the application, unless,
13before that day, the department provides the applicant with written notification that
14the application is not complete, stating the reason for the determination and
15describing the specific information necessary to make the application complete.
SB1-SSA2,56,1816 (b) If the department provides a notice under par. (a), the applicant shall
17supplement the application by providing the specified information. The application
18is complete when the applicant provides the information.
SB1-SSA2,56,2319 (c) If the department determines that the issuance of an approval is contingent
20upon the issuance of a permit under s. 29.604 (6m), and if the application for the
21permit under s. 29.604 (6m) is filed with the approval application, the department
22may not determine that the approval application is incomplete on the basis that the
23department has not yet issued the permit under s. 29.604 (6m).
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