AB426: Bill Text

AB426,118,6 (6) Summary. After considering the comments received under subs. (4) and (5) and before acting on the application for the mining permit, the department shall prepare a summary of the comments and the department's response to the comments.

AB426,118,10 (7) Deadline for acting on mining permit application. (a) No more than 360 days after the day on which the application for a mining permit is administratively complete under sub. (2), the department shall approve the application, and issue a mining permit, or deny the application, in accordance with s. 295.58.

AB426,118,14 (b) If the department does not comply with par. (a), the application for the mining permit is automatically granted and the department shall issue a mining permit. The applicant may engage in mining based on the automatic approval, notwithstanding any delay by the department in issuing the mining permit.

AB426,118,21 (8) Deadline for acting on other approvals. (a) Except as provided in par. (c), if an applicant files an application for an approval other than a mining permit no later than 60 days after the day on which the application for the mining permit is administratively complete under sub. (2), the department shall approve the application, and issue the approval, or deny the application no more than 360 days after the day on which the application for the mining permit is administratively complete under sub. (2).

AB426,119,3 (b) Except as provided in par. (c) if an applicant files an application for an approval other than a mining permit more than 60 days after the day on which the application for the mining permit is administratively complete under sub. (2), the deadline for acting on the application is extended beyond the deadline under par. (a) by the number of days beyond the 60th day after the day on which the application for the mining permit is administratively complete that the applicant files the application for the approval.

AB426,119,5 (c) Paragraphs (a) and (b) do not apply to the application for an air pollution control permit under s. 285.62.

AB426,119,9 (d) The department shall incorporate an approval other than a mining permit into a single document with the mining permit, unless the application for the approval was filed more than 60 days after the day on which the application for the mining permit is administratively complete under sub. (2).

AB426,119,15 (8m) Submission of technical review to Great Lakes regional body. If an applicant files an application under s. 281.346 for an approval for a withdrawal of surface water or groundwater that is subject to regional review or council approval, the department shall provide its technical review, as defined in s. 281.346 (1) (u), to the regional body, as defined in s. 281.346 (1) (q), no later than 90 days after the applicant files the application for the approval.

AB426,119,25 (9) Applicable procedure. The provisions of this section and ss. 295.58 (5) and (6) and 295.77 concerning public notice, comment, and hearing; issuance of department decisions; effective date of department decisions; and review of department decisions; and the duration of approvals apply to any approval, notwithstanding any provisions related to those matters in s. 44.40 or 169.25, subch. I or VI of ch. 77, ch. 23, 29, 30, 169, 281, 283, 285, 289, or 291, or rules promulgated under those provisions, except as provided in s. 281.343 (7r) and except that if a withdrawal of surface water or groundwater is subject to regional review or council approval under s. 281.346, the applicable provisions related to regional review or council approval apply.

AB426,120,4 295.58 Mining; department grant or denial of permit. (1) Criteria for approval. (a) Except as provided in sub. (2) and except with respect to property specified in s. 41.41 (11), the department shall issue a mining permit if it finds all of the following:

AB426,120,6 1. That the mining plan and reclamation plan are reasonably certain to result in reclamation of the mining site consistent with this subchapter.

AB426,120,8 2. That the waste site feasibility study and plan of operation complies with s. 295.51.

AB426,120,10 3. That the applicant has committed to conducting the proposed mining in compliance with the mining permit and any other approvals issued for the mining.

AB426,120,12 4. That the proposed mining is not likely to result in substantial adverse impacts to public health, safety, or welfare.

AB426,120,14 5. That the proposed mining will result in a net positive economic impact in the area reasonably expected to be most impacted by the mining.

AB426,120,16 6. That the applicant has applied for all necessary zoning approvals applicable to the proposed mining.

AB426,121,2 (b) The department shall approve or deny an application for a mining permit in writing and shall include the reasons for its decision with clarity and in detail. The department may modify the applicant's proposed mining plan, reclamation plan, or mining waste site feasibility study and plan of operation in order to meet the requirements of this subchapter, and, as modified, approve the application. The approval of the application for a mining permit constitutes the approval of the mining plan, reclamation plan, and waste site feasibility study and plan of operation. In its decision on the application for a mining permit, the department shall include a final decision on compliance with s. 1.11 and the requirements of s. 295.53, discussing all of the following:

AB426,121,4 1. Whether the department has considered the environmental impact statement and comments received on it.

