AB426,61,11 5(9) Reports. (a) Within 10 days after completing the temporary or permanent
6abandonment of a drillhole, an explorer shall file with the department an
7abandonment report that describes the means and method used in the abandonment
8and is signed by an authorized representative of the explorer attesting to the
9accuracy of the information contained in the report. The explorer shall submit the
10abandonment report to the department's district office for the district in which the
11drilling site is located.
AB426,61,1612 (b) After permanent abandonment of a drillhole and regrading and
13revegetation of the drilling site, an explorer shall notify the department of
14completion of termination of the drilling site. The explorer shall submit the notice,
15in writing, to the department's district office for the district in which the drilling site
16is located.
AB426,61,2317 (c) 1. After receipt of a notice under par. (b), the department shall notify the
18explorer in writing whether the termination is satisfactory or unsatisfactory. If the
19termination is unsatisfactory, the department shall inform the explorer of the
20necessary corrective measures. Following the completion of corrective measures, the
21explorer shall file written notice with the department's district office for the district
22in which the drilling site is located specifying the means and method used and
23stating that termination is complete.
AB426,62,3
12. If an explorer fails to comply with corrective measures identified under subd.
21., the department may suspend the explorer's exploration license in accordance with
3sub. (7).
AB426,62,64 3. Upon satisfactory completion of termination of a drilling site, the
5department shall issue a certificate of completion. The department may not issue a
6certificate of completion for a drilling site that has only been temporarily abandoned.
AB426,62,13 7(10) Drilling fees. Upon the submission of a report under sub. (9) (a) of
8temporary abandonment of a drillhole, if the drillhole is temporarily abandoned, or
9upon submission of a report under sub. (9) (a) of permanent abandonment of a
10drillhole, if the drillhole is not temporarily abandoned, the explorer shall pay a fee
11to the department. The fee is $100 per drillhole for the first 20 drillholes for which
12a report is filed in a license year and $50 for each subsequent drillhole for which a
13report is filed in that license year.
AB426,62,19 14(11) Inspections. (a) Any duly authorized officer, employee, or representative
15of the department may enter and inspect any property, premises, or place on or at
16which exploration is being performed at any reasonable time for the purpose of
17ascertaining the state of compliance with this section. No explorer may refuse entry
18or access to any authorized representative of the department who requests entry for
19the purposes of inspection and who presents appropriate credentials.
AB426,62,2120 (b) No person may obstruct, hamper, or interfere with any inspection
21authorized in par. (a).
AB426,62,2222 (c) No inspector may obstruct, hamper, or interfere with exploration activities.
AB426,63,2 23(12) Exemption. This section does not apply to an operator with a mining
24permit who is engaged in exploration activities on lands included in a mining plan

1and reclamation plan, if the mining plan or reclamation plan contains provisions
2relating to termination of the exploration activities.
AB426,63,5 3(13) Environmental analysis not required. The department is not required
4to prepare an environmental impact statement or an environmental assessment for
5an application for an exploration license.
AB426,63,9 6295.443 Local impact committee; local agreement. (1) A county, town,
7village, city, or tribal government likely to be substantially affected by potential or
8proposed mining may designate an existing committee, or establish a committee, for
9purposes of:
AB426,63,1010 (a) Facilitating communications between operators and itself.
AB426,63,1111 (b) Analyzing implications of mining.
AB426,63,1212 (c) Reviewing and commenting on reclamation plans.
AB426,63,1313 (d) Developing solutions to mining-induced growth problems.
AB426,63,1414 (e) Recommending priorities for local action.
AB426,63,1715 (f) Formulating recommendations to the investment and local impact fund
16board regarding distribution of funds under s. 70.395 (2) (g) related to mining for
17ferrous minerals.
AB426,63,1818 (g) Negotiating a local agreement under sub. (1m).
AB426,63,25 19(1m) A county, town, village, city, or tribal government that requires an
20operator to obtain an approval or permit under a zoning or land use ordinance and
21a county, town, village, or city in which any portion of a proposed mining site is
22located may, individually or in conjunction with other counties, towns, villages,
23cities, or tribal governments, enter into one or more agreements with an operator for
24the development of a mining operation. The local agreement may include any of the
25following:
AB426,64,2
1(a) A legal description of the land subject to the agreement and the names of
2its legal and equitable owners.
