HB-6243, As Passed House, November 10, 2004                                 

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                              SUBSTITUTE FOR                                    

                                                                                

                           HOUSE BILL NO. 6243                                  

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                 A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled                                             

                                                                                

    "Natural resources and environmental protection act,"                       

                                                                                

    (MCL 324.101 to 324.90106) by adding part 632.                              

                                                                                

                THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:                      

                                                                                

1              PART 632 NONFERROUS METALLIC MINERAL MINING                      

                                                                                

2       Sec. 63201.  As used in this part:                                          

                                                                                

3       (a) "Administratively complete" means an application for a                  

                                                                                

4   mining permit under this part that is determined by the                     

                                                                                

5   department to contain all of the documents and information                  

                                                                                

6   required under this part and any rules promulgated under this               

                                                                                

7   part.                                                                       

                                                                                

8       (b) "Affected area" means an area outside of the mining area                

                                                                                

9   where the land surface, surface water, groundwater, or air                  

                                                                                

10  resources are determined through an environmental impact                    

                                                                                

11  assessment to be potentially affected by mining operations within           

                                                                                


                                                                                

1   the proposed mining area.                                                   

                                                                                

2       (c) "Department" means the department of environmental                      

                                                                                

3   quality.                                                                    

                                                                                

4       (d) "Emergency management coordinator" means that term as                   

                                                                                

5   defined in section 2 of the emergency management act, 1976 PA               

                                                                                

6   390, MCL 30.402.                                                            

                                                                                

7       (e) "Fund" means the nonferrous metallic mineral surveillance               

                                                                                

8   fund created in section 63217.                                              

                                                                                

9       (f) "Metallic product" means a commercially salable mineral                 

                                                                                

10  produced primarily for its nonferrous metallic mineral content in           

                                                                                

11  its final marketable form or state.                                         

                                                                                

12      (g) "Mining" means the excavation or removal of more than                   

                                                                                

13  10,000 tons of earth material a year or disturbing more than 1              

                                                                                

14  acre of land a year in the regular operation of a business for              

                                                                                

15  the purpose of extracting a nonferrous metallic mineral or                  

                                                                                

16  minerals by 1 or both of the following:                                     

                                                                                

17                                                                               (i) Removing the overburden lying above natural deposits of a                       

                                                                                

18  mineral and excavating directly from the natural deposits thus              

                                                                                

19  exposed or by excavating directly from deposits lying exposed in            

                                                                                

20  their natural state.                                                        

                                                                                

21      (ii) Excavating from below the surface of the ground by means                

                                                                                

22  of shafts, tunnels, or other subsurface openings.                           

                                                                                

23      (h) "Mining area" means an area of land from which earth                    

                                                                                

24  material is removed in connection with nonferrous metallic                  

                                                                                

25  mineral mining, the lands on which material from that mining is             

                                                                                

26  stored or deposited, the lands on which beneficiating or                    

                                                                                

27  treatment plants and auxiliary facilities are located, the lands            


                                                                                

1   on which the water reservoirs used in the nonferrous metallic               

                                                                                

2   mineral mining process are located, and auxiliary lands that are            

                                                                                

3   used in connection with the mining.                                         

                                                                                

4       (i) "Mining permit" means a permit issued under this part for               

                                                                                

5   conducting nonferrous metallic mineral mining and reclamation               

                                                                                

6   operations.                                                                 

                                                                                

7       (j) "Nonferrous metallic mineral" means any ore or material                 

                                                                                

8   to be excavated from the natural deposits on or in the earth for            

                                                                                

9   its metallic content, but not primarily for its iron or iron                

                                                                                

10  mineral content, to be used for commercial or industrial                    

                                                                                

11  purposes.                                                                   

                                                                                

12      (k) "Nonferrous metallic mineral operator" or "operator"                    

                                                                                

13  means a permittee or other person who is engaged in, or who is              

                                                                                

14  preparing to engage in, mining operations for nonferrous metallic           

                                                                                

15  minerals, whether individually or jointly, or through agents,               

                                                                                

16  employees, or contractors.                                                  

                                                                                

17                                                                               (l) "Permittee" means a person who holds a mining permit.                           

                                                                                

18      (m) "Postclosure monitoring period" means a period following                

                                                                                

19  closure of a nonferrous metallic mineral mine during which the              

                                                                                

20  permittee is required to conduct monitoring of groundwater and              

                                                                                

21  surface water.                                                              

                                                                                

22      (n) "Stockpile" means material, including, but not limited                  

                                                                                

23  to, surface overburden, rock, or lean ore, that in the process of           

                                                                                

24  mining and beneficiation or treatment has been removed from the             

                                                                                

25  earth and stored on the surface.  Stockpile does not include                

                                                                                

26  materials that are being treated in the production of metallic              

                                                                                

27  products and the metallic product that has been produced by that            


                                                                                

1   operation.                                                                  

                                                                                

2       (o) "Tailings basin" means land on which is deposited, by                   

                                                                                

3   hydraulic or other means, the material that is separated from the           

                                                                                

4   metallic product in the beneficiation or treatment of minerals              

                                                                                

5   including any surrounding dikes constructed to contain the                  

                                                                                

6   material.                                                                   

                                                                                

7       Sec. 63202.  The legislature finds that:                                    

                                                                                

8       (a) It is the policy of this state to foster the conservation               

                                                                                

9   and development of the state's natural resources.                           

                                                                                

10      (b) Discoveries of nonferrous metallic sulfide deposits have                

                                                                                

11  resulted in intensive exploration activities and may lead to the            

                                                                                

12  development of 1 or more mines.                                             

                                                                                

13      (c) Nonferrous metallic sulfide deposits are different from                 

                                                                                

14  the iron oxide ore deposits currently being mined in Michigan in            

                                                                                

15  that the sulfide minerals may react, when exposed to air and                

                                                                                

16  water, to form acid rock drainage.  If the mineral products and             

                                                                                

17  waste materials associated with nonferrous metallic sulfide                 

                                                                                

18  mining operations are not properly managed and controlled, they             

                                                                                

19  can cause significant damage to the environment, impact human               

                                                                                

20  health, and degrade the quality of life of the impacted                     

                                                                                

21  community.                                                                  

                                                                                

22      (d) The special concerns surrounding nonferrous metallic                    

                                                                                

23  mineral mining warrant additional regulatory measures beyond                

                                                                                

24  those applied to the current iron mining operations.                        

