NONFERROUS MINING PERMIT CHANGE S.B. 839:
SUMMARY OF BILL
REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE
Senate Bill 839 (as reported without amendment)
Sponsor: Senator Tom Casperson
CONTENT
The bill would amend Part 632 (Nonferrous Metallic Mineral Mining) of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to do the following:
-- Require the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), in making certain determinations about amending a mining permit, to consider whether environmental impacts would be materially increased by approving proposed amendments to the permit.
-- Require the DEQ to hold a public meeting on a request for an amendment to an approved mining permit if the request were a significant change from the conditions of the approved permit.
-- Allow a mining operator to modify surface or underground facilities without obtaining an amendment to a mining permit, under certain conditions.
Regarding the last provision, the bill specifies that a permittee could relocate, reconfigure, or modify surface or underground facilities, buildings, or equipment, other than a tailings basin or a stockpile, without obtaining an amendment to the permit if both of the following applied:
-- The relocation, reconfiguration, or modification took place within the permitted mining area and did not require an amendment to any other permits issued by the DEQ.
-- The permittee provided written notice to the DEQ at least 30 days before undertaking the relocation, reconfiguration, or modification.
MCL 324.63207 Legislative Analyst: Nathan Leaman
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.
Date Completed: 3-8-18 Fiscal Analyst: Josh Sefton
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.