2002 Legislation
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HOUSE BILL NO. 685 – Mine operators, financial assurance

HOUSE BILL NO. 685

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Daily Data Tracking History



H0685aa.............................................by REVENUE AND TAXATION
MINES - FINANCIAL ASSURANCE - Adds to existing law to require mine
operators to provide alternative financial assurance; to create the
Reclamation Fund; to provide for recovery of costs; and to provide that the
State Board of Land Commissioners shall not approve certain operations
under specified conditions.
                                                                        
02/26    House intro - 1st rdg - to printing
02/27    Rpt prt - to Rev/Tax
03/06    Rpt out - rec d/p - to 2nd rdg
    To Gen Ord
03/07    Rpt out amen - to engros
03/08    Rpt engros - 1st rdg - to 2nd rdg as amen
    Rls susp - PASSED - 65-0-5
      AYES -- Aikele, Barraclough, Barrett, Bedke, Bell, Bieter, Black,
      Block, Boe, Bolz, Bruneel, Campbell, Collins, Crow, Cuddy, Deal,
      Denney, Ellis, Ellsworth, Eskridge, Field(13), Field(20), Gagner,
      Hadley, Hammond, Harwood, Henbest, Higgins, Hornbeck, Jaquet, Jones,
      Kellogg(Duncan), Kendell, Kunz, Lake, Langford, Loertscher, Mader,
      Martinez, McKague, Meyer, Montgomery, Mortensen, Moyle, Pearce,
      Pischner, Pomeroy, Raybould, Ridinger, Roberts, Robison, Sali,
      Schaefer, Sellman, Shepherd, Smith(33), Smith(23), Smylie, Stevenson,
      Stone, Tilman, Wheeler, Wood, Young, Mr. Speaker
      NAYS -- None
      Absent and excused -- Bradford, Callister, Clark, Gould, Trail
    Floor Sponsor - Barrett
    Title apvd - to Senate
03/11    Senate intro - 1st rdg - to Res/Env
03/13    Rpt out - rec d/p - to 2nd rdg
03/14    2nd rdg - to 3rd rdg
03/15    3rd rdg - PASSED - 35-0-0
      AYES -- Andreason, Boatright, Branch Brandt, Bunderson, Burtenshaw,
      Cameron, Darrington, Davis, Deide, Dunklin, Frasure, Geddes, Goedde,
      Hawkins, Hill, Ingram, Ipsen, Keough, King-Barrutia, Little, Lodge,
      Marley, Noh, Richardson, Risch, Sandy, Schroeder, Sims, Sorensen,
      Stegner, