2023 Montana Code Annotated › Title 82. Minerals, Oil, and Gas › Chapter 4. Reclamation › Part 4. Opencut Mining Reclamation › 82-4-432. Application for permit -- contents -- issuance -- amendment

82-4-432. Application for permit -- contents -- issuance -- amendment.
(1) (a) An operator who requires a permit pursuant to 82-4-431 shall apply for a permit on forms furnished by the department prior to commencing operations.
(b) Operations subject to subsections (2) through (13) are those:
(i) that affect ground water or surface water, including intermittent or perennial streams, or water conveyance facilities; or
(ii) where 10 or more occupied dwelling units are within one-half mile of the permit boundary of the operation.
(c) All other operations are subject to subsection (14).
(2) (a) An application for a permit pursuant to subsections (2) through (13) must be made using forms furnished by the department and must contain the following:
(i) the name of the applicant and, if other than the owner of the land, the name and address of the owner;
(ii) the type of operation to be conducted;
(iii) the estimated volume of overburden and materials to be removed;
(iv) the location of the proposed opencut operation by legal description and county accompanied by a map showing the location of the proposed operation sufficient to allow the public to locate the proposed site; and
(v) a statement that the applicant has the legal right to mine the designated materials in the lands described.
(b) The application must be accompanied by:
(i) a bond or security meeting the requirements as set out in this part;
(ii) a statement from the local governing body having jurisdiction over the area to be mined certifying that the proposed sand and gravel opencut operation complies with applicable local zoning regulations adopted under Title 76, chapter 2, and in effect prior to the filing of a permit application or at the time a written request is received for a preapplication meeting pursuant to this section;
(iii) a plan of operation that contains information sufficient to initiate acceptability review by addressing the requirements of 82-4-434 and rules adopted pursuant to this part related to 82-4-434;
(iv) written documentation that the landowner has been consulted about the proposed plan of operation;
(v) a written agreement between the landowner and the operator authorizing the operator access to the site to perform reclamation if the landowner revokes or otherwise terminates the operator's right to mine;
(vi) a list that is certified by the operator and generated on a form furnished by the department using cadastral and field information at the time of permit application of owners of real property on which occupied dwelling units exist located within one-half mile of the proposed permit boundary using the owners of record as shown no more than 60 days prior to the submission of an application in the paper or electronic records of the county clerk and recorder for the county where the proposed opencut operation is located; and
(vii) documentation of consultation with the state historic preservation office regarding possible archaeological or historical values on the affected land.
(3) If, prior to applying for a permit, a person notifies the department of the intention to submit an application and requests that the department examine the area to be mined, the department shall examine the area and make recommendations to the person regarding the proposed opencut operation. The person may request a preapplication meeting with the department. The department shall hold a meeting if requested.
(4) (a) (i) Except as provided in 75-1-208(4)(b), upon receipt of an application, the department shall, within 5 working days, review the application and notify the person as to whether or not the application is complete. An application is complete if it contains the items listed in subsections (1) and (2). If the department determines that the application is not complete, the department shall notify the applicant in writing and include a detailed identification of information necessary to make the application complete.
(ii) The time limit provided in subsection (4)(a)(i) applies to each submittal of the application until the department determines that the application is complete.
(b) (i) A determination that an application is complete does not ensure that the application is acceptable and does not limit the department's ability to request additional information or inspect the site during the review process.
(ii) Upon determining that an application is complete, the department shall begin reviewing the application for acceptability pursuant to this section.
(iii) The department shall accept public comment throughout the review process.
(c) The department may declare an application abandoned and void if:
(i) the applicant fails to respond to the department's written request for more information within 1 year; and
(ii) the department notifies the applicant of its intent to abandon the application and the applicant fails to provide information within 30 days.
(d) The department shall notify the applicant when an application is complete and post the complete application on the department's website.
(5) Within 15 days after the department sends notice of a complete application to the applicant, the applicant shall provide public notice, which must include:
(a) the name, address, and telephone number of the applicant;
(b) a description of the acreage, the estimated volume of overburden and materials to be removed, the type of materials to be removed, the facilities, the duration of activities, and the access points of the proposed opencut operation;
(c) a legal description of the proposed opencut operation and a map, or directions on how to access a map, showing the location of the proposed opencut operation and immediately surrounding property; and
(d) on a form provided by the department, notification that the application is complete and information on how to request a public meeting pursuant to this section.
