Source: https://app.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=332-18&full=true
Timestamp: 2019-04-19 11:08:36+00:00

Document:
332-18-01001 Delegation of enforcement to counties.
332-18-01002 Land use approval and regulation of operations.
332-18-01004 Denial of an application for a reclamation permit.
332-18-050 Inspections and cancellations of permits.
332-18-05001 Orders and notices of the department.
332-18-05002 Time extensions and additional performance security.
332-18-05004 Fines, base penalties schedule.
332-18-130 Bank letters of credit.
332-18-145 Blanket performance security—Rules to obtain and maintain a blanket performance security for multiple surface mines.
332-18-01005 Annual permit fees for county governments. [Statutory Authority: RCW 78.44.040, 34.05.220, 43.21C.135 and 78.44.250. WSR 94-14-051, § 332-18-01005, filed 6/30/94, effective 8/2/94.] Repealed by WSR 14-17-077, filed 8/18/14, effective 9/18/14. Statutory Authority: RCW 34.05.220.
332-18-015 Compliance with local regulations. [Order 94, § 332-18-015, filed 4/6/71.] Repealed by WSR 94-14-051, filed 6/30/94, effective 8/2/94. Statutory Authority: RCW 78.44.040, 34.05.220, 43.21C.135 and 78.44.250.
332-18-020 Provisional permit. [Order 86, § 332-18-020, filed 10/27/70, effective 11/28/70.] Repealed by WSR 94-14-051, filed 6/30/94, effective 8/2/94. Statutory Authority: RCW 78.44.040, 34.05.220, 43.21C.135 and 78.44.250.
332-18-030 Combined operating permits. [Order 86, § 332-18-030, filed 10/27/70, effective 11/28/70.] Repealed by WSR 94-14-051, filed 6/30/94, effective 8/2/94. Statutory Authority: RCW 78.44.040, 34.05.220, 43.21C.135 and 78.44.250.
332-18-040 Multiple operations at one site. [Order 86, § 332-18-040, filed 10/27/70, effective 11/28/70.] Repealed by WSR 94-14-051, filed 6/30/94, effective 8/2/94. Statutory Authority: RCW 78.44.040, 34.05.220, 43.21C.135 and 78.44.250.
332-18-05007 Civil penalties—Mitigation, appeals. [Statutory Authority: RCW 78.44.040, 34.05.220, 43.21C.135 and 78.44.250. WSR 94-14-051, § 332-18-05007, filed 6/30/94, effective 8/2/94.] Repealed by WSR 14-17-076, filed 8/18/14, effective 9/18/14. Statutory Authority: RCW 78.44.404, 34.05.220, 43.21C.135, and 78.44.250.
332-18-060 Confidential material. [Order 86, § 332-18-060, filed 10/27/70, effective 11/28/70.] Repealed by WSR 94-14-051, filed 6/30/94, effective 8/2/94. Statutory Authority: RCW 78.44.040, 34.05.220, 43.21C.135 and 78.44.250.
332-18-070 Time extensions. [Order 86, § 332-18-070, filed 10/27/70, effective 11/28/70.] Repealed by WSR 94-14-051, filed 6/30/94, effective 8/2/94. Statutory Authority: RCW 78.44.040, 34.05.220, 43.21C.135 and 78.44.250.
332-18-080 Preplanning. [Order 86, § 332-18-080, filed 10/27/70, effective 11/28/70.] Repealed by WSR 94-14-051, filed 6/30/94, effective 8/2/94. Statutory Authority: RCW 78.44.040, 34.05.220, 43.21C.135 and 78.44.250.
332-18-090 Revegetation. [Order 86, § 332-18-090, filed 10/27/70, effective 11/28/70.] Repealed by WSR 94-14-051, filed 6/30/94, effective 8/2/94. Statutory Authority: RCW 78.44.040, 34.05.220, 43.21C.135 and 78.44.250.
332-18-100 Water control. [Order 86, § 332-18-100, filed 10/27/70, effective 11/28/70.] Repealed by WSR 94-14-051, filed 6/30/94, effective 8/2/94. Statutory Authority: RCW 78.44.040, 34.05.220, 43.21C.135 and 78.44.250.
332-18-110 Water impoundment. [Order 86, § 332-18-110, filed 10/27/70, effective 11/28/70.] Repealed by WSR 94-14-051, filed 6/30/94, effective 8/2/94. Statutory Authority: RCW 78.44.040, 34.05.220, 43.21C.135 and 78.44.250.