AB426,121,5 2. Whether the department has complied with ss. 1.11 and 295.53.

AB426,121,8 3. Whether, consistent with social, economic, and other essential considerations, the department has adopted all practicable means within its authority to avoid or minimize any harm to the environment and, if not, why not.

AB426,121,10 (2) Criteria for denial. The department shall deny the mining permit if it finds any of the following:

AB426,121,11 (a) That the site is unsuitable for mining.

AB426,121,13 (b) That the proposed mining may reasonably be expected to create any of the following situations:

AB426,121,17 1. Hazards resulting in irreparable, substantial physical damage to any of the following that cannot be prevented under the requirements of this subchapter, avoided to the extent practicable by removal from the area of hazard, or mitigated by purchase or by obtaining the consent of the owner:

AB426,121,18 a. A dwelling house.

AB426,121,19 b. A public building.

AB426,121,20 c. A school.

AB426,121,21 d. A church.

AB426,121,22 e. A cemetery.

AB426,121,23 f. A commercial or institutional building.

AB426,121,24 g. A public road.

AB426,122,5 2. Irreparable substantial environmental damage to lake or stream bodies despite adherence to the requirements of this subchapter. This subdivision does not apply to an activity that the department has authorized under statute, except that the destruction or filling in of a lake bed may not be authorized unless it is authorized under s. 295.60, 295,605, or 295.61.

AB426,122,8 3. Landslides or substantial deposition from the proposed mining operation in stream or lake beds which cannot feasibly be prevented and which have not been authorized under s. 295.60 or 295.605.

AB426,122,10 (c) That the applicant has violated, and continues to fail to comply with, this subchapter.

AB426,122,16 (d) Subject to sub. (3), that the applicant, principal shareholder of the applicant, or a related person has within 10 years before the application is submitted forfeited a mining reclamation bond that was posted in accordance with a permit or other authorization for a mining operation in the United States, unless the forfeiture was by agreement with the entity for whose benefit the bond was posted and the amount of the bond was sufficient to cover all costs of reclamation.

AB426,122,21 (e) Subject to sub. (3), that the applicant, a related person, or an officer or director of the applicant has, within 10 years before the application is submitted, been convicted of more than one felony for violations of laws for the protection of the natural environment arising out of the operation of a mining site in the United States, unless one of the following applies:

AB426,122,22 1. The person convicted has been pardoned for all of the felonies.

AB426,122,24 2. The person convicted is a related person or an officer or director of the applicant with whom the applicant terminates its relationship.

AB426,123,3 3. The applicant included in its permit application under s. 295.47 a plan to prevent the occurrence in this state of events similar to the events that directly resulted in the convictions.

AB426,123,8 (f) Subject to sub. (3), that the applicant or a related person has, within 10 years before the application is submitted, declared bankruptcy or undergone dissolution that resulted in the failure to reclaim a mining site in the United States in violation of a state or federal law and that failure has not been remedied and is not being remedied.

AB426,123,13 (g) Subject to sub. (3), that, within 10 years before the application is submitted, a mining permit or other authorization for mining issued to the applicant or a related person was permanently revoked because of a failure to reclaim a mining site in the United States in violation of state or federal law and that failure has not been and is not being remedied.

AB426,123,21 (3) Exception from denial criteria. The department may not deny a mining permit under sub. (2) (d) to (g) if the person subject to the convictions, forfeiture, permanent revocation, bankruptcy, or dissolution is a related person but the applicant shows that the person was not the parent corporation of the applicant, a person that holds more than a 30 percent ownership in the applicant, or a subsidiary or affiliate of the applicant in which the applicant holds more than a 30 percent interest at the time of the convictions, forfeiture, permanent revocation, bankruptcy, or dissolution.

AB426,123,24 (4) Statement. The department shall send a statement as to whether the applicant has satisfied the requirements of this subchapter to the applicant and to the other persons specified in s. 295.57 (4) (b) 1. to 9.

AB426,124,2 (5) Duration of approvals. (a) A mining permit is valid for the life of the mining project, subject to the enforcement provisions under s. 295.79.

AB426,124,4 (b) An approval under s. 295.60 or 295.61 remains valid for the life of the mining, subject to the enforcement provisions under s. 295.79.

AB426,124,8 (c) An approval issued for a mining project under ch. 23, 29, 30, 169, 281, 283, 285, 289, or 291, except for a permit under ch. 283 or 285 that is subject to a federal requirement limiting its duration, remains valid for the life of the mining project, subject to the enforcement provisions applicable to the approval.