                                                                                

25      (e) Nonferrous metallic mineral mining may be an important                  

                                                                                

26  contributor to Michigan's economic vitality.  The economic                  

                                                                                

27  benefits of nonferrous metallic mineral mining shall occur only             


     House Bill No. 6243 (H-1) as amended November 10, 2004

   

1   under conditions that assure that the environment, natural                  

                                                                                

2   resources, and public health and welfare are adequately                     

                                                                                

3   protected.                                                                  

                                                                                

4       Sec. 63203.  (1) The department shall administer and enforce                

                                                                                

5   this part.  In addition to other powers granted to it, the                  

                                                                                

6   department shall promulgate rules to implement and administer               

                                                                                

7   this part, including standards for construction, operation,                 

                                                                                

8   closure, postclosure monitoring, reclamation, and remediation of            

                                                                                

9   a mine.  [However, the department shall not promulgate rules under this part after 1 year after the effective date of this part.]                            

                                                                                

10      (2) The department may do either of the following:                          

                                                                                

11      (a) Enter at all reasonable times in or upon a mining area                  

                                                                                

12  for the purpose of inspecting and investigating conditions                  

                                                                                

13  relating to the operation of a mining area.                                 

                                                                                

14      (b) Conduct research or enter into contracts related to                     

                                                                                

15  mining areas and the reclamation of mining areas as may be                  

                                                                                

16  necessary to implement this part.                                           

                                                                                

17      (3) A local unit of government shall not regulate or control                

                                                                                

18  mining or reclamation activities that are subject to this part,             

                                                                                

19  including construction, operation, closure, postclosure                     

                                                                                

20  monitoring, reclamation, and remediation activities, and does not           

                                                                                

21  have jurisdiction concerning the issuance of permits for those              

                                                                                

22  activities.  A local unit of government may enact, maintain, and            

                                                                                

23  enforce ordinances, regulations, or resolutions affecting mining            

                                                                                

24  operations if the ordinances, regulations, or resolutions do not            

                                                                                

25  duplicate, contradict, or conflict with this part.                          

                                                                                

26      Sec. 63205.  (1) A person shall not engage in the mining of                 

                                                                                

27  nonferrous metallic minerals except as authorized in a mining               


                                                                                

1   permit issued by the department.                                            

                                                                                

2       (2) An application for a mining permit shall be submitted to                

                                                                                

3   the department in a format to be developed by the department.               

                                                                                

4   The application shall be accompanied by all of the following:               

                                                                                

5       (a) A permit application fee of $5,000.00.  The department                  

                                                                                

6   shall forward all permit application fees received under this               

                                                                                

7   section to the state treasurer for deposit in the fund.                     

                                                                                

8       (b) An environmental impact assessment for the proposed                     

                                                                                

9   mining operation that describes the natural and human-made                  

                                                                                

10  features, including, but not limited to, flora, fauna, hydrology,           

                                                                                

11  geology, and geochemistry, and baseline conditions in the                   

                                                                                

12  proposed mining area and the affected area that may be impacted             

                                                                                

13  by the mining, and the potential impacts on those features from             

                                                                                

14  the proposed mining operation.  The environmental impact                    

                                                                                

15  assessment shall define the affected area and shall address                 

                                                                                

16  feasible and prudent alternatives.                                          

                                                                                

17      (c) A mining, reclamation, and environmental protection plan                

                                                                                

18  for the proposed mining operation, including beneficiation                  

                                                                                

19  operations, that will reasonably minimize the actual and                    

                                                                                

20  potential adverse impacts on natural resources, the environment,            

                                                                                

21  and public health and safety within the mining area and the                 

                                                                                

22  affected area.  The plan shall address the unique issues                    

                                                                                

23  associated with nonferrous metallic mining and shall include all            

                                                                                

24  of the following:                                                           

                                                                                

25                                                                               (i) A description of materials, methods, and techniques that                        

                                                                                

26  will be utilized.                                                           

                                                                                

27      (ii) Information that demonstrates that all methods,                         


                                                                                

1   materials, and techniques proposed to be utilized are capable of            

                                                                                

2   accomplishing their stated objectives in protecting the                     

                                                                                

3   environment and public health, except that such information may             

                                                                                

4   not be required for methods, materials, and techniques that are             

                                                                                

5   widely used in mining or other industries and are generally                 

                                                                                

6   accepted as effective.  The required information may consist of             

                                                                                

7   results of actual testing, modeling, documentation by credible              

                                                                                

8   independent testing and certification organizations, or                     

                                                                                

9   documented applications in similar uses and settings.                       

                                                                                

10      (iii) Plans and schedules for interim and final reclamation                  

                                                                                

11  of the mining area following cessation of mining operations.                

                                                                                

12      (iv) A description of the geochemistry of the ore, waste                     

                                                                                

13  rock, overburden, peripheral rock, and tailings, including                  

                                                                                

14  characterization of leachability and reactivity.                            

                                                                                

15      (v) Provisions for the prevention, control, and monitoring of               

                                                                                

16  acid-forming waste products and other waste products from the               

                                                                                

17  mining process so as to prevent leaching into groundwater or                

                                                                                

18  runoff into surface water.                                                  

                                                                                

19      (d) A contingency plan that includes an assessment of the                   

                                                                                

20  risk to the environment or public health and safety associated              

                                                                                

21  with potential significant incidents or failures and describes              

                                                                                

22  the operator's notification and response plans.  When the                   

                                                                                

23  application is submitted to the department, the applicant shall             

                                                                                

24  provide a copy of the contingency plan to each emergency                    

                                                                                

25  management coordinator having jurisdiction over the affected                

                                                                                

26  area.                                                                       

                                                                                

27      (e) Financial assurance as described in section 63211.                      


