Mississippi § 53-7-23 - Issuance of general permits; conditions; application for permit; reclamation plan; review of application.

§ 53-7-23. Issuance of general permits; conditions; application for permit; reclamation plan; review of application.

The Permit Board may issue general permits consistent with regulations adopted by the commission to cover those surface mining operations deemed appropriate by the Permit Board. Conditions in any general permit shall provide that no operation shall be conducted on lands designated as unsuitable for mining and that each operator shall submit a proposed initial reclamation plan and a performance bond in an amount sufficient to properly reclaim the permit area. The Permit Board may include other conditions as required by the rules and regulations of the commission. Before commencing any operation for which coverage under a general permit may be obtained, each applicant for coverage under a general permit shall submit to the department an application in the form and containing the information as the department shall specify, including a copy of the proposed initial reclamation plan and except as otherwise provided by this section, a performance bond in an amount proposed by the applicant to be sufficient to properly reclaim the permit area. As the operation progresses, the applicant may revise the reclamation plan and submit the revised plan to the department for approval. The amount of the proposed performance bond shall not be less than the minimum provided in Section 53-7-37. The Permit Board shall issue a general permit for surface mining operations having a permitted area of more than four (4) acres but less than ten (10) acres which are conducted for projects funded in whole or in part by public funds for the Mississippi Department of Transportation or the Division of State Aid Road Construction. The general permit issued under this subsection shall require that all materials obtained from an operation covered under this general permit shall be used exclusively on the Mississippi Department of Transportation or Division of State Aid Road Construction project and that no materials from an operation covered under this permit may be provided or sold for any other purpose. The Permit Board shall consult with the Mississippi Department of Transportation on the development of this general permit. An applicant for a coverage under a general permit issued under this subsection shall submit an application for coverage and a proposed initial reclamation plan as required by this section, but the applicant shall not be required to post a performance bond under this section, if the applicant submits a copy of the bond posted with the Mississippi Department of Transportation or the Division of State Aid Road Construction. The Mississippi Department of Transportation or the Division of State Aid Road Construction shall not release the bond until all reclamation requirements of the general permit issued under this section have been met. No operation conducted under a general permit issued under this subsection shall be conducted in lands designated as unsuitable for mining under Section 53-7-49 or 53-7-51. The Permit Board may include other conditions as required by the rules and regulations of the commission in the general permit issued under this section. Within three (3) working days after receiving the application for coverage under a general permit, the department shall review the application, determine if the proposed surface mining operation is eligible for coverage under a general permit, and notify the applicant in writing accordingly. Operations may commence at the mining site after the operator receives notice of coverage.