AB426,64,33 (b) The duration of the agreement.
AB426,64,44 (c) The uses permitted on the land.
AB426,64,75 (d) A description of any conditions, terms, restrictions, or other requirements
6determined to be necessary by the county, town, village, city, or tribal government for
7the public health, safety, or welfare of its residents.
AB426,64,98 (e) A description of any obligation undertaken by the county, town, village, city,
9or tribal government to enable the development to proceed.
AB426,64,1110 (f) The applicability or nonapplicability of county, town, village, city, or tribal
11ordinances, approvals, or resolutions.
AB426,64,1212 (g) A provision for the amendment of the agreement.
AB426,64,1413 (h) Other provisions determined to be reasonable and necessary by the parties
14to the agreement.
AB426,64,21 15(2) A county, town, village, city, or tribal government affected in common with
16another county, town, village, city, or tribal government by a proposed or existing
17mine may cooperatively designate or establish a joint committee, but may also
18maintain a separate committee under sub. (1). Committees under this section may
19include representatives of affected units of government, business, and industry,
20manpower, health, protective or service agencies, school districts, or environmental
21and other interest groups or other interested parties.
AB426,65,2 22(3) Persons applying for an exploration license under s. 295.44 shall thereafter
23appoint a liaison person to any committee established under sub. (1) or (2), and shall
24provide such reasonable information as is requested by the committee. Operators
25and persons applying for an exploration license under s. 295.44 shall thereafter

1make reasonable efforts to design and operate mining operations in harmony with
2community development objectives.
AB426,65,15 3(4) Committees established under sub. (1) or (2) may be funded by their
4appointing authority, and may, through their appointing authority, submit a request
5for operating funds to the investment and local impact fund board under s. 70.395.
6Committees established under sub. (1) shall be eligible for funds only if the county,
7town, village or city is also a participant in a joint committee, if any, established
8under sub. (2). The investment and local impact fund board may not grant funds for
9the use of more than one committee established under sub. (1) in relation to a
10particular mining proposal unless a joint committee has been established under sub.
11(2). The investment and local impact fund board shall grant operating funds to any
12committee that submits a request and is eligible under this subsection and s. 70.395
13(2) (fm). Committees may hire staff, enter into contracts with private firms or
14consultants or contract with a regional planning commission or other agency for staff
15services for mining-related purposes or the purposes under s. 70.395 (2) (fm).
AB426,65,22 16295.45 Bulk sampling plan. (1) A person who intends to engage in bulk
17sampling may file a bulk sampling plan with the department. The collection of data
18under a bulk sampling plan may include sampling and analysis related to
19geophysical, geochemical, groundwater, and surface water conditions, as well as any
20other data or studies necessary to prepare an application for a mining permit,
21including the mining plan, reclamation plan, mining waste site feasibility study and
22plan of operation, or any other approval required for the proposed mining.
AB426,65,23 23(2) A person shall include all of the following in a bulk sampling plan:
AB426,66,224 (a) A description and map of the bulk sampling site, including the number of
25acres in the site, the number of acres of land that will be disturbed, if any, associated

1with each bulk sampling location, and the locations and types of sampling or studies
2to be conducted at each bulk sampling location.
AB426,66,33 (b) A description of the methods to be used for the bulk sampling.
AB426,66,64 (c) A site-specific plan for controlling surface erosion that conforms to
5requirements under ss. 281.33 (3) and 283.33 and that identifies how impacts to
6plant and wildlife habitats will be avoided or minimized to the extent practicable.
AB426,66,117 (d) A revegetation plan for each area where bulk sampling will be performed
8that describes how adverse impacts to the environment will be avoided or minimized
9to the extent practicable and how the site will be revegetated and stabilized and that
10identifies how adverse impacts to plant and wildlife habitats will be avoided or
11minimized to the extent practicable.
AB426,66,1312 (e) The estimated time for completing the bulk sampling and revegetation of
13the bulk sampling locations.
AB426,66,1614 (f) A description of any known adverse environmental impacts that are likely
15to be caused by the bulk sampling and how those impacts will be avoided or
16minimized to the extent practicable.