                                                                                

1       (f) A list of other state and federal permits that are                      

                                                                                

2   anticipated to be required.                                                 

                                                                                

3       (3) The applicant has the burden of establishing that the                   

                                                                                

4   terms and conditions set forth in the permit application; mining,           

                                                                                

5   reclamation, and environmental protection plan; and environmental           

                                                                                

6   impact assessment will result in a mining operation that                    

                                                                                

7   reasonably minimizes actual or potential adverse impacts on air,            

                                                                                

8   water, and other natural resources and meets the requirements of            

                                                                                

9   this act.                                                                   

                                                                                

10      (4) Effective 14 days after the department receives an                      

                                                                                

11  application for a mining permit, the application shall be                   

                                                                                

12  considered to be administratively complete unless the department            

                                                                                

13  proceeds as provided under subsection (5).                                  

                                                                                

14      (5) If, before the expiration of the 14-day period under                    

                                                                                

15  subsection (4), the department notifies the applicant that the              

                                                                                

16  application is not administratively complete, specifying the                

                                                                                

17  information necessary to make the application administratively              

                                                                                

18  complete, or notifies the applicant that the fee required to                

                                                                                

19  accompany the application has not been paid, specifying the                 

                                                                                

20  amount due, the running of the 14-day period under subsection (4)           

                                                                                

21  is tolled until the applicant submits to the department the                 

                                                                                

22  specified information or fee amount due.  The notice shall be               

                                                                                

23  given in writing or electronically.                                         

                                                                                

24      (6) Within 42 days after an application for a mining permit                 

                                                                                

25  is determined to be administratively complete, the department               

                                                                                

26  shall hold a public meeting on the application.  The department             

                                                                                

27  shall give notice of the public meeting not less than 14 or more            


                                                                                

1   than 28 days before the date of the public meeting.  The notice             

                                                                                

2   shall specify the time and place of the public meeting, which               

                                                                                

3   shall be held in the county where the proposed mining operation             

                                                                                

4   is located, and shall include information on how to review a copy           

                                                                                

5   of the application.  The notice shall be given in writing to the            

                                                                                

6   city, village, or township and the county where the proposed                

                                                                                

7   mining operation is to be located and to all affected federally             

                                                                                

8   recognized Indian tribes in this state.  The notice shall also be           

                                                                                

9   given by publication in a newspaper of local distribution in the            

                                                                                

10  area where the proposed mining operation is to be located.                  

                                                                                

11      (7) The department shall accept written public comment on the               

                                                                                

12  permit application for 28 days following the public meeting under           

                                                                                

13  subsection (6).  Within 28 days after the expiration of the                 

                                                                                

14  public comment period, the department shall reach a proposed                

                                                                                

15  decision to grant or deny a mining permit and shall establish a             

                                                                                

16  time and place for a public hearing on the proposed decision.               

                                                                                

17  The department shall give notice of the public hearing not less             

                                                                                

18  than 14 or more than 28 days before the date of the public                  

                                                                                

19  hearing.  The notice shall be given in writing to the city,                 

                                                                                

20  village, or township and the county where the proposed mining               

                                                                                

21  operation is to be located and to all affected federally                    

                                                                                

22  recognized Indian tribes in this state.  The notice shall also be           

                                                                                

23  given by publication in a newspaper of local distribution in the            

                                                                                

24  area where the proposed mining operation is to be located.  The             

                                                                                

25  notice shall contain all of the following:                                  

                                                                                

26      (a) A summary of the permit application.                                    

                                                                                

27      (b) Information on how to review a complete copy of the                     


                                                                                

1   application.  The application shall be made available at a public           

                                                                                

2   location in the area.                                                       

                                                                                

3       (c) A listing of other permits and hearings that are pending                

                                                                                

4   or anticipated under this act with respect to the proposed mining           

                                                                                

5   operation.                                                                  

                                                                                

6       (d) The time and place of the public hearing, which shall be                

                                                                                

7   held in the area where the proposed mining operation is located.            

                                                                                

8       (8) The department shall accept written public comment on the               

                                                                                

9   proposed decision to grant or deny a mining permit for 28 days              

                                                                                

10  following the public hearing.  At the expiration of the public              

                                                                                

11  comment period, the department shall issue a report summarizing             

                                                                                

12  all comments received and providing the department's response to            

                                                                                

13  the comments.                                                               

                                                                                

14      (9) Within 28 days after the expiration of the public comment               

                                                                                

15  period under subsection (8), the department shall grant or deny             

                                                                                

16  the mining permit application in writing.  A determination that             

                                                                                

17  an application is administratively complete does not preclude the           

                                                                                

18  department from requiring additional information from the                   

                                                                                

19  applicant.  The 28-day period under this subsection shall be                

                                                                                

20  tolled until such time as the applicant submits the requested               

                                                                                

21  information.  If a mining permit is denied, the reasons shall be            

                                                                                

22  stated in a written report to the applicant.                                

