Opinion ID: 1287569
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: the code

Text: The review of large mine permits is governed by the Code of the City and Borough of Juneau (CC & BJ) 49.65 (1989). CC & BJ 49.65.110 provides in part: It is the purpose of this article to foster the development of a safe, healthy and environmentally sound mining industry while protecting the overall interests of public health, safety and the general welfare and minimizing the environmental and surface effects of mining projects for which an exploration notice or mining permit is required. The procedure for obtaining a large mine permit is governed by CC & BJ 49.65.130. CC & BJ 49.65.130(b) requires an application for a large mine permit to be submitted in the form of a report containing sufficient information so that the department can, after reviewing the application, evaluate, in accordance with the standards of subsection 49.65.135(a), the impacts[ [1] ] described in this subsection that the mining operation may have on the city and borough. The application shall contain a map on a scale of 1:63,360 or a more detailed scale, a description of the mine site and affected surface; a description and timetable of the proposed mining operation, including all roads, buildings, processing and related facilities; a description and timetable of proposed reclamation of affected surface; a description of proposals for the sealing of open shafts, adits and tunnels upon the completion or temporary cessation of mining operations; a description of methods to be used to control, treat, transport and dispose of hazardous substances, sewage and solid waste; and a description of other potential environmental, health, safety and general welfare impacts, as well as neighboring property impacts and measures to be taken to mitigate their adverse effects. The application shall also contain additional information normally prepared by the operator for its feasibility studies and mining plans, including information establishing the right to use the affected surface, labor force characteristics and timing, payroll projections, anticipated duration of the mining operation, construction schedules, infrastructure description, and other information reasonably requested by the department in the preapplication conference held pursuant to Section 49.15.330(b).... (Emphasis added.) Likewise, CC & BJ 49.15.130(b), which governs applications for land use permits in general, provides that [a]n application is complete when it contains all of the information necessary to determine if the development will comply with all of the requirements of the permit applied for. CC & BJ 49.65.130(f) requires the Community Development Department (Department) to conduct an application review, which shall include, but not be limited to, the following determinations: whether air and water quality will be maintained in accordance with federal, state, and city and borough laws, rules and regulations; where sewage, solid waste, hazardous and toxic materials will be properly contained and disposed of in accordance with federal, state, and city and borough laws, rules and regulations; the extent to which the operator will agree to mitigate adverse impacts on the city and borough; whether the mining operation will be conducted in such a way as to minimize safety hazards to the extent reasonably practicable and will mitigate adverse impacts on the public and on neighboring properties such as those from traffic overloading, noise, dust, unsightly visual aspects, surface subsidence, avalanches, landslides and erosion; and whether appropriate historic sites will be protected.[ [2] ] CC & BJ 49.65.130(f) further provides: The department shall form a recommendation as to whether the permit should be approved.... The department's recommendation may include such conditions or stipulations as the department deems to be reasonably necessary to mitigate any adverse environmental, health, safety, or general welfare impacts which may result from the proposed mining operation.... If the [planning] commission determines that the application, with stipulations or conditions[ [3] ] as appropriate, satisfies the standards of Sections 49.65.135 and 49.15.330, it shall approve the application.... The primary requirements for a large mine permit are contained in CC & BJ 49.65.135 (1989), which states: STANDARDS FOR ISSUANCE OF PERMITS AND CONDUCT OF OPERATIONS. (a) In determining whether to recommend issuance of a permit, the [community development] department shall require that: (1) The mining operations be conducted in accordance with this article, Section 49.15.330,[ [4] ] and any other applicable provisions of the city and borough code in such a way as to mitigate adverse environmental, health, safety and general welfare impacts; (2) Air and water quality be maintained in accordance with federal, state, and city and borough laws, rules and regulations; (3) Hazardous and toxic materials, sewage, and solid waste be properly contained and disposed of in accordance with applicable federal, state, and city and borough laws, rules and regulations; (4) The operator conduct all mining operations according to the standards of the city and borough as contained in this article, Section 49.15.330, the permit, and any other applicable provisions of the city and borough code, so as to minimize to the extent reasonably practicable safety hazards and to control and mitigate adverse impacts on the public and neighboring properties, such as from traffic overloading, noise, dust, unsightly visual aspects, surface subsidence, avalanches, landslides and erosion; (5) Appropriate historic sites designated as significant by the city and borough be protected; (6) Reclamation of the affected surface be in accordance with the approved reclamation plan of the operator; and (7) With respect to a large mine permit application, the operator negotiate and enter into a mitigation agreement with the city and borough.... .... (b) Reclamation of all affected surfaces shall be completed as soon as is reasonable after affected surface areas are no longer being used in exploration and mining operations. Reclamation shall include the following: cleanup and disposal of dangerous, hazardous or toxic materials; regrading of steep slopes of unconsolidated material to create a stable slope; backfilling underground shafts and tunnels to the extent appropriate; adequate pillaring or other support to prevent subsidence or sloughing; plugging, or sealing of abandoned shafts, tunnels, adits or other openings; adequate steps to control or avoid soil erosion or wind erosion; control of water runoff; revegetation of tailings and affected surface areas with plant materials that are capable of self-regeneration without continued dependence on irrigation and equipment where appropriate; rehabilitation of fisheries and wildlife habitat; and any other conditions imposed by the commission. Subsequent to the issuance of a permit or the grant of authority under an exploration notice, the operator's compliance shall be measured against the requirements contained in that permit or the conditions of the exploration notice and the operator's plans submitted with the permit application or the notice.