AB426,66,2217 (g) A description of any adverse effects, as defined in s. 44.31 (1), that the bulk
18sampling might have on any historic property, as defined in s. 44.31 (3), that is a
19listed property, as defined in s. 44.31 (4), that is on the Wisconsin inventory of historic
20places, as defined in s. 44.31 (12), or that is on the list of locally designated historic
21places under s. 44.45; or any scenic or recreational areas; and plans to avoid or
22minimize those adverse effects to the extent practicable.
AB426,67,5 23(2m) The department shall protect as confidential any information, other than
24effluent data, contained in a bulk sampling plan and in any application for an
25approval that is required before the bulk sampling may be implemented, upon a

1showing that the information is entitled to protection as a trade secret, as defined in
2s. 134.90 (1) (c), and any information relating to the location, quality, or quantity of
3a ferrous mineral deposit, to production or sales figures, or to processes or production
4unique to the applicant or that would tend to adversely affect the competitive
5position of the applicant if made public.
AB426,67,13 6(3) Within 14 days of receipt of a bulk sampling plan, the department shall
7identify for the applicant, in writing, all approvals that are required before the bulk
8sampling may be implemented, any waivers, exemptions, or exceptions to those
9approvals that are potentially available, and any information that the department
10needs to issue the approvals or to issue a decision on any waiver, exemption, or
11exception. If no approvals are required, the department shall notify the applicant
12that no approvals are required and that the applicant may proceed with the bulk
13sampling.
AB426,67,17 14(3e) If a storm water discharge permit under s. 283.33 (1) (a) or a water quality
15certification under rules promulgated under subch. II of ch. 281 to implement 33
16USC 1341
(a) is required before bulk sampling may be implemented, the person filing
17the bulk sampling plan may apply for and be issued the permit or certification.
AB426,67,21 18(3m) The department shall act on any required construction site erosion
19control and storm water management approval, notwithstanding any authorization
20by the department of a local program to administer construction site erosion control
21and storm water management requirements.
AB426,67,22 22(3s) An applicant shall submit all of the following at the same time:
AB426,67,2323 (a) Applications for individual approvals identified under sub. (3).
AB426,67,2524 (b) Applications for coverage under general permits or registration permits
25identified under sub. (3).
AB426,68,2
1(c) Applications for waivers, exemptions, or exceptions identified under sub.
2(3).
AB426,68,33 (d) A bond, as provided in sub. (5).
AB426,68,12 4(4) (a) Notwithstanding any provision in ch. 23, 29, 30, 169, 281, 283, 285, 289,
5or 291 or in a rule promulgated under those chapters that is applicable to an approval
6identified under sub. (3), the application for any approval, for a waiver, exemption,
7or exception to an approval, or for a determination that the proposed bulk sampling
8activity is below the threshold that requires an approval, is considered to be complete
9on the 30th day after the department receives the application, unless, before that
10day, the department provides the applicant with written notification that the
11application is not complete, stating the reason for the determination and describing
12the specific information necessary to make the application complete.
AB426,68,1513 (b) If the department provides a notice under par. (a), the applicant shall
14supplement the application by providing the specified information. The application
15is complete when the applicant provides the information.
AB426,68,2016 (c) If the department determines that the issuance of an approval is contingent
17upon the issuance of a permit under s. 29.604 (6m), and if the application for the
18permit under s. 29.604 (6m) is filed with the approval application, the department
19may not determine that the approval application is incomplete on the basis that the
20department has not yet issued the permit under s. 29.604 (6m).
AB426,69,2 21(5) (a) A person who intends to engage in bulk sampling shall submit with the
22bulk sampling plan a bond in the amount of $5,000 that is conditioned on faithful
23performance of the requirements of this section, that is issued by a surety company
24licensed to do business in this state, and that provides that the bond may not be

1canceled by the surety, except after not less than 90 days' notice to the department
2in writing by registered or certified mail.
AB426,69,73 (b) If the surety for a bond submitted under par. (a) issues a cancellation notice,
4the person who filed the bulk sampling plan shall deliver a replacement bond at least
530 days before the expiration of the 90-day notice period. If the person fails to submit
6a replacement bond, the person may not engage in bulk sampling until the person
7submits a replacement bond.
AB426,69,128 (c) If the license of the surety company for a bond submitted under par. (a) is
9revoked or suspended, the person who filed the bulk sampling plan, within 30 days
10after receiving written notice from the department, shall deliver a replacement bond.
11If the person fails to submit a replacement bond, the person may not engage in bulk
12sampling until the person submits a replacement bond.