                                                                                

23      (10) A mining permit shall not be issued or transferred to a                

                                                                                

24  person if the department has determined that person to be in                

                                                                                

25  violation of this part, rules promulgated under this part, the              

                                                                                

26  permit, or an order of the department under this part, unless the           

                                                                                

27  person has corrected the violation or the person has agreed in              


                                                                                

1   writing to correct the violation pursuant to a compliance                   

                                                                                

2   schedule approved by the department.                                        

                                                                                

3       (11) Subject to subsection (10), the department shall approve               

                                                                                

4   a mining permit if it determines both of the following:                     

                                                                                

5       (a) The permit application meets the requirements of this                   

                                                                                

6   part.                                                                       

                                                                                

7       (b) The proposed mining operation will not pollute, impair,                 

                                                                                

8   or destroy the air, water, or other natural resources or the                

                                                                                

9   public trust in those resources, in accordance with part 17 of              

                                                                                

10  this act.  In making this determination, the department shall               

                                                                                

11  take into account the extent to which other permit determinations           

                                                                                

12  afford protection to natural resources.  For the purposes of this           

                                                                                

13  subsection, excavation and removal of nonferrous metallic                   

                                                                                

14  minerals and of associated overburden and waste rock, in and of             

                                                                                

15  itself, does not constitute pollution, impairment, or destruction           

                                                                                

16  of those natural resources.                                                 

                                                                                

17      (12) The department shall deny a mining permit if it                        

                                                                                

18  determines the requirements of subsection (11) have not been                

                                                                                

19  met.                                                                        

                                                                                

20      (13) Terms and conditions that are set forth in the permit                  

                                                                                

21  application and the mining, reclamation, and environmental                  

                                                                                

22  protection plan and that are approved by the department shall be            

                                                                                

23  incorporated in and become a part of the mining permit.                     

                                                                                

24      (14) A mining permit is not effective until all other permits               

                                                                                

25  required under this act for the proposed mining operation are               

                                                                                

26  obtained.                                                                   

                                                                                

27      (15) If a person submits an application for a mining permit                 


                                                                                

1   and 1 or more other permits under this act with respect to a                

                                                                                

2   particular mining operation, the department may process the                 

                                                                                

3   applications in a coordinated fashion to the extent feasible                

                                                                                

4   given procedural requirements applicable to individual permits.             

                                                                                

5   The coordinated permit process may include consolidating public             

                                                                                

6   hearings under this part with public hearings required under                

                                                                                

7   other parts of this act.  Any notice of a consolidated public               

                                                                                

8   hearing shall state clearly which permits are to be considered at           

                                                                                

9   the public hearing.  An applicant may waive any required                    

                                                                                

10  timelines under subsections (4) to (9) to facilitate the                    

                                                                                

11  coordination.                                                               

                                                                                

12      Sec. 63207.  (1) A mining permit issued by the department                   

                                                                                

13  shall remain in effect until terminated or revoked by the                   

                                                                                

14  department.                                                                 

                                                                                

15      (2) The department may terminate a mining permit under 1 or                 

                                                                                

16  more of the following conditions:                                           

                                                                                

17      (a) The permittee has not commenced construction of plant                   

                                                                                

18  facilities or conducted actual mining activities covered by the             

                                                                                

19  mining permit within 2 years after the effective date of the                

                                                                                

20  mining permit.                                                              

                                                                                

21      (b) The permittee has completed final reclamation of the                    

                                                                                

22  mining area and requests the termination of the mining permit and           

                                                                                

23  the department determines all of the following:                             

                                                                                

24                                                                               (i) The mining operation has not polluted, impaired, or                             

                                                                                

25  destroyed the air, water, or other natural resources or the                 

                                                                                

26  public trust in those resources by activities conducted within              

                                                                                

27  the scope of the permit.                                                    


                                                                                

1       (ii) The permittee has otherwise fulfilled all conditions                    

                                                                                

2   determined to be necessary by the department to protect the                 

                                                                                

3   public health, safety, and welfare and the environment.                     

                                                                                

4       (iii) The requirements for the postclosure monitoring period                 

                                                                                

5   have been satisfied.                                                        

                                                                                

6       (3) The department may revoke a mining permit pursuant to                   

                                                                                

7   section 63221.                                                              

                                                                                

8       (4) A mining permit may be transferred to a new operator with               

                                                                                

9   approval of the department after public notice as follows:                  

                                                                                

10      (a) The person acquiring the mining permit shall submit to                  

                                                                                

11  the department on forms provided by the department a request for            

                                                                                

12  transfer of the mining permit and shall provide the financial               

                                                                                

13  assurance required under section 63211.                                     

                                                                                

14      (b) The person acquiring the mining permit shall accept the                 

                                                                                

15  conditions of the existing mining permit and adhere to the                  

                                                                                

16  requirements set forth in this part.                                        

                                                                                

17      (c) If the permittee is determined by the department to be in               

                                                                                

18  violation of this part or the rules promulgated under this part             

                                                                                

19  at the mining site involved in the transfer, then the mining                

                                                                                

20  permit shall not be transferred to a person until the permittee             

                                                                                

21  has completed the necessary corrective actions or the person                

                                                                                

22  acquiring the mining permit has entered into a written consent              

                                                                                

23  agreement to correct all of the violations.                                 

                                                                                

24      (5) Pending the transfer of an existing mining permit under                 

                                                                                

25  subsection (4), the proposed transferee shall not operate the               

                                                                                

26  mine.                                                                       

                                                                                

27      (6) A mining permit may be amended as follows:                              


                                                                                

1       (a) The permittee may submit to the department a request to                 

                                                                                

2   amend the mining permit to address anticipated changes in the               

                                                                                

3   mining operation, including, if applicable, amendments to the               

                                                                                

4   environmental impact assessment and to the mining, reclamation,             

                                                                                

5   and environmental protection plan.                                          

                                                                                

6       (b) The department may require a mining permit to be amended                

                                                                                

7   if the department determines that the terms and conditions of the           

                                                                                

8   mining permit are not providing the intended reasonable                     

                                                                                

9   protection of the environment, natural resources, or public                 

                                                                                

10  health and safety.                                                          

                                                                                

11      (c) Within 30 days after receiving a request to amend a                     

                                                                                

12  mining permit, or upon a determination by the department that an            

                                                                                

13  amendment is necessary, the department shall determine within 30            

                                                                                

14  days whether the request constitutes a significant change from              

                                                                                

15  the conditions of the approved mining permit.  If the department            

                                                                                

16  determines that the request is a significant change from the                

                                                                                

17  conditions of the approved mining permit, the department may                

                                                                                

18  submit the request for amendment to the same review process as              

                                                                                

19  provided for a new permit application in section 63205(4) to                

                                                                                