(6) To provide public notice, the applicant shall:
(a) publish notice at least twice in a newspaper of general circulation in the locality of the proposed opencut operation. A map is not required in the notice if, in addition to the legal description of the proposed opencut operation, the notice provides an address for the map posted on the department's website and instructions for obtaining a paper copy of the map from an applicant. If the notice does not include a map, the applicant shall promptly provide a paper copy to a requestor.
(b) mail the notice by first-class mail to the board of county commissioners of the county in which the proposed opencut operation is located and to surface owners of land located within one-half mile of the boundary of the proposed opencut permit area using the most current known owners of record as shown in the paper or electronic records of the county clerk and recorder for the county where the proposed opencut operation is located;
(c) post the notice in at least two prominent locations at the site of the proposed opencut operation, including near a public road if possible; and
(d) provide the department with the names and addresses of those notified pursuant to subsection (6)(b).
(7) (a) Except as provided in subsection (7)(b), the department shall accept requests for a public meeting for 45 days after the department sends notice to the applicant of a complete application. Within this period, unless a public meeting is required pursuant to subsection (9), the department shall notify the applicant as to whether or not the application is acceptable pursuant to subsection (10).
(b) If the applicant and the department mutually agree or the applicant submits documentation on a form provided by the department showing that a public meeting will not be required pursuant to subsection (9), the department shall inform the applicant within 30 days of the notice of a complete application as to whether or not the application is acceptable pursuant to subsection (10).
(8) If a public meeting is required pursuant to subsection (9), within 30 days from the closing date of the public meeting request period in subsection (7), the department shall:
(a) hold a meeting; and
(b) notify the applicant as to whether or not the application is acceptable pursuant to subsection (10) or that the application requires an extended review pursuant to 82-4-439.
(9) (a) The department shall hold a public meeting in the area of the proposed opencut operation at the request of:
(i) the applicant; or
(ii) at least 51% of the real property owners on which occupied dwelling units exist or 10 real property owners on which occupied dwelling units exist, whichever is greater, notified pursuant to this section. For the purposes of this subsection (9)(a)(ii), multiple owners of the same occupied dwelling unit are to be counted as a single real property owner.
(b) To provide notice for a public meeting, the department shall notify by first-class mail or electronically the property owners on the list provided by the applicant pursuant to this section and the board of county commissioners in the county where the proposed opencut operation is located.
(10) (a) An application is acceptable if it complies with the requirements of subsections (1) and (2) and includes a plan of operation that satisfies the requirements of 82-4-434 and rules adopted pursuant to this part related to 82-4-434. If the department determines that the application is not acceptable, the department shall notify the applicant in writing and include a detailed identification of all deficiencies.
(b) Within 10 working days of receipt of the applicant's response to the identified deficiencies, the department shall review the responses and notify the applicant as to whether or not the application is acceptable. If the application is unacceptable, the department shall notify the applicant in writing and include a detailed identification of the deficiencies.
(c) If the application is acceptable, the department shall issue a permit to the operator that entitles the operator to engage in the opencut operation on the land described in the application.
(11) (a) An operator may amend a permit by submitting an amendment application to the department. Upon receipt of the amendment application, the department shall review it in accordance with the requirements and procedures in this section. If the amendment application is acceptable, the department shall issue an amendment to the original permit.
(b) An application for an amendment is not subject to the public notice or public meeting requirements of this section or an extended review pursuant to 82-4-439 unless it proposes an increase in permitted acreage of 50% or more of the amount of permitted acreage in the current permit.
(c) For amendment applications not subject to the public notice and public meeting requirements of this section, the department shall, within 45 days of notifying the applicant that the application is complete, notify the applicant as to whether or not the application is acceptable pursuant to subsection (10).
(12) (a) Except as provided in subsection (12)(b), if weather or other field conditions prevent the department from conducting an adequate site inspection to evaluate a permit or amendment application, the time limits provided in subsections (7) and (11) are suspended until the weather or other field conditions allow for an adequate site inspection.
(b) Before suspending time limits, the department shall allow the operator to provide the information needed from a site inspection by other means, including but not limited to surveys, photos, videos, or other reports.
(13) The department shall post a copy of an acceptable permit or amendment on its website.
