Montana Code Annotated
Part 2. Coal and Uranium Mine Reclamation
82-4-205. Administration by department and board

82-4-205. Administration by department and board. (1) The department shall adopt, after an opportunity for a hearing, general rules pertaining to strip mining and to underground mining to accomplish the purposes of this part. The department may adopt rules with respect to filing of reports, issuance of permits, monitoring, and other matters of procedure and administration.
(2) The department:
(a) shall exercise general supervision, administration, and enforcement of this part and all rules and orders adopted under this part;
(b) shall review for approval or disapproval all plans and specifications submitted by an operator for the method of operation, subsidence stabilization, water control, backfilling, grading, highwall reduction, and topsoiling and for the reclamation of the area of land affected by the operator's operation;
(c) shall issue orders requiring an operator to adopt the remedial measures necessary to comply with this part and rules adopted under this part;
(d) shall order the suspension of any permit for failure to comply with this part or a rule adopted under this part;
(e) shall issue an order revoking a permit when the requirements set forth by a notice of violation, order of suspension, or order requiring remedial measures have not been complied with according to the terms in the notice or order;
(f) shall order the halting of any operation that is started without first having obtained a permit as required by this part or order the cessation of operations not in compliance with this part in accordance with 82-4-251;
(g) shall conduct public hearings required under this part or rules adopted pursuant to this part;
(h) shall conduct investigations and inspections necessary to ensure compliance with this part; and
(i) may encourage and conduct investigations, research, experiments, and demonstrations and collect and disseminate information relating to strip mining and to underground mining and reclamation of lands and waters affected by strip mining and underground mining.
(3) The board shall conduct contested case hearings under this part.
History: En. Sec. 5, Ch. 325, L. 1973; amd. Sec. 18, Ch. 441, L. 1975; R.C.M. 1947, 50-1038; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 550, L. 1979; amd. Sec. 369, Ch. 418, L. 1995; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 273, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 8, Ch. 79, L. 2001; amd. Sec. 86, Ch. 324, L. 2021.

Structure Montana Code Annotated

Montana Code Annotated

Title 82. Minerals, Oil, and Gas

Chapter 4. Reclamation

Part 2. Coal and Uranium Mine Reclamation

82-4-201. Short title

82-4-202. Intent -- policy -- findings

82-4-203. Definitions

82-4-204. Repealed

82-4-205. Administration by department and board

82-4-206. Procedure for contested case hearings

82-4-207. Rulemaking -- in situ coal gasification

82-4-208. through 82-4-220 reserved

82-4-221. Mining permit required

82-4-222. Permit application -- application revisions

82-4-223. Surety bond

82-4-224. Repealed

82-4-225. Application for increase or reduction in permit area

82-4-226. Prospecting permit

82-4-227. Refusal of permit -- applicant violator system

82-4-228. Designation of land unsuitable for coal mining

82-4-229. and 82-4-230 reserved

82-4-231. Submission of and action on reclamation plan

82-4-232. Area mining required -- bond -- alternative plan

82-4-233. Planting of vegetation following grading of disturbed area

82-4-234. Commencement of reclamation

82-4-235. Determination of successful revegetation -- final bond release

82-4-236. Vegetation as property of landowner

82-4-237. Operator to file annual reports

82-4-238. Successor operator

82-4-239. Reclamation

82-4-240. Reclamation of lands after bond forfeited

82-4-241. Receipts paid into general fund -- disposition of bond forfeiture money

82-4-242. Funds received by department

82-4-243. Subsidence

82-4-244. Coal and uranium mine permitting and reclamation program account

82-4-245. through 82-4-249 reserved

82-4-250. Operating permit revocation -- permit transfer

82-4-251. Noncompliance -- suspension of permits

82-4-252. Mandamus

82-4-253. Suit for damage to water supply

82-4-254. Violation -- penalty -- waiver