293.31(3) (3) The department shall also receive and consider any comments from interested persons received within 45 days after public notice is given under sub. (2) as to the information which they believe should be requested from the person giving notice of intent to apply for a prospecting or mining permit and the information which they believe the department should seek through independent studies.
293.31(4) (4) After the receipt and consideration of comments from interested persons, the department shall inform the person giving notice of intent to apply for a prospecting or mining permit of the type and quantity of information that it then believes to be needed to support an application, and where applicable, the methodology to be used in gathering information. The department shall specifically inform the person giving notice of intent to apply for a prospecting or mining permit of the type and quantity of information on the characteristics of groundwater resources in the area in which prospecting or mining is anticipated to occur which the department believes is needed to support an application. The department shall also begin informing the person giving notice of intent to apply for a prospecting or mining permit as to the timely application date for approvals, licenses and permits, so as to facilitate the consideration of all other matters at the hearing on the prospecting or mining permit.
293.31(5) (5) The department may conduct studies necessary to verify information which may be submitted at the time of a permit application.
293.31(6) (6) All information gathered by a person giving notice under sub. (1) shall be submitted to the department as soon as it is in final form. The department may at any time after consultation with the person giving notice of intent to apply for a prospecting or mining permit revise or modify its requirements regarding information which must be gathered and submitted.
293.31 History History: 1977 c. 421; 1995 a. 227 s. 751, 752.
293.33 293.33 Local impact committee.
293.33(1) (1) A county, town, village, city or tribal government likely to be substantially affected by potential or proposed mining may designate an existing committee, or establish a committee, for purposes of:
293.33(1)(a) (a) Facilitating communications between operators and itself.
293.33(1)(b) (b) Analyzing implications of mining.
293.33(1)(c) (c) Reviewing and commenting on reclamation plans.
293.33(1)(d) (d) Developing solutions to mining-induced growth problems.
293.33(1)(e) (e) Recommending priorities for local action.
293.33(1)(f) (f) Formulating recommendations to the investment and local impact fund board regarding distribution of funds under s. 70.395 (2) (g).
293.33(1)(g) (g) Negotiating a local agreement under s. 293.41 (3).
293.33(2) (2) A county, town, village, city or tribal government affected in common with another county, town, village, city or tribal government by a proposed or existing mine may cooperatively designate or establish a joint committee, but may also maintain a separate committee under sub. (1). Committees under this section may include representatives of affected units of government, business and industry, manpower, health, protective or service agencies, school districts, or environmental and other interest groups or other interested parties.
293.33(3) (3) Persons giving notice under s. 293.31 (1) shall thereafter appoint a liaison person to any committee established under sub. (1) or (2), and shall provide such reasonable information as is requested by the committee. Operators and persons giving notice under s. 293.31 shall thereafter make reasonable efforts to design and operate mining operations in harmony with community development objectives.
293.33(4) (4) Committees established under sub. (1) or (2) may be funded by their appointing authority, and may, through their appointing authority, submit a request for operating funds to the investment and local impact fund board under s. 70.395. Committees established under sub. (1) shall be eligible for funds only if the county, town, village or city is also a participant in a joint committee, if any, established under sub. (2). The investment and local impact fund board may not grant funds for the use of more than one committee established under sub. (1) in relation to a particular mining proposal unless a joint committee has been established under sub. (2). The investment and local impact fund board shall grant operating funds to any committee that submits a request and is eligible under this subsection and s. 70.395 (2) (fm). Committees may hire staff, enter into contracts with private firms or consultants or contract with a regional planning commission or other agency for staff services for mining-related purposes or the purposes under s. 70.395 (2) (fm).
293.33 History History: 1995 a. 227 s. 761.
293.35 293.35 Application for prospecting permit.