20  (9).  If a request to amend the mining permit is denied, the                

                                                                                

21  reasons for denial shall be stated in a written report to the               

                                                                                

22  permittee.  If the department determines that the request for               

                                                                                

23  amendment does not constitute a significant change from the                 

                                                                                

24  conditions of the approved mining permit, the department shall              

                                                                                

25  provide written notice of the determination to the city, village,           

                                                                                

26  or township and the county where the proposed mining operation is           

                                                                                

27  to be located and to all affected federally recognized Indian               


                                                                                

1   tribes in this state.  The department shall also give notice of             

                                                                                

2   the determination by publication in a newspaper of local                    

                                                                                

3   distribution in the area where the proposed mining operation is             

                                                                                

4   to be located.  The department shall approve the amendment within           

                                                                                

5   14 days after publication of the notice and shall notify the                

                                                                                

6   permittee of the approval.                                                  

                                                                                

7       Sec. 63209.  (1) A permittee shall comply with all other                    

                                                                                

8   applicable permit standards under this act.                                 

                                                                                

9       (2) A permittee shall conduct reclamation activities at a                   

                                                                                

10  mining area in accordance with the approved mining, reclamation,            

                                                                                

11  and environmental protection plan.                                          

                                                                                

12      (3) If mining operations are suspended for a continuous                     

                                                                                

13  period exceeding 90 days, the permittee shall take actions to               

                                                                                

14  maintain, monitor, and secure the mining area and shall conduct             

                                                                                

15  any interim sloping or stabilizing of surfaces necessary to                 

                                                                                

16  protect the environment, natural resources, or public health and            

                                                                                

17  safety in accordance with the permit.                                       

                                                                                

18      (4) Subject to subsection (5), a permittee shall begin final                

                                                                                

19  reclamation of a mining area within 3 years of the date of                  

                                                                                

20  cessation of mining operations and shall complete reclamation               

                                                                                

21  within the time set forth in the mining, reclamation, and                   

                                                                                

22  environmental protection plan approved by the department.                   

                                                                                

23      (5) Upon written request of a permittee, the department may                 

                                                                                

24  approve an extension of time to begin or complete final                     

                                                                                

25  reclamation.                                                                

                                                                                

26      (6) A permittee shall conduct groundwater and surface water                 

                                                                                

27  monitoring in accordance with the provisions of the permit during           


                                                                                

1   mining operations and during the postclosure monitoring period.             

                                                                                

2   The postclosure monitoring period shall be 20 years following               

                                                                                

3   cessation of mining, subject to the following conditions:                   

                                                                                

4       (a) The permittee shall provide to the department a written                 

                                                                                

5   request to terminate the postclosure monitoring not less than 18            

                                                                                

6   months before the proposed termination date and shall provide the           

                                                                                

7   department with technical data and information demonstrating the            

                                                                                

8   basis for the termination.  The department shall extend the                 

                                                                                

9   postclosure monitoring period in increments of up to 20 years               

                                                                                

10  unless the department determines, approximately 1 year before the           

                                                                                

11  end of a postclosure monitoring period or postclosure incremental           

                                                                                

12  monitoring period, that there is no significant potential for               

                                                                                

13  water contamination resulting from the mining operation.                    

                                                                                

14      (b) The department may shorten the postclosure monitoring                   

                                                                                

15  period at any time upon determining that there is no significant            

                                                                                

16  potential for water contamination resulting from the mining                 

                                                                                

17  operation.                                                                  

                                                                                

18      (7) The department may extend or shorten the postclosure                    

                                                                                

19  monitoring period under subsection (6) only after public notice             

                                                                                

20  and opportunity for a public hearing under section 63219(2).                

                                                                                

21      (8) Both the mining area and the affected area shall be                     

                                                                                

22  reclaimed and remediated to achieve a self-sustaining ecosystem             

                                                                                

23  appropriate for the region that does not require perpetual care             

                                                                                

24  following closure and with the goal that the affected area shall            

                                                                                

25  be returned to the ecological conditions that approximate                   

                                                                                

26  premining conditions subject to changes caused by nonmining                 

                                                                                

27  activities or other natural events.  Any portion of the mining              


                                                                                

1   area owned by the applicant may be used for any legal purposes.             

                                                                                

2       (9) Compliance with the provisions of this part does not                    

                                                                                

3   relieve a person of the obligation to comply with all other                 

                                                                                

4   applicable tribal, state, federal, or local statutes,                       

                                                                                

5   regulations, or ordinances.                                                 

                                                                                

6       Sec. 63211.  (1) An operator shall maintain financial                       

                                                                                

7   assurance during mining operations until the department                     

                                                                                

8   determines that all reclamation has been completed and for a                

                                                                                

9   postclosure monitoring period as determined under section                   

                                                                                

10  63209(6) and (7), except that financial assurance shall be                  

                                                                                

11  released immediately upon termination of a mining permit under              

                                                                                

12  section 63207(2)(a).                                                        

                                                                                

13      (2) The financial assurance required under subsection (1)                   

                                                                                

14  shall apply to all mining and reclamation operations subject to             

                                                                                

15  the mining permit and be sufficient to cover the cost to                    

                                                                                

16  administer, and to hire a third party to implement, reclamation             

                                                                                

17  under the mining, reclamation, and environmental protection plan            

                                                                                

18  as well as necessary environmental protection measures, including           

                                                                                

19  remediation of any contamination of the air, surface water, or              

                                                                                

20  groundwater that is in violation of the mining permit.  The                 

                                                                                

21  financial assurance shall consist of a conformance bond, escrow,            

                                                                                

22  cash, certificate of deposit, irrevocable letter of credit, or              

                                                                                

23  other equivalent security, or any combination thereof, covering             

                                                                                

24  at least 75% of the total required amount.  Financial assurance             

                                                                                

25  for the balance of the required total amount, if any, shall                 

                                                                                

26  consist of a statement of financial responsibility.                         

