§ 724. Permits--Limited Use Permits--Applications--Bond--Permit or bond release applications
Oklahoma Statutes AnnotatedTitle 45. Mines and Mining
45 Okl.St.Ann. § 724
§ 724. Permits--Limited Use Permits--Applications--Bond--Permit or bond release applications
A. It shall be unlawful for any operator to engage in any mining operations in this state without first obtaining a permit or a Limited Use Permit from the Department of Mines for each separate mining operation. The Department shall determine what constitutes a separate mining operation by rules promulgated under the Mining Lands Reclamation Act.
B. Any operator desiring to engage in limited mining activity may apply for a Limited Use Permit for those mining operations not eligible for a surface mining permit. Application for such permit shall be made upon forms furnished by the Department. The form shall contain a description of the tract or tracts of land and shall include the section, township, range and county in which the land is located. A map shall be attached to the application which accurately outlines and locates the tract of land. A statement that the applicant has the right and power by legal estate owned to mine the land so described shall be included with the application. In addition, the following conditions and requirements shall apply to Limited Use Permits:
If the above listed conditions and requirements are met, the Department may issue a Limited Use Permit which shall not be subject to the notice and publication requirements as otherwise required by this section.
C. 1. Any operator desiring to engage in surface mining shall make written application to the Department for a permit. Application for such permit shall be made upon a form furnished by the Department. The form shall contain a description of the tract or tracts of land and the estimated number of acres to be affected by surface mining by the operator. The description shall include the section, township, range and county in which the land is located and shall otherwise describe the land with sufficient certainty so that it may be located and distinguished from other lands.
D. 1. Any operator desiring to engage in underground mining shall make written application to the Department for a permit. Application for such permit shall be made upon a form furnished by the Department. The form shall contain a description of the tract or tracts of land to be used as refuse disposal areas. The description shall include the section, township, range and county in which the land is located and shall otherwise describe the land with sufficient certainty so that it may be located and distinguished from other lands.
E. Each application for a permit under subsections C and D of this section shall be accompanied by a plan of reclamation of the affected land that meets the requirements of the Mining Lands Reclamation Act. The application shall set forth the proposed use to be made of the affected land, the grading to be accomplished, the type of revegetation, and shall include the approximate time of grading and initial revegetation effort.
F. Each application for a permit under subsections C and D of this section shall be accompanied by the bond or security meeting the requirements of Section 728 of this title, or proof that such bond or security is still in effect, and a fee of One Hundred Seventy-five Dollars ($175.00) for each permit year, payable at the rate of One Hundred Seventy-five Dollars ($175.00) per year on the anniversary date of the year in which the permit or permit renewal was issued. All application fees shall be submitted to the State Treasurer, who shall deposit them in the Department of Mines Revolving Fund.
G. 1. Upon the receipt of such application, bond or security and fee due from the operator, the Department may issue a permit to the applicant which shall entitle the applicant to engage in mining on the land therein described in accordance with the rules promulgated by the Department, for the life expectancy of the operation unless the operator is in violation of any state statute or rule of the Department in which case the Department shall take appropriate action against the operator.
(2) a description which clearly shows or describes the precise location and boundaries of the proposed permit area and is sufficient to enable local residents to readily identify the proposed permit area. It may include towns, bodies of water, local landmarks, and any other information which would identify the location,
6. Any decision regarding the issuance of a permit under this section shall be appealable when entered, as provided in the Administrative Procedures Act.1
An existing operation which does not have on file a list of the applicable licenses or permits with the Department on the date of enactment of this act shall not be out of compliance with the provisions of this section. Any renewal of an existing permit or expansion or amendment to an existing operation upon time of application shall submit a copy of all approved licenses and permits issued by other agencies or jurisdictions.
Identifications of all permits and licenses shall include local government agencies with jurisdiction over or an interest in the area of the proposed mining operation including, but not limited to, planning agencies, water and sewer authorities; and all state and federal government agencies with authority to issue permits and licenses applicable to the proposed mining operation, including all state environmental agencies, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service district office, and federal fish and wildlife agencies.
J. An operator desiring to have such operator's permit amended to cover additional land may file an amended application with the Department. Upon receipt of the amended application, and such additional bond as may be required under the provisions of the Mining Lands Reclamation Act, the Department shall issue an amendment to the original permit covering the additional land described in the amended application, without the payment of any additional fee.
L. Permits issued to an operator may be transferable to another operator, provided the new operator can demonstrate to the Department, prior to the transfer of ownership, that conditions and obligations required for the permit will be met and the new operator has submitted a performance bond or other guarantee, or has obtained the bond coverage of the original permittee.
O. 1. If any mining operations where blasting is required occur within the limits of a municipality with a population in excess of three hundred thousand (300,000) according to the latest Federal Decennial Census or within the limits of a municipality within a county with a population in excess of three hundred thousand (300,000) according to the latest Federal Decennial Census, the application for a permit pursuant to subsections C and D of this section shall be accompanied by proof that the operator is in full compliance with all applicable regulations of the municipality. Certified copies of any required municipal permits and any other required written municipal approvals shall be attached to the application when submitted to the Department. No mining permit shall be issued by the Department unless the applicant first complies with the requirements of this subsection. A municipality is not required to reconsider requests denied by the municipality related to the same site unless the municipality determines there has been a material change in the application.
2. The provisions of paragraph 1 of this subsection shall not apply to existing permitted operations, revisions or amendments thereto, or any application on file with the Department prior to May 25, 2005. In addition, the provisions of paragraph 1 of this subsection shall not apply to any future operation on property directly adjacent to property on which a permitted operation is located, provided that the operation is permitted and the adjacent property is owned or leased by the operator on the effective date of this act.2 For purposes of this subsection, properties separated by a public road shall be considered to be adjacent.
P. Within a reasonable time, as established by the Department, written comments or objections on permit or bond release applications may be submitted to the Department by public entities including but not limited to the local soil conservation district, with respect to the effects of the proposed mining operations on the environment.
Q. Any person having an interest in or who is or may be adversely affected by the decision on a permit or bond release application, or any federal, state or local agency, shall have the right to request in writing that the Department hold an informal conference on the application. The Department shall hold the informal conference within a reasonable time following the receipt of the written request at a location in the vicinity of the proposed or active surface mining or reclamation operation.
Credits
Laws 1971, c. 332, § 4, emerg. eff. June 12, 1971; Laws 1981, c. 221, § 7, emerg. eff. June 22, 1981; Laws 1982, c. 181, § 4, emerg. eff. April 20, 1982; Laws 1983, c. 139, § 1, emerg. eff. May 23, 1983; Laws 1989, c. 282, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 1989; Laws 1992, c. 113, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1992; Laws 1993, c. 278, § 55, operative Sept. 1, 1993; Laws 1994, c. 2, § 12, emerg. eff. March 2, 1994; Laws 1997, c. 161, § 1, emerg. eff. April 25, 1997; Laws 1998, c. 61, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 1998; Laws 1998, c. 351, § 2, emerg. eff. June 5, 1998; Laws 2003, c. 20, § 1, emerg. eff. March 31, 2003; Laws 2005, c. 221, § 1, emerg. eff. May 25, 2005; Laws 2008, c. 6, § 1, emerg. eff. April 4, 2008; Laws 2008, c. 188, § 2, emerg. eff. May 16, 2008.
45 Okl. St. Ann. § 724, OK ST T. 45 § 724
Current with emergency effective legislation through Chapter 257 of the Second Regular Session of the 59th Legislature (2024). Some sections may be more current, see credits for details.
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