293.35(1) (1) No person may engage in prospecting without securing a prospecting permit issued under s. 293.45. Application for prospecting permits shall be made in writing to the department upon forms prepared and furnished by the department. An application must be made, and a prospecting permit obtained for each separate prospecting site. Applications shall be submitted in reproducible form in such multiples as required by rules of the department. As a part of each application for a prospecting permit, the applicant shall furnish a description of the proposed prospecting site, the number of acres in the proposed prospecting site, a prospecting plan, a reclamation plan meeting the requirements of subs. (2) and (3) and a timetable for reclamation, information relating to whether the area may be unsuitable for prospecting or surface mining, unless the applicant conclusively certifies that he or she will not subsequently make application for a permit to conduct surface mining at the site and such other relevant information as the department may require, including information as to whether the applicant, its parent corporation, any of its principal shareholders or members, or any of the applicant's subsidiaries or affiliates in which the applicant owns more than a 40% interest, has forfeited any mining bonds in other states within the last 20 years, and the dates and locations, if any.
293.35(2) (2) A reclamation plan shall accompany all applications for prospecting permits. If it is physically or economically impracticable or environmentally or socially undesirable for the reclamation process to return the affected area to its original state, the plan shall set forth the reasons therefor and shall discuss alternative conditions and uses to which the affected area can be put.
293.35(3) (3) The reclamation plan shall specify how the applicant intends to accomplish, to the fullest extent possible, compliance with the minimum standards under s. 293.13 (2) (c).
293.35(4) (4) An application shall be accompanied by such fee as is required by the department by rule which shall cover the estimated cost of evaluating the prospecting permit application. After completing its evaluation, the department shall revise the fee to reflect the actual cost of evaluation. The fee may be revised for persons to reflect the payment of fees for the same services to meet other requirements.
293.35(5) (5) If the department determines that a statement under s. 1.11 is required for consideration of an application for a prospecting permit, the statement need not consider impacts unrelated to the proposed prospecting activity, other than the issue of unsuitability for surface mining, absent a certification under sub. (1).
293.35 History History: 1977 c. 421; 1995 a. 227 ss. 758, 765, 768, 994.
293.37 293.37 Application for mining permit.
293.37(1) (1)
293.37(1)(a)(a) No operator may engage in mining or reclamation at any mining site that is not covered by a mining permit and by written authorization to mine under s. 293.51 (3). Applications for mining permits shall be made in writing and in reproducible form to the department upon forms prepared and furnished by it and in such multiples as required by rule of the department. An application shall be made, and a mining permit obtained for each separate mining site. No application for surface mining at a site may be entertained by the department if within the previous 5 years the applicant, or a different person who had received a prospecting permit for the site had certified under s. 293.35 (1) that he or she would not subsequently make application for a permit to conduct surface mining at the site.
293.37(1)(b) (b) If a person commences mining at a mining site which includes an abandoned site, plans for reclamation of the abandoned site, or the portion of the abandoned site which is included in the mining site, shall be included in its mining plan and reclamation plan.
293.37(2) (2) As a part of each application for a mining permit, the applicant shall furnish:
293.37(2)(a) (a) A mining plan, including a description and a detailed map of the proposed mining site drawn to a scale approved by the department. Aerial photographs may be accepted if the photographs show the details to the satisfaction of the department. The map, plan or photograph shall be prepared and certified by a competent engineer, surveyor or other person approved by the department, and shall show the boundaries of the area of land which will be affected, the drainage area above and below the area, the location and names of all streams, roads, railroads, pipelines and utility lines on or within 1,000 feet of the site, the name of the owner or owners of the site, the name of the city, village or town in which the site is located and the name of any other city, village or town if within 3 miles of the site. The map or photograph shall be accompanied by descriptive data as required by the department, including but not limited to the soil conservation service soil capabilities classifications of the affected area, the anticipated geometry of the excavation, the estimated total production of tailings produced, the nature and depth of the overburden, the elevation of the water table and such other information about the geology of the deposit as the department, after consultation with the geological and natural history survey, finds is necessary to evaluate the applicant's mining plan and reclamation plan.