                                                                                

27      (3) Every 3 years, or as the department considers necessary,                


                                                                                

1   a permittee shall update the statement of financial                         

                                                                                

2   responsibility required under subsection (2) and shall adjust the           

                                                                                

3   conformance bond, escrow, cash, certificate of deposit,                     

                                                                                

4   irrevocable letter of credit, or other security, as applicable,             

                                                                                

5   to assure that the financial assurance is sufficient for the                

                                                                                

6   purposes of subsection (2).                                                 

                                                                                

7       (4) The financial assurance mechanism required by this                      

                                                                                

8   section may be satisfied in whole or in part by financial                   

                                                                                

9   assurance provisions required by other parts of this act if those           

                                                                                

10  provisions address the remediation activities required under this           

                                                                                

11  part.                                                                       

                                                                                

12      (5) Failure to provide financial assurance under this                       

                                                                                

13  section constitutes grounds for the department to order immediate           

                                                                                

14  suspension of activities at a mining operation, including the               

                                                                                

15  removal of metallic product from the site, pursuant to section              

                                                                                

16  63221.                                                                      

                                                                                

17      Sec. 63213.  (1) A permittee shall file with the department                 

                                                                                

18  a mining and reclamation report on or before March 15 of each               

                                                                                

19  year, during the period the mine is operating and during the                

                                                                                

20  postclosure monitoring period.  The mining and reclamation report           

                                                                                

21  shall contain all of the following:                                         

                                                                                

22      (a) A description of the status of mining and reclamation                   

                                                                                

23  operations.                                                                 

                                                                                

24      (b) An update of the contingency plan.  The permittee shall                 

                                                                                

25  provide a copy of the update to the emergency management                    

                                                                                

26  coordinator.                                                                

                                                                                

27      (c) A report of monitoring results for the preceding calendar               


                                                                                

1   year.                                                                       

                                                                                

2       (d) A report of the total tons of material mined from the                   

                                                                                

3   mining area, and the amount of metallic product by weight,                  

                                                                                

4   produced from the nonferrous metallic mineral mine for the                  

                                                                                

5   preceding calendar year.                                                    

                                                                                

6       (e) A list of the reports required under subsection (2) for                 

                                                                                

7   the preceding calendar year.                                                

                                                                                

8       (2) A permittee shall promptly notify the department of any                 

                                                                                

9   incident, act of nature, or exceedance of a permit standard or              

                                                                                

10  condition at a mining operation that has created, or may create,            

                                                                                

11  a threat to the environment, natural resources, or public health            

                                                                                

12  and safety.                                                                 

                                                                                

13      (3) Records upon which the mining and reclamation reports are               

                                                                                

14  based shall be preserved by the permittee for 3 years and made              

                                                                                

15  available to the department upon request.                                   

                                                                                

16      (4) Records upon which incident reports under subsection (2)                

                                                                                

17  are based shall be preserved by the permittee for 3 years or                

                                                                                

18  until the end of the postclosure monitoring period, whichever is            

                                                                                

19  later.                                                                      

                                                                                

20      Sec. 63215.  (1) For purposes of surveillance, monitoring,                  

                                                                                

21  administration, and enforcement of this part, the department                

                                                                                

22  shall assess a permittee a nonferrous metallic mineral                      

                                                                                

23  surveillance fee of not more than 5 cents per ton of material               

                                                                                

24  mined from the mining area as reported under section 63213(1)(d),           

                                                                                

25  but not less than $5,000.00, for each calendar year the mine is             

                                                                                

26  in operation and during the postclosure monitoring period.                  

                                                                                

27  Surveillance fees collected under this section shall be forwarded           


                                                                                

1   to the state treasurer for deposit in the nonferrous metallic               

                                                                                

2   mineral surveillance fund created in section 63217.  The                    

                                                                                

3   surveillance fee rate shall be calculated each year as follows:             

                                                                                

4       (a) The department shall determine the total tons of material               

                                                                                

5   mined from mining areas in this state in the prior calendar                 

                                                                                

6   year.                                                                       

                                                                                

7       (b) The department shall calculate the adjusted appropriation               

                                                                                

8   by deducting any unexpended money in the fund at the close of the           

                                                                                

9   prior fiscal year from the amount appropriated for the current              

                                                                                

10  fiscal year for surveillance, monitoring, administration, and               

                                                                                

11  enforcement of this part.                                                   

                                                                                

12      (c) The fee rate shall be the ratio, to the nearest 1/100 of                

                                                                                

13  1%, of the adjusted appropriation to the total tons of material             

                                                                                

14  mined.                                                                      

                                                                                

15      (2) The nonferrous metallic mineral surveillance fee                        

                                                                                

16  described in subsection (1) is due by 30 days after the                     

                                                                                

17  department sends written notice to the permittee of the amount              

                                                                                

18  due.                                                                        

                                                                                

19      (3) A penalty equal to 10% of the amount due, or $1,000.00,                 

                                                                                

20  whichever is greater, shall be assessed against the permittee for           

                                                                                

21  a metallic mineral surveillance fee that is not paid when due.              

                                                                                

22  The department may file an action in the circuit court for Ingham           

                                                                                

23  county to collect the unpaid fee and penalty.  The unpaid fee and           

                                                                                

24  penalty shall constitute a debt and become the basis of a                   

                                                                                

25  judgment against the permittee.                                             

                                                                                

26      (4) Penalties paid pursuant to this section shall be used for               

                                                                                

27  the implementation, administration, and enforcement of this                 


                                                                                

1   part.                                                                       

                                                                                

2       Sec. 63217.  (1) The nonferrous metallic mineral                            

                                                                                

3   surveillance fund is created within the state treasury.                     

