Wis. Stat. § 295.51 — WI Code / Chapter 295 / Section 295.51
Mining waste site location criteria; feasibility study, and plan of operation.
Status: in_force

(1) Definitions. In this section:

(a) “Groundwater flow net” means a drawing showing equipotential contour lines and the direction that groundwater will flow.

(c) “Regional” means relating to the area that may affect or be affected by a proposed mining waste site, which ordinarily will not exceed the area within a radius of 5 miles of the mining waste site.

(e) “Water budget” means an assessment of water inputs, outputs, and net changes to a natural system or engineered facility over a fixed period.

(f) “Well nest” means 2 or more wells constructed to different depths and installed within 10 feet of each other at the ground surface.

(1e) Hazardous mining waste.

(a) Prior to the informational hearing under s. 295.57 (5) the department shall designate any mining wastes identified by the department as hazardous under s. 291.05 (1) .

(b) The disposal of any mining wastes that are identified by the department as hazardous under s. 291.05 (1) in a mining waste site is subject to this subchapter, and not to chs. NR 660 to 679 , Wis. Adm. Code, except as necessary to comply with applicable federal regulations adopted under the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, 42 USC 6901 to 6991m .

(1m) Location criteria.

(a) Except as provided in par. (b) , no person may locate or operate a mining waste site, excluding the portion of a mining site from which ferrous minerals are extracted and that is backfilled with mining waste, within 1,000 feet of any of the following:

1. The nearest edge of the right-of-way of any state trunk highway, as defined in s. 340.01 (60) .

2. The boundary of any state or national park.

3. The boundary of a scenic easement purchased by the department or the department of transportation.

4. The boundary of a designated scenic or wild river.

5. A scenic overlook designated by the department by rule.

6. A hiking or biking trail designated by the department or the U.S. Congress.

(b) The prohibition in par. (a) does not apply if, regardless of season, the proposed mining waste site is visually inconspicuous due to screening or being visually absorbed due to natural objects, compatible natural plantings, earth berm, or other appropriate means; or if, regardless of season, the proposed mining waste site is screened so as to be as aesthetically pleasing and inconspicuous as is feasible.

(be) Except as provided in par. (bn) , no person may locate or operate a mining waste site, excluding the portion of a mining site from which ferrous minerals are extracted and that is backfilled with mining waste, within 1,000 feet of a navigable water that is a lake, pond, or flowage.

(bg) Except as provided in par. (bn) , no person may locate or operate a mining waste site, excluding the portion of a mining site from which ferrous minerals are extracted and that is backfilled with mining waste, within 300 feet of a navigable water that is a river or stream.

(bn) The prohibitions in pars. (be) and (bg) do not apply to an activity that is associated with a mining waste site and that is approved by the department under s. 295.60 , 295.605 , or 295.61 .

(bq) No person may locate or operate a mining waste site, excluding the portion of a mining site from which ferrous minerals are extracted and that is backfilled with mining waste, within a floodplain.

(bt) No person may locate or operate a mining waste site, excluding the portion of a mining site from which ferrous minerals are extracted and that is backfilled with mining waste, in an area within the property owned or leased by the mining operator, or on which the mining operator holds an easement, and on which the mining site is located if the area is closer than 200 feet to the outer boundary of that property.

(c) No person may locate or operate a mining waste site, excluding the portion of a mining site from which ferrous minerals are extracted and that is backfilled with mining waste, within 1,200 feet of any public or private water supply well that provides water for human consumption.

(d) No person may locate or operate a mining waste site, excluding the portion of a mining site from which ferrous minerals are extracted and that is backfilled with mining waste, within an area that contains mineral resources that are known at the time the application for the mining permit is issued, are likely to be mined in the future, and lie within 1,000 feet of the surface.

(1s) Backfilled waste site. For surface mining, the portion of a mining site from which ferrous minerals are extracted and that is backfilled with mining waste and any buildings, structures, roads, or drainage controls associated with that portion of the mining site may be considered a single mining waste site.

(2) General. An applicant for a mining permit shall submit as part of the application a mining waste site feasibility study and plan of operation that demonstrates the suitability of the proposed mining waste site for the disposal of mining wastes and that describes the operation of the mining waste site.

(3) Waste characterization and analysis. For the purposes of this section, the applicant shall perform waste characterization and analysis, to identify the quantities, variability, and physical, radiological, and chemical properties of each mining waste as necessary to assess the potential environmental impact of handling, storage, and disposal. The applicant may include in the waste characterization and analysis a review of the literature and results from similar existing facilities, materials, or studies. For the purpose of the waste characterization and analysis, the applicant shall conduct testing on representative samples of materials available, on individual mining wastes from the mining process, and if the applicant proposes mixed storage or disposal of individual mining wastes, on composite mining wastes. If physical or chemical segregation of a mining waste is proposed, the applicant shall test each individual waste resulting from the physical or chemical segregation. The applicant shall complete all of the following components of the waste characterization and analysis:

(a) Identification of all mining wastes that will be disposed of or stored in the mining waste site, including classification of mining waste types, estimates of the rates of generation and volumes of each type, and an explanation of the proposed ultimate disposition of each type.