293.37(2)(b) (b) In addition to the information and maps otherwise required by this subsection, a detailed reclamation plan showing the manner, location and time for reclamation, including ongoing reclamation during mining, of the proposed mining site. The reclamation plan shall be accompanied by a map subject to the requirements in par. (a) which shall show the specific reclamation proposal for each area of the site. The reclamation plan shall conform to any applicable comprehensive plan created under sub. (4) (b), and to any applicable minimum standard created under ss. 293.13 (2) and 293.35 (2) and (3).
293.37(2)(c) (c) The name and address of each owner of land within the mining site and each person known by the applicant to hold any option or lease on land within the mining site and all prospecting and mining permits in this state held by the applicant.
293.37(2)(d) (d) Evidence satisfactory to the department that the applicant has applied for necessary approvals and permits under all applicable zoning ordinances and that the operator has applied for the necessary approval, licenses or permits required by the department including, but not limited to, those under chs. 30, 31, 107, 280 to 285, 289 to 292, 295 and 299 and this chapter.
293.37(2)(e)1.1. The information specified in subd. 2. concerning the occurrence of any of the following within 10 years before the application is submitted:
293.37(2)(e)1.a. a. A forfeiture by the applicant, principal shareholder of the applicant or a related person of a mining reclamation bond that was sufficient to cover all costs of reclamation and was posted in accordance with a permit or other approval for a mining operation in the United States, unless the forfeiture was by agreement with the entity for whose benefit the bond was posted.
293.37(2)(e)1.b. b. A felony conviction of the applicant, a related person or an officer or director of the applicant for a violation of a law for the protection of the natural environment arising out of the operation of a mining site in the United States.
293.37(2)(e)1.c. c. The bankruptcy or dissolution of the applicant or a related person that resulted in the failure to reclaim a mining site in the United States in violation of a state or federal law.
293.37(2)(e)1.d. d. The permanent revocation of a mining permit or other mining approval issued to the applicant or a related person if the permit or other mining approval was revoked because of a failure to reclaim a mining site in the United States in violation of state or federal law.
293.37(2)(e)2. 2. The applicant shall specify the name and address of the person involved in and the date and location of each occurrence described in subd. 1.
293.37(2)(f) (f) Information relating to whether unsuitability may exist for surface mining to the extent not fully considered under s. 293.45.
293.37(2)(g) (g) A description of any land contiguous to the proposed mining site which he or she owns, leases or has an option to purchase or lease.
293.37(2)(h) (h) Such other pertinent information as the department requires.
293.37(3) (3)
293.37(3)(a)(a) A reclamation plan shall accompany all applications for mining permits. If it is physically or economically impracticable or environmentally or socially undesirable for the reclamation process to return the affected area to its original state, the plan shall set forth the reasons therefor and shall discuss alternative conditions and uses to which the affected area can be put.
293.37(3)(b) (b) The reclamation plan shall specify how the applicant intends to accomplish, to the fullest extent possible, compliance with the minimum standards under s. 293.13 (2) (c).
293.37(4) (4)
293.37(4)(a)(a) The department shall require an applicant for a mining permit, amended mining permit or change in either the mining or reclamation plan to furnish, as part of the mining permit application, an itemized statement showing the applicant's estimation of the cost to the state of reclamation. The department may, at the applicant's expense, contract with an independent person to estimate the cost to the state of reclamation if it has reason to believe that the applicant's estimated cost of reclamation may not be accurate.
293.37(4)(b) (b) If the department finds that the anticipated life and total area of a mineral deposit are of sufficient magnitude that reclamation of the mining site consistent with this chapter requires a comprehensive plan for the entire affected area, it shall require an operator to submit with the application for a mining permit, amended mining site or change in mining or reclamation plan, a comprehensive long-term plan showing, in detail satisfactory to the department, the manner, location and time for reclamation of the entire area of contiguous land which will be affected by mining and which is owned, leased or under option for purchase or lease by the operator at the time of application. Where a mineral deposit lies on or under the lands of more than one operator, the department shall require the operators to submit mutually consistent comprehensive plans.
