Montana Code Annotated
Part 3. Metal Mine Reclamation
82-4-301. Legislative intent and findings

82-4-301. Legislative intent and findings. (1) The legislature, mindful of its constitutional obligations under Article II, section 3, and Article IX of the Montana constitution, has enacted this part.
(2) It is the legislature's intent that:
(a) the requirements of this part provide adequate remedies for the protection of the environmental life support system from degradation and provide adequate remedies to prevent unreasonable depletion and degradation of natural resources;
(b) tailings storage facilities are designed, operated, monitored, and closed in a manner that:
(i) meets state-of-practice engineering design standards;
(ii) uses applicable, appropriate, and current technologies and techniques as are practicable given site-specific conditions and concerns; and
(iii) provides protection of human health and the environment; and
(c) the regulation of tailings storage facilities is not prescriptive in detail but allows for adaptive management using evolving best engineering practices based on the recommendations of qualified, experienced engineers.
(3) The extraction of mineral by mining is a basic and essential activity making an important contribution to the economy of the state and the nation. At the same time, proper reclamation of mined land and former exploration areas not brought to mining stage is necessary to prevent undesirable land and surface water conditions detrimental to the general welfare, health, safety, ecology, and property rights of the citizens of the state. Mining and exploration for minerals take place in diverse areas where geological, topographical, climatic, biological, and sociological conditions are significantly different, and the specifications for reclamation and tailings storage facilities must vary accordingly. It is not practical to extract minerals or explore for minerals required by our society without disturbing the surface or subsurface of the earth and without producing waste materials, and the very character of many types of mining operations precludes complete restoration of the land to its original condition. The legislature finds that land reclamation and tailings storage as provided in this part will allow exploration for and mining of valuable minerals while adequately providing for the subsequent beneficial use of the lands to be reclaimed.
(4) The legislature finds that the mining of rock products from or just below the ground surface not containing sulfides is subject to fewer permitting requirements than other minerals because:
(a) the mining of nonsulfide rock products from or just below the ground surface creates fewer and more limited environmental concerns than the mining of other minerals;
(b) nonsulfide rock products are typically used in their natural state and not subject to chemical processing; and
(c) water quality and quantity are not significantly affected by mining of nonsulfide rock products from or just below the ground surface.
History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 252, L. 1971; R.C.M. 1947, 50-1201; amd. Sec. 31, Ch. 361, L. 2003; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 399, L. 2015; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 152, L. 2021.

Structure Montana Code Annotated

Montana Code Annotated

Title 82. Minerals, Oil, and Gas

Chapter 4. Reclamation

Part 3. Metal Mine Reclamation

82-4-301. Legislative intent and findings

82-4-302. Purpose

82-4-303. Definitions

82-4-304. Exemption -- works performed prior to promulgation of rules

82-4-305. Exemption -- small miners -- written agreement

82-4-306. Confidentiality of application information

82-4-307. Review of existing files

82-4-308. Release by waiver

82-4-309. Exemption -- operations on federal lands

82-4-310. Exemption -- scale and type of activity

82-4-311. Disposition of fees, fines, penalties, and other uncleared money

82-4-312. Hard-rock mining reclamation debt service fund

82-4-313. Hard-rock mining reclamation bonds

82-4-314. Authorization for sale of hard-rock mining reclamation bonds

82-4-315. Hard-rock mining reclamation special revenue account

82-4-316. through 82-4-320 reserved

82-4-321. Administration

82-4-322. Investigations, research, and experiments

82-4-323. Interagency cooperation -- receipt and expenditure of funds

82-4-324. through 82-4-330 reserved

82-4-331. Exploration license required -- employees included -- limitation

82-4-332. Exploration license

82-4-333. Repealed

82-4-334. Exception -- geological phenomena

82-4-335. Operating permit -- limitation -- fees

82-4-336. Reclamation plan and specific reclamation requirements

82-4-337. Inspection -- issuance of operating permit -- modification, amendment, or revision

82-4-338. Performance bond

82-4-339. Annual report of activities by permittee -- fee -- notice of large-scale mineral developer status

82-4-340. Successor operator

82-4-341. Compliance -- reclamation by department

82-4-342. Amendment to operating permits

82-4-343. Operating permit -- rock products -- fees

82-4-344. through 82-4-348 reserved

82-4-349. Limitations of actions -- venue

82-4-350. Award of costs and attorney fees

82-4-351. Reasons for denial of permit

82-4-352. Reapplication with new reclamation plan

82-4-353. Administrative remedies -- notice -- appeals -- parties

82-4-354. Mandamus to compel enforcement

82-4-355. Action for damages to water supply -- replacement

82-4-356. Action in response to complaints related to use of explosives

82-4-357. Abatement of environmental emergencies

82-4-358. and 82-4-359 reserved

82-4-360. When activity prohibited -- exception

82-4-361. Violation -- penalties -- waiver

82-4-362. Suspension of permits -- hearing

82-4-363. through 82-4-366 reserved

82-4-367. Long-term or perpetual water treatment permanent trust fund

82-4-368. through 82-4-370 reserved

82-4-371. Reclamation of abandoned mine sites

82-4-372. Filing of lien for abandoned mine reclamation project

82-4-373. and 82-4-374 reserved

82-4-375. Engineer of record -- duties

82-4-376. Tailings storage facility -- design document -- fee

82-4-377. Independent review panel -- selection -- duties

82-4-378. Quality assurance during construction

82-4-379. Tailings operation, maintenance, and surveillance manual

82-4-380. Periodic review required

82-4-381. Annual inspections

82-4-382. through 82-4-389 reserved

82-4-390. Cyanide heap and vat leach open-pit gold and silver mining prohibited