This bill prohibits the use of the net worth method of proof of financial
responsibility for a solid or hazardous waste disposal facility that accepts primarily
mining waste.
Current law requires a person who intends to apply for a mining permit to
notify DNR of that intent. DNR must then inform the person of the information that
DNR believes will be needed to support the application.
This bill requires DNR to require a person who submits a notice of intent to
apply for a mining permit to collect baseline data regarding the natural conditions
in the area likely to be affected by the proposed mine.

The bill requires an application for a mining permit to include a comprehensive
study of weather conditions and of geological conditions at the proposed mining site.
This bill requires DNR to identify mining operations that have caused
environmental harm in other states and countries. The bill requires an applicant for
a mining permit to evaluate how the plans for the proposed mining site ensure that
the kinds of environmental harm identified by DNR will be avoided or mitigated in
connection with the proposed mining operation and to develop a contingency plan to
mitigate the effects of those kinds of environmental harm.
This bill also requires individuals who install a liner for a tailings disposal area
to be trained and certified by the manufacturer of the materials used for the liner.
For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as
an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB586, s. 1 1Section 1. 289.41 (4) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB586,2,42 289.41 (4) (a) Net worth method. A Except as provided in par. (d), a company
3may establish proof of financial responsibility required under sub. (2) (a), (c) or (d)
4by applying to the department and meeting the net worth requirements.
AB586, s. 2 5Section 2. 289.41 (4) (d) of the statutes is created to read:
AB586,2,96 289.41 (4) (d) Mining facilities. A company may not establish proof of financial
7responsibility by meeting net worth requirements for a solid or hazardous waste
8disposal facility that accepts waste primarily from a mining operation with a permit
9issued under s. 293.49.
AB586, s. 3 10Section 3. 293.31 (4m) of the statutes is created to read:
AB586,2,1411 293.31 (4m) The department shall require a person submitting a notice of
12intent to apply for a mining permit to collect baseline data and information regarding
13the natural conditions in the area the natural environment of which is likely to be
14affected by the proposed mining operation.
AB586, s. 4 15Section 4. 293.37 (2) (h) of the statutes is renumbered 293.37 (2) (p).
AB586, s. 5
1Section 5. 293.37 (2) (i) and (j) of the statutes are created to read:
AB586,3,42 293.37 (2) (i) A comprehensive study of weather conditions at the proposed
3mining site, with emphasis on the potential extremes of weather that may affect the
4mining site during construction and operation, and during and after reclamation.
AB586,3,75 (j) A comprehensive study of geological conditions at the proposed mining site,
6with emphasis on the potential for catastrophic geological events that may affect the
7mining site.
AB586, s. 6 8Section 6. 293.37 (3m) of the statutes is created to read:
AB586,3,109 293.37 (3m) (a) The department shall identify mining operations that have
10caused environmental harm in other states and countries.
AB586,3,12 11(b) The applicant shall, as part of the mining permit application, do all of the
12following:
AB586,3,15 131. Identify the construction techniques, mining technologies and operational
14procedures that resulted in the kinds of environmental harm identified by the
15department under par. (a).
AB586,3,19 162. Evaluate how the proposed mine, the mining plan and the reclamation plan
17ensure that the kinds of environmental harm identified by the department under
18par. (a) will be avoided or mitigated in connection with the proposed mining
19operation.
AB586,3,21 203. Develop a contingency plan to mitigate the effects of any of the kinds of
21environmental harm identified by the department under par. (a).
AB586, s. 7 22Section 7. 293.50 of the statutes is created to read:
AB586,4,3 23293.50 Mining site construction. (1) Inspection fee. Upon the issuance
24of a mining permit under s. 293.49 (1), the operator shall pay to the department a fee
25established by the department, by rule, which shall cover the estimated cost of

1inspecting the construction and operation of the mining site under s. 293.86 (2). After
2completing the inspection, or periodically during construction and operation of the
3mining site, the department shall revise the fee to reflect the actual cost of inspection.
AB586,4,6 4(2) Installation of tailings disposal area liner. All individuals who install
5a liner for a tailings disposal area shall be trained and certified by the manufacturer
6of the materials used for the liner.
AB586, s. 8 7Section 8. 293.86 (title) of the statutes is created to read:
AB586,4,8 8293.86 (title) Entry to property; inspections.
AB586, s. 9 9Section 9. 293.86 of the statutes is renumbered 293.86 (1).
AB586, s. 10 10Section 10. 293.86 (2) and (3) of the statutes are created to read:
AB586,4,1711 293.86 (2) Inspection of mining site activities. The department or its agents
12shall inspect all activities that disturb the soil and all construction and operation
13activities on a mining site to determine compliance with this chapter, rules
14promulgated under this chapter and all conditions of the mining permit. The
15department shall provide that at least one of its employes or agents is present at the
16mining site and actively engaged in inspection activities at all times during which
17activities that disturb the soil or construction or operation activities occur.
AB586,4,20 18(3) Inspection of tailings disposal area liner. The department or its agents
19shall inspect the installation of any liner for a tailings disposal area to ensure that
20the liner is installed according to the manufacturer's specifications.
AB586, s. 11 21Section 11. Initial applicability.
AB586,5,222 (1) The treatment of sections 289.41 (4) (a) and (d), 293.31 (4m), 293.37 (2) (i)
23and (j) and (3m), 293.50 and 293.86 (2) and (3) of the statutes and the renumbering
24of section 293.86 of the statutes first apply to a mining operation for which a mining

1permit under section 293.49 of the statutes has not been approved or denied by the
2department of natural resources on the effective date of this subsection.
AB586,5,33 (End)
Loading...
Loading...