                                                                                

4       (2) The state treasurer may receive money or other assets                   

                                                                                

5   from any source for deposit into the fund.  The state treasurer             

                                                                                

6   shall direct the investment of the fund.  The state treasurer               

                                                                                

7   shall credit to the fund interest and earnings from fund                    

                                                                                

8   investments.                                                                

                                                                                

9       (3) Unexpended money in the fund at the close of the fiscal                 

                                                                                

10  year shall remain in the fund and be carried over to the                    

                                                                                

11  succeeding fiscal year.                                                     

                                                                                

12      (4) The department shall expend money from the fund, upon                   

                                                                                

13  appropriation, only for surveillance, monitoring, administration,           

                                                                                

14  and enforcement under this part.                                            

                                                                                

15      Sec. 63219.  (1) A person who is aggrieved by an order,                     

                                                                                

16  action, or inaction of the department or by the issuance, denial,           

                                                                                

17  revocation, or amendment of a mining permit under this part may             

                                                                                

18  file a petition with the department requesting a contested case             

                                                                                

19  hearing, under the administrative procedures act of 1969, 1969 PA           

                                                                                

20  306, MCL 24.201 to 24.328.  A petition filed more than 60 days              

                                                                                

21  after an order, action, or inaction of the department or an                 

                                                                                

22  action on a mining permit may be rejected as being untimely.                

                                                                                

23      (2) Any hearing under this part shall be held pursuant to the               

                                                                                

24  administrative procedures act of 1969, 1969 PA 306, MCL 24.201 to           

                                                                                

25  24.328.  The department shall provide notice of the hearing and             

                                                                                

26  shall mail copies of the notice to the person requesting the                

                                                                                

27  hearing and to the city, village, or township and the county                


                                                                                

1   where the proposed mining operation is to be located and to all             

                                                                                

2   affected federally recognized Indian tribes in this state.  The             

                                                                                

3   department shall publish notice of the hearing in a newspaper of            

                                                                                

4   local distribution in the area of the mining operation at least             

                                                                                

5   10 days before the hearing.                                                 

                                                                                

6       Sec. 63221.  (1) If the department determines that an                       

                                                                                

7   operator has violated this part, a rule promulgated under this              

                                                                                

8   part, or a mining permit issued under this part, the department             

                                                                                

9   shall require the operator to correct the violation.                        

                                                                                

10      (2) If the department determines that a violation under                     

                                                                                

11  subsection (1) is causing or resulting in an imminent and                   

                                                                                

12  substantial endangerment to the public health or safety,                    

                                                                                

13  environment, or natural resources, the department shall take                

                                                                                

14  action necessary to abate or eliminate the endangerment.  Such              

                                                                                

15  action may include 1 or more of the following:                              

                                                                                

16      (a) Revoking the mining permit.                                             

                                                                                

17      (b) Issuing an order to the operator requiring immediate                    

                                                                                

18  suspension of activities at the mining operation, including the             

                                                                                

19  removal of metallic product from the site.                                  

                                                                                

20      (c) Issuing an order to the operator to undertake such other                

                                                                                

21  response actions as may be necessary to abate or eliminate the              

                                                                                

22  endangerment.                                                               

                                                                                

23      (3) Before taking action under this section to suspend                      

                                                                                

24  operations or revoke a mining permit, or to otherwise prevent the           

                                                                                

25  continuation of mining operations, the department shall give                

                                                                                

26  written notice, in person or by mail, to the operator.  Subject             

                                                                                

27  to subsection (4), the department shall provide the operator an             


                                                                                

1   opportunity for an evidentiary hearing.                                     

                                                                                

2       (4) If the department finds that emergency action is required               

                                                                                

3   to protect the public health, safety, or welfare, or to protect             

                                                                                

4   the environment, the department may issue an emergency order                

                                                                                

5   without a public hearing to require an operator to suspend                  

                                                                                

6   operations or to take other corrective actions.  An emergency               

                                                                                

7   order shall remain in force and effect for not more than 21                 

                                                                                

8   days.                                                                       

                                                                                

9       (5) If the operator or surety fails or neglects to correct                  

                                                                                

10  the violation or take corrective actions as specified under an              

                                                                                

11  order of the department, the department may, after giving written           

                                                                                

12  notice to the operator and surety, enter in or upon the mining              

                                                                                

13  area and upon and across any private or public property necessary           

                                                                                

14  to reach the mining area and take whatever action is necessary to           

                                                                                

15  curtail and remediate any damage to the environment and public              

                                                                                

16  health resulting from the violation, and the operator and surety            

                                                                                

17  are jointly and severally liable for all expenses incurred by the           

                                                                                

18  department.  The claim shall be paid by the operator or surety              

                                                                                

19  within 30 days, and, if the claim is not paid within that time,             

                                                                                

20  the department may bring suit against the operator or surety,               

                                                                                

21  jointly or severally, for the collection of the claim in any                

                                                                                

22  court of competent jurisdiction.  This part does not limit the              

                                                                                

23  department's authority to take whatever response activities it              

                                                                                

24  determines necessary to protect the public health, safety, and              

                                                                                

25  welfare and the environment.                                                

                                                                                

26      (6) The revocation of a mining permit or suspension of                      

                                                                                

27  activities under subsection (2) does not relieve a permittee of             


                                                                                

1   the responsibility to complete reclamation, maintain financial              

                                                                                

2   assurance required under section 63211, and undertake all                   

                                                                                

3   appropriate measures to protect the environment, natural                    

                                                                                

4   resources, and public health and safety.                                    

                                                                                

5       (7) If the department receives an allegation of improper                    

                                                                                

6   action under or a violation of this part, a rule promulgated                

                                                                                

7   under this part, or a condition of a permit issued under this               

                                                                                

8   part, and the person making the allegation provides evidence or             

                                                                                

9   corroboration sufficient to support the allegation, as determined           

                                                                                

10  by the department, the department shall do all of the following:            

                                                                                

11      (a) Make a record of the allegation.                                        

                                                                                

12      (b) Conduct an inspection of the mining operation to                        

                                                                                

13  investigate the allegation not more than 5 business days after              

                                                                                

14  receipt of the complaint or allegation.  If the complaint or                

                                                                                

15  allegation is of a highly serious nature, as determined by the              

                                                                                

16  department, the mining operation shall be inspected as quickly as           

                                                                                

17  possible.                                                                   

                                                                                

18      (c) Not more than 15 business days after completing an                      

                                                                                

19  investigation of the allegation, make a written report of the               

                                                                                

20  allegation and the results of the investigation to the operator             

                                                                                

21  and the person who made the allegation.                                     