293.37(5) (5) The application shall be accompanied by a fee established by the department, by rule, which shall cover the estimated cost of evaluating the mining permit application. After completing its evaluation, the department shall revise the fee to reflect the actual cost of evaluation. The fee may be revised for persons to reflect the payment of fees for the same services to meet other requirements.
293.37 History History: 1995 a. 227 s. 770, 772, 774, 775, 776, 994.
293.37 Annotation All staff work necessary to determine whether mining permit should be granted, including evaluation of other environmental requirements, must be included in fee under s. 144.85 (2) (a). 76 Atty. Gen. 150.
293.39 293.39 Environmental impact statement. . (1) The department shall prepare an environmental impact statement for every mining permit under s. 293.49. In preparing the environmental impact statement, the department shall comply with sub. (2) and s. 1.11 (2).
293.39(2) (2) A statement prepared under sub. (1) shall include a description of the significant long-term and short-term impacts, including impacts after the mining has ended, on all of the following:
293.39(2)(a) (a) Tourism.
293.39(2)(b) (b) Employment.
293.39(2)(c) (c) Schools and medical care facilities.
293.39(2)(d) (d) Private and public social services.
293.39(2)(e) (e) The tax base.
293.39(2)(f) (f) The local economy.
293.39(2)(g) (g) Other significant factors.
293.39(3) (3) To the extent that an environmental impact statement on a prospecting permit application under s. 293.35, if prepared, fully considered unsuitability of the prospecting site for surface mining by virtue of unique features of the land as enumerated in s. 293.01 (28), that portion of the previous impact statement may be adopted in the impact statement on the mining permit application.
293.39 History History: 1991 a. 259; 1995 a. 227 s. 780, 782; Stats. 1995 s. 293.39.
293.41 293.41 Local agreements.
293.41(1)(1) A county, town, village, city or tribal government that requires an operator to obtain an approval or permit under a zoning or land use ordinance and a county, town, village or city in which any portion of a proposed mining site is located may, individually or in conjunction with other counties, towns, villages, cities, or tribal governments, enter into one or more agreements with an operator for the development of a mining operation.
293.41(2) (2) An agreement under sub. (1) shall include all of the following:
293.41(2)(a) (a) A legal description of the land subject to the agreement and the names of its legal and equitable owners.
293.41(2)(b) (b) The duration of the agreement.
293.41(2)(c) (c) The uses permitted on the land.
293.41(2)(d) (d) A description of any conditions, terms, restrictions or other requirements determined to be necessary by the county, town, village, city or tribal government for the public health, safety or welfare of its residents.
293.41(2)(e) (e) A description of any obligation undertaken by the county, town, village, city or tribal government to enable the development to proceed.
293.41(2)(f) (f) The applicability or nonapplicability of county, town, village, city or tribal ordinances, approvals or resolutions.
293.41(2)(g) (g) A provision for the amendment of the agreement.
293.41(2)(h) (h) Other provisions deemed reasonable and necessary by the parties to the agreement.
293.41(3) (3) A county, town, village, city or tribal government may authorize the local impact committee appointed under s. 293.33 to negotiate an agreement under this section, but the agreement may not take effect until approved by the county, town, village, city or tribal government in accordance with sub. (4). 
293.41(4) (4) The county, town, village, city or tribal government shall hold a public hearing on an agreement under sub. (1) before its adoption. Notice of the hearing shall be provided as a class 2 notice, under ch. 985. After the public hearing, the governing body of each county, town, village, city or tribal government which is to be a party to the agreement must approve the agreement in a public meeting of the governing body.
293.41(5) (5) A state agency shall assist a county, town, village, city or tribal government in enforcing those provisions of a local agreement that are within the expertise of the state agency.