332-18-140 Interest in real property in lieu of other performance security. [Statutory Authority: RCW 78.44.040, 34.05.220, 43.21C.135 and 78.44.250. WSR 94-14-051, § 332-18-140, filed 6/30/94, effective 8/2/94.] Repealed by WSR 14-17-077, filed 8/18/14, effective 9/18/14. Statutory Authority: RCW 34.05.220.
(1) "The act" means the Washington Surface Mining Act, chapter 78.44 RCW.
(2) "Buffers" are synonymous with screening as used in the act.
(d) Evidence that SEPA review has been completed.
(4) "Completed reclamation" as referred to in the act means final reclamation that has been approved by the department. Prior to approval, the department shall assure that the vegetative cover, soil stability, and water conditions of the reclaimed segment are appropriate to the approved subsequent use of the site. After July 1, 1995, final approval shall be given in writing by the department.
(5) "Enforcement" as used in these rules and the act means the regulatory authority to identify and document the status of compliance of a surface mine, and authority to impose sanctions under the act and these rules.
(6) "Land use plan" and "land use designation" refer to approval of the site for mining and for the use after mining by the appropriate city, town, or county government.
(7) "Simple and accurate legal description" in the act means the Government Land Office grid location (quarter section(s), section, Township, Range, and Meridian). Alternatively, the applicant or reclamation permit holder may provide a certified land survey. Metes and bounds descriptions are generally unacceptable for permits issued or revised after July 1, 1994.
Other terms used in these rules are defined in the act.
Delegation of enforcement to counties.
(e) Comply with all related written policies of the department.
(2) Such delegation shall be through a contract with the county.
(3) The department shall audit the performance of the county to assure that there is compliance with the enforcement provisions of the act and these rules. If the department determines that the county has failed to adequately and fairly enforce the act and these rules to the department's satisfaction, then the county shall be given written notice describing the deficiencies. If the county is unable to correct the deficiencies within the following six months, then the department may revoke the delegation.
(4) The department shall maintain sole authority to approve reclamation plans, to issue reclamation permits, to issue declarations of abandonment, to cancel reclamation permits, and to develop reclamation regulations and standards.
Land use approval and regulation of operations.
(1) For reclamation permits issued after July 1, 1994, approval of mining and of the subsequent use of the mine site shall be verified with a Form SM-6; except that such approval may not be required for mines on state or federal lands. The Form SM-6 must be signed by a responsible official from the appropriate city, town, or county.
(2) The department will not accept a Form SM-6 that obligates the department to regulate any "operation" except as necessary to assure timely reclamation.
(3) Conditions on any state surface mine operating permit issued prior to July 1, 1993, that cause the department to regulate "operations," that are not directly related to reclamation are invalid, except those conditions that were properly adopted pursuant to the department's SEPA substantive authority.
(4) After July 1, 1995, the department will attempt to notify the appropriate local government or state agency of surface mines affected by subsection (3) of this section.
Denial of an application for a reclamation permit.
(3) Is not in compliance with an order or notice of the department.
Inspections and cancellations of permits.
The department shall have the right to inspect any property at any time as it determines is necessary to ensure there is compliance with the act, these rules, and the reclamation plan. Inspections shall be limited to those lands and the permit holder's records that pertain to surface mine reclamation. All deficiencies shall be brought to the attention of the miner or permit holder.
The department, at its option, may refuse to issue another permit to a miner or permit holder who is in noncompliance with an order of the department until all deficiencies are corrected to the satisfaction of the department.
Orders and notices of the department.
(1) The department may issue orders and notices as described in the act and these rules. Before issuing the initial order related to a specific violation, the department shall attempt to hold a conference with the miner or permit holder. The purpose of the conference is to determine if a violation has occurred and, if so, to develop a plan to correct the violation and mitigate its impacts insofar as practicable.
(c) Applicable time frames for corrective action and appeal.
(3) Orders and notices of the department shall be in writing and delivered to the miner or permit holder by mail or personal service.
Time extensions and additional performance security.
The department may grant an extension of the applicable compliance timetables if failure to comply with the permit, rules, or the act resulted from circumstances clearly beyond the control of the miner or permit holder. The extension may be granted for up to eighteen months. However, the extension may be revoked if the miner or permit holder is not, in the opinion of the department, making every reasonable effort to comply.