(14) (a) Operations not described by subsection (1)(b) that apply for a permit or an amendment shall submit:
(i) a landowner consultation form;
(ii) documentation of consultation with the state historic preservation office regarding possible archaeological or historical values on the affected land;
(iii) a reclamation bond calculated pursuant to the requirements of 82-4-433 unless exempt pursuant to 82-4-405;
(iv) if applicable, documentation of compliance with Title 87, chapter 5, part 9;
(v) a statement from the local governing body having jurisdiction over the area to be mined certifying that the proposed sand and gravel opencut operation complies with applicable local zoning regulations adopted under Title 76, chapter 2, and in effect prior to the filing of a permit application or at the time a written request is received for a preapplication meeting pursuant to this section;
(vi) results from three soil test pits meeting the soil guideline requirements;
(vii) the appropriate fee as set forth in 82-4-437 and a $500 fee to be deposited in the opencut fund pursuant to 82-4-438;
(viii) the proposed permit boundary in a format acceptable to the department and a location map;
(ix) a certification from the operator that there are fewer than 10 occupied dwelling units within one-half mile of the permit boundary of the operation no more than 60 days from the date the application materials are submitted;
(x) certification from the operator that notice of the proposed opencut operation was:
(A) published at least twice in a newspaper of general circulation in the locality of the proposed opencut operation;
(B) mailed to surface owners of land located within one-half mile of the boundary of the proposed opencut permit area using the most current known owners of record as shown in the paper or electronic records of the county clerk and recorder for the county where the proposed opencut operation is located. If the notice does not include a map, the applicant shall promptly provide a copy to a requestor.
(C) posted in at least two prominent locations at the site of the proposed opencut operation, including near a public road if possible;
(xi) the date the site is to be fully reclaimed.
(b) Except as provided in 75-1-208(4)(b), upon receipt of an application under this subsection (14), the department shall, within 5 working days, review the application and notify the person as to whether or not the application is complete. An application is complete if it contains the items listed in subsection (14)(a). If the department determines that the application is not complete, the department shall notify the applicant in writing and include a detailed identification of information necessary to make the application complete.
(c) Upon determining that an application is complete, the department shall begin reviewing the application for acceptability pursuant to this section. Public comment may be submitted throughout the review period.
(d) Within 15 days of receiving the information required by subsection (14)(a), the department shall determine if the information meets the requirements of subsection (14)(a) and notify the operator in writing. If the requirements are met, the operator may commence the operation on receipt of the notification.
(e) If the information submitted does not meet the requirements of subsection (14)(a), the department shall notify the applicant in writing and include a detailed identification of all deficiencies.
(f) Within 10 working days of receipt of the applicant's response to the identified deficiencies, the department shall review the responses and notify the applicant as to whether the information submitted meets the requirements of subsection (14)(a). If the information submitted does not meet the requirements, the department shall notify the applicant in writing and include a detailed identification of the deficiencies.
(g) If the information submitted to the department meets the requirements of subsection (14)(a), the department shall notify the operator in writing. On receipt of the notification, the operator may commence opencut operations on the land described in the application.
(h) The department may prohibit an operation under this section if, at the time of submission of information required by subsection (14)(a), the operator has a pattern of violations of this part or is in current violation of this part, rules adopted under this part, or provisions of a permit.
(i) Prior to removing materials, the operator shall salvage all of the soil from the area to be disturbed.
(j) Prior to the final reclamation date, the operator shall grade the affected land to 3:1 or flatter slopes for rangeland and to 5:1 or flatter slopes for farmland and cropland, blend the graded land into the surrounding topography, replace an appropriate amount of overburden and all soils, and reclaim to conditions either present prior to operations or as specified by the landowner, including all access roads used for the operation unless the landowner requests in writing that specific roads or portions of roads remain in place. Roads left at the landowner's request must be sized to support the use of the road after operations.
History: En. Sec. 8, Ch. 326, L. 1973; amd. Sec. 21, Ch. 39, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 50-1508; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 408, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 411, Ch. 418, L. 1995; amd. Sec. 15, Ch. 507, L. 1999; amd. Sec. 13, Ch. 299, L. 2001; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 325, L. 2001; amd. Sec. 11, Ch. 385, L. 2007; amd. Sec. 7, Ch. 477, L. 2009; amd. Sec. 6, Ch. 198, L. 2013; amd. Sec. 9, Ch. 334, L. 2019; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 545, L. 2021.