AB426,124,10 (6) Effective date of approvals. A mining permit and any other approval is issued upon mailing and is final and effective upon issuance.

AB426,124,15 (7) Merchantable by-products. In a mining permit, the department shall require the operator to treat merchantable by-products as refuse if after 3 years from the time the merchantable by-products result from or are displaced by mining the material has not been transported off the mining site, unless removal is continuing at a rate of more than 12,000 cubic yards per year.

AB426,124,23 (8) General contractor or affiliate. No operator may engage a general contractor or affiliate to operate a mining site if the general contractor or affiliate has been convicted of more than one felony for violation of a law for the protection of the natural environment arising out of the operation of a mining site in the United States within 10 years before the issuance of the operator's mining permit, unless the general contractor or affiliate receives the department's approval of a plan to prevent the occurrence in this state of events similar to the events that directly resulted in the convictions.

AB426,125,2 295.59 Bonds and other security. (1) Security for reclamation. (a) Upon notification that an application for a mining permit has been approved by the department but before beginning mining, the operator shall furnish one of the following to the department:

AB426,125,5 1. A bond, furnished by a surety company licensed to do business in this state, conditioned on faithful performance of all of the requirements of this subchapter and all rules adopted by the department under this subchapter.

AB426,125,6 2. Cash.

AB426,125,7 3. Certificates of deposit.

AB426,125,8 4. Government securities.

AB426,125,10 (b) The department shall pay to the operator interest received on certificates of deposit or government securities furnished under par. (a).

AB426,125,19 (c) The operator shall furnish the security required under par. (a) in the amount equal to the estimated cost to the state of fulfilling the reclamation plan, other than the cost of long-term care of the mining waste site, in relation to the portion of the mining site that will be disturbed by the end of the following year. The department shall determine the estimated cost of reclamation of each mining site on the basis of relevant factors, including the character and nature of the lands to be reclaimed, the future suitable use of the land involved, the topography of the mining site, the methods of reclamation being employed, the depth and composition of overburden, and the depth of the ferrous mineral deposit being mined.

AB426,126,2 (2) Certificate of insurance. The operator shall submit a certificate of insurance certifying that the applicant has in force a liability insurance policy issued by an insurer authorized to do business in this state or, in lieu of a certificate of insurance, evidence that the applicant has satisfied state or federal self-insurance requirements, covering all mining operations of the operator in this state and affording personal injury and property damage protection in a total amount determined to be adequate by the department but not more than $1,000,000 and not less than $50,000.

AB426,126,8 (2m) Proof of financial responsibility for long-term care of mining waste site. An operator shall maintain proof of financial responsibility ensuring the availability of funds for compliance with the long-term care requirements specified in the waste site feasibility study and plan of operation for a period of 40 years after closing of the mining waste site. The operator shall furnish the proof of financial responsibility to the department in one of the following forms:

AB426,126,9 (a) A bond

AB426,126,10 (b) Cash.

AB426,126,11 (c) Certificates of deposit.

AB426,126,12 (d) Government securities.

AB426,126,13 (e) Insurance.

AB426,126,18 (3) Written authorization to mine. Upon approval of the operator's bonds or other security under subs. (1) and (2m), mining application, and certificate of insurance, the department shall issue written authorization to begin mining at the permitted mining site in accordance with the approved mining plan, reclamation plan, and mining waste site feasibility study and plan of operation.

AB426,127,3 (4) Reclamation bond for more than one mining site. Any operator who obtains mining permits from the department for 2 or more mining sites may elect, at the time that the mining permit for the 2nd or any subsequent mining site is approved, to post a single bond under sub. (1) in lieu of separate bonds for each mining site. An operator who chooses to post a single bond under this subsection shall post a bond in an amount equal to the estimated cost to the state determined under sub. (1) of reclaiming all mining sites the operator has under mining permits. When an operator elects to post a single bond in lieu of separate bonds previously posted on individual mining sites, the department may not release the separate bonds until the department accepts the new bond.

AB426,127,8 (5) Review of amounts. If an operator disagrees with the amount of the bonds or other security that the department requires under this section, the operator may seek review under s. 295.77 of the amount required. The operator may post a bond or other security in the amount required by the department and begin mining without forfeiting its right to seek review.

AB426,127,9 295.60 Impacts to wetlands. (1) Definitions. In this section:

AB426,127,11 (a) "Area of special natural resource interest" has the meaning given in s. 281.37 (1) (a).