Additional performance security in a form acceptable to the department may be required if it is determined to be necessary to assure that the deficiencies are rectified.
(f) Excavation within the reclamation setbacks.
(g) Any violation of an order of the department.
(f) Failure to comply when more than one order of the department has been issued for the same violation.
(1) The base penalty shall be the minimum fine in each category as set forth in WAC 332-18-05004.
(a) Severity: The department shall adjust the penalty to reflect the extent or magnitude and difficulty of repairing the damage to lands, waters, and neighboring properties. This factor shall increase the base penalty by not more than 5.0 times the base penalty.
(b) Previous violation(s): The department shall consider whether the violator has had previous significant violations of the act, rules, permit, or reclamation plan as documented by an enforcement action. This factor shall increase the base penalty by not more than 3.0 times the base penalty.
(1) Penalties imposed under this section shall become due and payable thirty days after receipt of a notice imposing the fine unless the miner or permit holder files an appeal.
(2) Thirty days after the miner or permit holder is notified that administrative review of penalties is complete, the penalty shall become due and payable.
(3) Thirty days after a penalty becomes due and payable, interest shall accrue at the maximum rate allowed by RCW 19.52.020 until the penalty is paid to the department.
If the penalty and/or applicable interest are not paid to the department within thirty days after these become due and payable, the attorney general, upon the request of the department, may bring an action in superior court to recover the penalty or interest. In all such actions, the procedures and rules of evidence shall be the same as in an ordinary civil action except as otherwise provided in the act.
(3) A decision in favor of that person would substantially eliminate or redress the prejudice to that person caused or likely to be caused by the department's action.
(1) The performance security required by RCW 78.44.087 may be in the form of a corporate surety bond executed in favor of the department by a corporation authorized to do business in the state of Washington under Title 48 RCW.
(2) After July 1, 1995, performance bonds required by RCW 78.44.087 shall be substantially in the following form, unless, in considering any reclamation permit, the department determines that a different form is desirable or required.
Permit No. . . . .
we, . . . . . . . . . . . , as Principal, and . . . . . . . . . . , a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of . . . . . . . . [,] and authorized to transact business in the State of Washington, as Surety, are held and firmly bound unto the State of Washington, acting through the Department of Natural Resources, in the sum of . . . . . . . . ($ . . . . . . ) u.s. dollars, for the payment of which sum we bind ourselves, and each of our legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors and assigns, jointly and severally, firmly by these presents.
now, therefore, The conditions of this obligation are such that if the Principal, in conducting such surface mining operations, faithfully performs the requirements of the permit, these rules, and the act, then this obligation shall be void; otherwise the obligation shall remain in full force and effect. In accordance with RCW 78.44.087, this bond secures completion of reclamation for the area to be surface mined and related costs after the signature date of this bond and any previously disturbed areas on the Premises on which reclamation has not been satisfactorily completed and approved.
provided, However, the Surety shall not be liable under this bond for an amount greater in the aggregate than the sum designated in the first paragraph hereof and any reasonable legal fees that the department may incur to recover the security under RCW 78.44.240. The Surety shall not be liable for surface mining performed on the Premises after a date sixty days after the Surety mails a cancellation notice to the Principal and the Department of Natural Resources, Olympia, Washington. The bond shall remain in full force and effect as respects obligations related to surface mining performed on the Premises before that date unless the Principal files a substitute bond or other performance security, approved by the Department of Natural Resources, or unless the Department of Natural Resources otherwise releases the Surety in writing.
Signed, sealed and dated this . . . . day of . . . . ., . . . . .
(3) Bonds submitted under RCW 78.44.087 shall contain a legal description of the area for which a reclamation permit has been issued. An acceptable legal description for bonds takes this form: "a portion of sec. 15 T2N R3E." After July 1, 1994, the department will generally not accept metes and bounds descriptions.
The performance security required by RCW 78.44.087 may be in the form of a bank letter of credit.
(1) The department will accept a bank letter of credit under RCW 78.44.087 only if the letter of credit is established in an amount equal to the estimated cost of completing reclamation according to the approved reclamation plan or minimum reclamation standards and related administrative overhead for the area to be surface mined during the next thirty-six month period and any previously disturbed areas for which a reclamation permit has been issued and on which the reclamation has not been satisfactorily completed and approved.