(b) Chemical, radiological, physical, and mineralogical analyses of each type of mining waste.

(c) Analyses of the particle size of the mining wastes.

(d) Chemical and physical characteristics testing, including testing to determine the leaching potential of the mining wastes and the composition of the resulting leachate, using, at a minimum, static testing, kinetic testing, and microscopic testing for mineralization characterization, except that this testing is not required if the applicant demonstrates, based on the analyses in pars. (b) and (c) or on past experience, that there is not a probability for significant adverse environmental impact or a probability of an adverse impact on public health, safety, or welfare.

(4) Site specific information. In addition to performing the mining waste characterization and analysis under sub. (3) , for the purposes of the mining waste site feasibility study and plan of operation, an applicant shall conduct field and laboratory investigations to determine physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of the proposed mining waste site. The applicant shall do all of the following:

(a) Perform field investigations to determine the specific topography, soil types, and depth to bedrock and groundwater.

(b) Perform at least one soil boring, to bedrock or refusal, every 80 acres, characterizing the major geomorphic features such as ridges and lowlands and characterizing each major soil layer according to the unified soil classification system.

(c) Prepare a boring log for each soil boring, including soil and rock descriptions, method of drilling, method of sampling, sample depths, date of boring, and water level measurements and dates, with elevations referring to United States geological survey mean sea level datum.

(d) Collect soil samples to adequately determine the geology and ensure the proper design and monitoring of the mining waste site, including doing all of the following:

1. Collecting the soil samples at not greater than 5 foot depth intervals, unless physical conditions such as soil homogeneity indicate that greater intervals are adequate.

2. Collecting the soil samples using generally accepted techniques for sampling undisturbed soils, where that is appropriate.

3. Classifying all soil samples according to the unified soil classification system.

(e) Perform soil tests as necessary for classification and correlation purposes and to develop necessary geotechnical design parameters for the mining waste site, without compositing soil samples.

(f) Determine the hydraulic conductivity of the various soil strata, using in situ hydraulic conductivity testing procedures as appropriate to confirm values determined in the laboratory.

(g) Determine horizontal and vertical groundwater flow patterns in and around the proposed mining waste site based on data obtained from groundwater monitoring wells and piezometers constructed in conformity with ch. NR 141 , Wis. Adm. Code.

(h) Conduct a program to establish baseline water quality through monitoring groundwater and surface water in the vicinity of the mine and the proposed mining waste site on a monthly basis and establishing physical-chemical and biological characteristics of the concentrations of substances in the water before mining begins at the mining site. The applicant shall do all of the following:

1. Select physical-chemical parameters based on transport and transformation mechanisms in the environment as well as other factors affecting the mobility and toxicity of pollutants.

2. Select biological parameters based on the environmental characterizations under sub. (5) (g) , the degree of impact predicted, and the potentially affected organism’s sensitivity to contaminants.

3. Establish a final parameter list for groundwater and surface water based on preliminary sampling and known information concerning the waters in the vicinity of the mine and the mining waste site, consideration of applicable water quality standards, and the geology and composition of the ferrous mineral deposit that will be mined. At a minimum, in the program under this paragraph the applicant shall collect water quality data for all of the following parameters:

a. Specific conductance.

b. Temperature.

c. Hydrogen ion concentration (pH).

d. Dissolved oxygen.

e. The major anions sulfate, chloride, and bicarbonate.

f. The major cations calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium.

g. Other total and dissolved metals, including aluminum, iron, and manganese, that may be introduced by the mining activities.

h. General chemistry, including total alkalinity, total organic carbon, gross alpha, gross beta, ammonia, nitrate, total dissolved solids, total hardness, and total suspended solids.

(5) Contents related to waste site feasibility. An applicant shall include all of the following in the mining waste site feasibility study and plan of operation:

(a) A description of the mining waste site location, proposed acreage, proposed mining waste site life and range of disposal capacity, and estimated types and quantities of mining wastes to be contained.

(b) A description of the mining waste characterization and analysis conducted under sub. (3) , including a description of the test methods used in evaluating the characteristics of the mining waste and the procedures and records for documenting the chain of custody of the test samples.

(c) An existing site conditions plan sheet consisting of a topographic survey of the area, with elevations tied to United States geological survey mean sea level datum, illustrating the property boundaries, proposed boundaries of the mining waste site, survey grid and north arrow, buildings, water supply wells, utility lines, other man-made features, soil boring locations, observation well locations, and other pertinent information.

(d) A series of geologic cross-sections illustrating existing topography; soil borings; soil classification; soil properties; interpreted soil stratigraphy; bedrock; well and boring locations and constructions; and stabilized water level readings.