AB426,127,14 (b) "Artificial wetland" means a landscape feature where hydrophytic vegetation may be present as a result of human modifications to the landscape or hydrology and for which there is no prior wetland or stream history.

AB426,127,17 (c) "ASNRI wetland" means a wetland that is within the boundary of an area of special natural resource interest or that is in close proximity to or that has a direct hydrologic connection to an area of special natural resource interest.

AB426,127,21 (d) "Compensation" means the implementation of measures that will function to improve functional values of wetlands or other water quality functions to offset significant adverse impacts that remain after all practicable avoidance and minimization measures have been achieved.

AB426,127,23 (e) "Federal compensatory mitigation requirement" means any mitigation requirement that is imposed by the federal government.

AB426,127,25 (f) "Federal wetland" means a wetland that is not a nonfederal wetland and includes an ASNRI wetland.

AB426,128,2 (g) "Functional values and water quality" means the water quality related wetland functional values and uses specified in sub. (6).

AB426,128,5 (h) "Impact" means a permanent, temporary, cumulative, secondary, direct or indirect result that is attributable to a discharge to which the wetland water quality standards apply.

AB426,128,7 (i) "Mitigation" means the restoration, enhancement, or creation of wetlands to offset significant adverse impacts to other wetlands.

AB426,128,11 (j) "Mitigation bank" means a system of accounting for wetland loss and mitigation that includes one or more sites where wetlands are restored, enhanced, or created to provide transferable credits to be subsequently applied to offset significant adverse impacts to other wetlands.

AB426,128,13 (k) "Nonfederal wetland" has the meaning given in s. 281.36 (1) (c) and includes an ASNRI wetland.

AB426,128,15 (L) "On-site location" means a location that is within one-half mile of an outer boundary of a mining site.

AB426,128,18 (m) "Practicable" means available and capable of being implemented after taking into consideration cost, available technology, and logistics in light of the overall project purposes and the needs for bulk sampling or a mining operation.

AB426,128,20 (n) "Riparian restoration project" means a project that will restore or enhance the natural beneficial uses and value of a watercourse.

AB426,128,22 (o) "Water basin" means the Lake Michigan basin, the Lake Superior basin, or the Mississippi River basin or other water basin established by the department.

AB426,128,24 (p) "Water management unit" means a subdivision of a water basin that is established on a hydrological basis by the department.

AB426,129,2 (q) "Watershed" means an area of land where all of the water drains into a common waterway.

AB426,129,4 (r) "Wetland water quality standard" means a water quality standard specified under sub. (6).

AB426,129,7 (2) Scope. This section applies to any water quality certification, or any other approval that involves an evaluation of impact to wetlands, that is associated with mining or bulk sampling.

AB426,129,19 (3) Wetland determinations and delineations. For purposes of this section, wetland determinations and wetland boundary delineations shall be consistent with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 1987 Wetlands Delineation Manual and any final regional supplement to the manual. The department may rely on wetland determinations and wetland boundary delineations made by other agencies and consultants. If the applicant for a water quality certification or for any other approval for an activity involving impacts to wetlands has provided information to the department that is identified in the manual or any final regional supplement as being sufficient to make a wetland determination or a delineation of boundaries, the department may visit the site to conduct surveys or gather additional site-specific quantitative data provided that the department does not discontinue the processing of the application to do so.

AB426,130,2 (4) Water quality certification for federal wetlands. (a) For purposes of issuing a water quality certification that is required pursuant to 33 USC 1341 (a) for a discharge associated with a mining operation or bulk sampling into a federal wetland or for issuing any other approval associated with a mining operation for an activity that involves any impact to a federal wetland, the department shall review the federal compensatory mitigation requirements proposed as part of the federal permit application.

AB426,130,14 (b) For purposes of determining whether to issue a water quality certification or other approval that requires an evaluation of impacts to federal wetlands, the department shall determine whether it has reasonable assurance that the federal permitting process and federal compensatory mitigation requirements will offset any significant adverse impact to the functional values and water quality of the federal wetland. For purposes of areas of special natural resource interest and federal wetlands that are ASNRI wetlands, the department shall determine that reasonable assurance exists if significant adverse impacts have been avoided or minimized to the extent practicable and any remaining significant adverse impacts are offset by compensation or mitigation. If the department determines that reasonable assurance exists, the department may not impose any additional conditions.