AB426,69,1613 (d) The department may require that the amount of the bond submitted under
14this subsection be increased at any time, if the department determines that it is
15unlikely that the bond would be adequate to fund the cost to this state of completing
16the revegetation plan.
AB426,69,2017 (e) The department shall release a bond submitted under this subsection one
18year after the time for completing the bulk sampling and the revegetation set forth
19in the bulk sampling plan if the department determines that the person who engaged
20in bulk sampling has complied with this section.
AB426,70,3 21(6) (a) If the department determines that proposed bulk sampling will have an
22adverse effect, as defined in s. 44.31 (1), on a historic property, as defined in s. 44.31
23(3), that is a listed property, as defined in s. 44.31 (4), that is on the Wisconsin
24inventory of historic places, as defined in s. 44.31 (12), or that is on the list of locally
25designated historic places under s. 44.45, but that the applicant is taking measures

1to minimize that adverse effect, no notice to the state historic preservation officer
2under s. 44.40 (1) or negotiations between the department and state historic
3preservation officer under s. 44.40 (3) are required.
AB426,70,84 (b) If an adverse effect described in par. (a) cannot practicably be minimized,
5any negotiations between the department and state historic preservation officer
6shall be concluded no later than 60 days after the date on which the application for
7the approval that authorizes the bulk sampling activity that will have an adverse
8effect is considered to be complete under sub. (4).
AB426,70,11 9(7) Notwithstanding any provision in ch. 23, 29, 30, 169, 281, 283, 285, 289, or
10291 or a rule promulgated under those chapters applicable to an approval identified
11under sub. (3), all of the following apply:
AB426,70,1612 (a) When considering an application for an approval identified under sub. (3),
13the department shall recognize the fixed location of the metallic mineral deposits,
14the water needs inherent in mining, and the need for mining waste sites and
15processing facilities, including wastewater and sludge storage or treatment lagoons,
16to be contiguous to the location of the ferrous mineral deposits.
AB426,70,1917 (b) When issuing an approval, the department shall require the bulk sampling
18activity for which the approval is issued to be conducted at locations that result in
19the fewest overall adverse environmental impacts, to the extent practicable.
AB426,70,24 20(8) In determining whether to approve or deny an application for an approval
21identified under sub. (3), the department shall consider the site-specific erosion
22control plan, the revegetation plan, and any compensation or mitigation under s.
23295.60, any measures under s. 295.605, or any conservation measures under s.
24295.61 that the applicant proposes to take.
AB426,71,5
1(9) Notwithstanding any inconsistent period in ch. 23, 29, 30, 169, 281, 283,
2285, 289, or 291 or in a rule promulgated under those chapters that is applicable to
3an approval identified under sub. (3), the department shall approve or deny the
4application within 30 days after the day on which the application is considered to be
5complete under sub. (4) if any of the following apply:
AB426,71,86 (a) The application is for a waiver, exemption, or exception to an approval for
7a bulk sampling activity or for a determination that the proposed bulk sampling
8activity is below the threshold that requires an approval.
AB426,71,109 (b) The application is for a determination of eligibility for coverage under a
10general permit or a registration permit.
AB426,71,18 11(10) (a) Notwithstanding any inconsistent period in ch. 23, 29, 30, 169, 281,
12283, 285, 289, or 291 or in a rule promulgated under those chapters that is applicable
13to an approval identified under sub. (3), the department shall approve or deny any
14application for an approval identified under sub. (3) to which sub. (9) does not apply
15within 60 days after the date on which the application is considered to be complete
16under sub. (4), unless the application is for an individual permit for which federal law
17requires the opportunity for public comment or the ability to request a public hearing
18prior to issuance of the approval.
AB426,72,219 (b) The department shall publish a class 1 notice, under ch. 985, that describes
20the availability of information concerning the activity for which an approval
21described in par. (a) is required, its proposed decision, its draft approval, information
22or summaries related to the approval, the department's analyses and preliminary
23determinations relating to the approval, the preapplication description under s.
24295.46, any additional information that a law concerning the approval requires to be

1made available, and the opportunity to submit written comments within 30 days
2after the notice is published.
AB426,72,73 (c) In the notice under par. (b), the department shall also specify the date, time,
4and location of the public informational hearing. The department shall send the
5notice to any person to whom the department is required to give notice of any
6proposed determination, application, or hearing concerning an approval described
7in par. (a) under the laws relating to the issuance of the approval.