                                                                                

22      (8) The department shall comply with the administrative                     

                                                                                

23  procedures act of 1969, 1969 PA 306, MCL 24.201 to 24.328, in its           

                                                                                

24  actions under this section.                                                 

                                                                                

25      Sec. 63223.  (1) The department may request the attorney                    

                                                                                

26  general to commence a civil action for appropriate relief,                  

                                                                                

27  including a permanent or temporary injunction, for a violation of           


                                                                                

1   this part or a provision of a permit or order issued or rule                

                                                                                

2   promulgated under this part.  An action under this subsection may           

                                                                                

3   be brought in the circuit court for the county of Ingham or for             

                                                                                

4   the county in which the defendant is located, resides, or is                

                                                                                

5   doing business.  The court has jurisdiction to restrain the                 

                                                                                

6   violation and to require compliance.  In addition to any other              

                                                                                

7   relief granted under this subsection, the court may impose a                

                                                                                

8   civil fine of not less than $2,500.00, and the court may award              

                                                                                

9   reasonable attorney fees and costs to the prevailing party.  The            

                                                                                

10  maximum fine imposed by the court shall be not more than                    

                                                                                

11  $25,000.00 per day of violation.                                            

                                                                                

12      (2) Upon a finding by the court that an operator has violated               

                                                                                

13  this part or a provision of a permit or order issued or rule                

                                                                                

14  promulgated under this part, and that the violation poses or                

                                                                                

15  posed a substantial endangerment to the public health, safety, or           

                                                                                

16  welfare, the court shall impose, in addition to the sanctions set           

                                                                                

17  forth in subsection (1), a fine of not less than $500,000.00 and            

                                                                                

18  not more than $5,000,000.00.                                                

                                                                                

19      (3) The attorney general may file a civil suit in a court of                

                                                                                

20  competent jurisdiction to recover, in addition to a fine, the               

                                                                                

21  full value of the injuries done to the natural resources of this            

                                                                                

22  state and the costs of surveillance and enforcement by the state            

                                                                                

23  resulting from the violation.                                               

                                                                                

24      (4) A person who intentionally makes a false statement,                     

                                                                                

25  representation, or certification in an application for or form              

                                                                                

26  pertaining to a permit under this part or in a notice or report             

                                                                                

27  required by the terms and conditions of a permit issued under               


                                                                                

1   this part is guilty of a felony and may be imprisoned for not               

                                                                                

2   more than 2 years and shall be fined not less than $2,500.00 or             

                                                                                

3   more than $25,000.00 for each violation.  If the conviction is              

                                                                                

4   for a violation committed after a first conviction of the person            

                                                                                

5   under this subsection, the court shall impose a fine of not less            

                                                                                

6   than $25,000.00 per day and not more than $50,000.00 per day of             

                                                                                

7   violation.  With the exception of the issuance of criminal                  

                                                                                

8   complaints, issuance of warrants, and the holding of an                     

                                                                                

9   arraignment, the circuit court for the county in which the                  

                                                                                

10  violation occurred has exclusive jurisdiction.  Knowledge                   

                                                                                

11  possessed by a person other than the defendant under this                   

                                                                                

12  subsection may be attributable to the defendant if the defendant            

                                                                                

13  took affirmative steps to shield himself or herself from the                

                                                                                

14  relevant information.                                                       

                                                                                

15      (5) Upon a finding by the court that the actions of a                       

                                                                                

16  criminal defendant pose or posed a substantial endangerment to              

                                                                                

17  the public health, safety, or welfare, the court shall impose, in           

                                                                                

18  addition to the penalties set forth in subsection (2), a sentence           

                                                                                

19  of 5 years' imprisonment and a fine of not less than                        

                                                                                

20  $1,000,000.00.                                                              

                                                                                

21      (6) To find a defendant civilly or criminally liable for                    

                                                                                

22  substantial endangerment under subsection (2) or (5), the court             

                                                                                

23  shall determine that the defendant knowingly or recklessly acted            

                                                                                

24  in such a manner as to cause a danger of death or serious bodily            

                                                                                

25  injury and that either of the following occurred:                           

                                                                                

26      (a) The defendant had an actual awareness, belief, or                       

                                                                                

27  understanding that his or her conduct would cause a substantial             


                                                                                

1   danger of death or serious bodily injury.                                   

                                                                                

2       (b) The defendant acted in gross disregard of the standard of               

                                                                                

3   care that any reasonable person should observe in similar                   

                                                                                

4   circumstances.                                                              

                                                                                

5       (7) A civil fine or other civil award imposed under this                    

                                                                                

6   section is payable to this state and shall be credited to the               

                                                                                

7   general fund.  The fine constitutes a lien on any property, of              

                                                                                

8   any nature or kind, owned by the defendant.                                 

                                                                                

9       (8) A lien under subsection (7) is effective and has priority               

                                                                                

10  over all other liens and encumbrances except those filed or                 

                                                                                

11  recorded prior to the date of judgment only if notice of the lien           

                                                                                

12  is filed or recorded as required by state or federal law.                   

                                                                                

13      (9) A lien filed or recorded pursuant to subsection (8) shall               

                                                                                

14  be terminated according to the procedures required by state or              

                                                                                

15  federal law within 14 days after the fine or other award ordered            

                                                                                

16  to be paid is paid.                                                         

                                                                                

17      (10) If a violation of this part also constitutes a violation               

                                                                                

18  of another part of this act, a court may apply a civil fine or              

                                                                                

19  penalty for the violation, and each day of continued violation,             

                                                                                

20  in accordance with and subject to the penalty limits of the other           

                                                                                

21  part.