(c) Is in the form described in subsection (4) of this section.
(iii) States that the letter of confirmation is subject to the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits, 1983 revision, ICC Publication No. 400.
(h) Expressly provide that any draft or demand for payment must be accompanied by the department's signed statement that the person whose performance the credit is intended to secure is in default of the obligations imposed by chapter 78.44 RCW.
Blanket performance security—Rules to obtain and maintain a blanket performance security for multiple surface mines.
(1) A permit holder or landowner may use a blanket performance security for multiple surface mines if authorized by DNR under RCW 78.44.350 and this rule. The amount must equal the sum of the estimated reclamation cost calculated by DNR for the two covered surface mines with the largest performance security obligations. The process for obtaining DNR's approval includes a preliminary review, submittal of a complete request, and DNR review of a complete request.
(2) A permit holder or landowner must first request DNR's preliminary review of eligibility and the state of the proposed surface mines. The request shall identify permit holders and proposed surface mines by permit number, if any. DNR will issue a preliminary review decision on each mine indicating which mines would be eligible within sixty days. The preliminary review period may be extended by DNR with written notice to the applicant. If any requested sites are denied after the preliminary review, the DNR will state in writing why the site was denied and the applicant may request a meeting and/or reapply for preliminary review.
(v) The permit holder must before obtaining and every other year thereafter, submit an updated reclamation cost estimate on DNR's Standard Performance Security Calculation Form (SM-10) for each covered surface mine.
(b) Proposed sites must not include metal or fuel surface mines.
(iii) The surface mine condition should satisfy all of the topsoil requirements stated in the applicable reclamation permit and plan.
(a) An acceptable and adequate performance security on a DNR-approved form that equals the sum of the reclamation security calculated by the DNR for the two covered surface mines with the largest performance security obligations.
(c) The estimated reclamation cost on a DNR Standard Performance Security Calculation Form (SM-10) for each included surface mine. Thereafter, the permit holder providing the blanket performance security shall submit documentation per subsection (2)(a)(iv) and (v) of this section. DNR shall review and confirm or correct each estimated reclamation cost according to its form and RCW 78.44.087.
(4) DNR may only approve a request for a blanket performance security when the request contains all required documents, is accurate, complete, and is submitted by or on behalf of eligible permit holders. DNR shall further consider the factors identified in subsection (2)(b) and (c) of this section. DNR will provide a written decision approving or disapproving the request, which is appealable.
(5) If surface mine conditions change so that the cumulative estimated reclamation cost for any two covered surface mines is greater than the initially calculated amount, the blanket performance security must be increased. DNR may recalculate estimated reclamation costs and may require a new blanket performance security under RCW 78.44.087 and 78.44.350.
(6) DNR may require substitute individual performance securities for all covered surface mines if the permit holder loses eligibility under subsection (2) of this section. Further, DNR may require a substitute individual performance security for each surface mine that becomes inappropriate for blanket coverage. The permit holder shall comply with the DNR written substitute performance security demand within thirty days of notice. DNR may require the substitute performance security until the permit holder regains eligibility or the surface mine is restored to an appropriate condition for blanket coverage. DNR may use the blanket security for the reclamation of any originally covered surface mine unless DNR approves cancellation of the original blanket performance security or approves a substitute blanket performance security excluding that surface mine.
(iii) A SEPA checklist. This checklist shall address only those impacts relating to the revised reclamation plan.
(b) Acceptable performance security as determined by the department pursuant to RCW 78.44.120.
(c) Written approval of the permit transfer signed by the former permit holder. The department may transfer the reclamation permit without the permission of the former permit holder if a declaration of abandonment has been issued according to RCW 78.44.220.
(d) Written notification from the new permit holder that they assume all duties of the former permit holder to reclaim the surface mine.
(2) The department may waive the requirement for a revised reclamation plan when it finds that the existing reclamation plan meets the minimum reclamation requirements.
(3) The department shall not transfer the reclamation permit until this permit and all others held by both the former and the new permit holders are in compliance with the act, these rules, the reclamation permit, and any orders of the department. This requirement may be waived upon approval of a plan and schedule that will result in compliance within eighteen months of the permit transfer date. This plan and schedule shall be considered as part of the reclamation plan, and failure to comply with the plan and schedule shall constitute violations of this chapter.

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