AB426,72,148 (d) If there is more than one approval described in par. (a), the department shall
9issue one notice and coordinate the public comment period for all of the approvals.
10If possible, the department shall coordinate the notice and the public comment
11period for an approval that is an individual permit for which federal law requires the
12opportunity for public comment or the ability to request a public hearing prior to
13issuance of the approval with notice and the public comment period for the approvals
14described in par. (a).
AB426,72,2515 (e) The department shall hold a public informational hearing within 30 days
16after publishing the notice under par. (b). The department shall hold the public
17informational hearing in the county where the majority of the proposed bulk
18sampling site is located. If there is more than one approval described in par. (a), the
19department shall hold a single public informational hearing covering all of the
20approvals and the preapplication description under s. 295.46. If possible, the
21department shall include consideration of an approval that is an individual permit
22for which federal law requires the opportunity for public comment or the ability to
23request a public hearing prior to issuance of the approval in the public informational
24hearing under this paragraph. The public informational hearing under this
25paragraph is not a contested case hearing under ch. 227.
AB426,73,7
1(10g) (a) If it is not possible to coordinate the public comment period and public
2informational hearing for an approval that is an individual permit for which federal
3law requires the opportunity for public comment or the ability to request a public
4hearing prior to issuance of the approval with the public comment period and public
5informational hearing under sub. (10), the department shall issue a separate public
6notice and hold a separate public informational hearing for the approval in
7accordance with the law governing the approval.
AB426,73,108 (b) The department shall approve or deny the application for an approval to
9which par. (a) applies within 180 days after the date on which the application is
10considered to be complete under sub. (4).
AB426,73,12 11(10r) An approval identified under sub. (3) is issued upon mailing and is final
12and effective upon issuance.
AB426,73,15 13(11) The department is not required to prepare an environmental impact
14statement or an environmental assessment for an approval required for bulk
15sampling.
AB426,73,23 16295.46 Preapplication description. (1) A person who files a bulk sampling
17plan under s. 295.45 with regard to a proposed mining project shall file, together with
18the bulk sampling plan, a general description of the proposed mining project. A
19person who proposes to engage in a mining project, but who does not file a bulk
20sampling plan, shall file a general description of the proposed mining project with
21the department at the time that the person provides the notice of intent to file an
22application for a mining permit under s. 295.465. The general description shall
23include all of the following:
AB426,73,2424 (a) A description of the proposed mining site.
AB426,73,2525 (b) A map that shows all of the following:
AB426,74,2
11. The boundaries of the area of land that will be affected by the proposed
2mining project.
AB426,74,43 2. The location and names of all streams, roads, railroads, pipelines, and utility
4lines on or within 1,000 feet of the proposed mining site.
AB426,74,55 3. The name or names of the owner or owners of the proposed mining site.
AB426,74,86 4. The name of each city, village, or town in which the proposed mining site is
7located and the name of any other city, village, or town that is located within 3 miles
8of the proposed mining site.
AB426,74,109 5. The federal natural resources conservation service land capabilities
10classifications of the area affected by the proposed mining project.
AB426,74,1111 6. The elevation of the water table.
AB426,74,1412 (c) A general description of the nature, extent, and final configuration of the
13proposed excavation and mining site, including an estimate of the production of
14tailings, waste rock, and other refuse and the location of their disposal.
AB426,74,1615 (d) A general conceptual description of the likely operating procedures of the
16proposed mining project.
AB426,74,1817 (e) The likely location, and a general description, of the excavation, waste site,
18and processing facilities relating to the proposed mining project.
AB426,75,2 19(2) (a) If the department provides notice to an applicant under s. 295.45 (3) that
20no approvals are required for bulk sampling or if a person who proposes to engage
21in a mining project files a preapplication description of the proposed mining project
22at the time that the person provides the notice of intent to file an application for a
23mining permit under s. 295.465 because the person did not file a bulk sampling plan,
24the department shall publish a class 1 notice, under ch. 985, of a public informational
25hearing on the proposed mining project. The department shall publish the notice

1when if notifies the applicant that no approvals are required or after it receives the
2notice of intent.
AB426,75,33 (b) In a notice under par. (a), the department shall do all of the following:
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