293.41 History History: 1987 a. 399; 1991 a. 259; 1995 a. 227 s. 763; Stats. 1995 s. 293.41.
293.43 293.43 Hearings on permit applications.
293.43(1) (1)Applicability. This section, and ch. 227 where it is not inconsistent, shall govern all hearings on applications for prospecting or mining permits.
293.43(1m) (1m)Scope.
293.43(1m)(a)(a) The hearing on the prospecting or mining permit shall cover the application and any statements prepared under s. 1.11 and, to the fullest extent possible, all other applications for approvals, licenses and permits issued by the department. The department shall inform the applicant as to the timely application date for all approvals, licenses and permits issued by the department, so as to facilitate the consideration of all other matters at the hearing on the prospecting or mining permits.
293.43(1m)(b) (b) Except as provided in this paragraph, for all department issued approvals, licenses and permits relating to prospecting or mining including solid waste feasibility report approvals and permits related to air and water, to be issued after April 30, 1980, the notice, hearing and comment provisions, if any, and the time for issuance of decisions, shall be controlled by this section and ss. 293.45 and 293.49. If an applicant fails to make application for an approval, license or permit for an activity incidental to prospecting or mining in time for notice under this section to be provided, the notice and comment requirements, if any, shall be controlled by the specific statutory provisions with respect to that application. If notice under those specific statutory notice requirements can be given for consideration of the approval, license or permit at the hearing under this section, the application shall be considered at that hearing; otherwise, the specific statutory hearing provisions, if any, with respect to that application shall control. The substantive requirements for the issuance of any approval, permit or license incidental to prospecting or mining are not affected by the fact that a hearing on the approval, permit or license is conducted as part of a hearing under this section.
293.43(2) (2)Location. The hearing shall be held in the county where the prospecting or mining site, or the largest portion of the prospecting or mining site, is located, but may subsequently be adjourned to other locations.
293.43(3) (3)Timing of notice and of hearing; giving of notice.
293.43(3)(a)(a) If it is determined that a statement under s. 1.11 is not required, the hearing shall be scheduled for a date not less than 60 days nor more than 90 days after the announcement of that determination, and the scheduling and providing of notice shall be completed not later than 10 days following the announcement. Notice of the hearing shall be given by mailing a copy of the notice to any known state agency required to issue a permit for the proposed operation, to the regional planning commission for the affected area, to the county, city, village and town within which any part of the affected area lies, to all persons who have requested this notification and, if applicable, to all persons specified under par. (b) 3. and s. 281.35 (5) (b) and (6) (f). Written comments may be submitted to the department within 30 days of the date of notice.
293.43(3)(b) (b) If it is determined that a statement under s. 1.11 is required, or if an environmental impact statement is required under s. 293.39, the department shall hold at least one informational meeting regarding the preliminary environmental report within 60 days of its issuance. The meeting shall be held not sooner than 30 days nor later than 60 days after the issuance of the report. The scheduling and providing of notice of the meeting shall be completed not later than 10 days following the issuance of the preliminary environmental report. A hearing referred to under sub. (1m) shall be scheduled for a date not less than 120 days nor more than 180 days after the issuance of the environmental impact statement. The scheduling and providing of notice of the hearing shall be completed within 30 days from the date of issuance of the environmental impact statement. The providing of notice shall be accomplished by:
293.43(3)(b)1. 1. Mailing a copy of the notice to all known departments and agencies required to grant any permit necessary for the proposed operation, to any regional planning commission within which the affected area lies, to the governing bodies of all towns, villages, cities and counties within which any part of the proposed prospecting or mining site lies, to the governing bodies of any towns, villages or cities contiguous to any town, village or city within which any part of the proposed prospecting or mining site lies and to any interested persons who have requested such notification.
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This is an archival version of the Wis. Stats. database for 1995. See Are the Statutes on this Website Official?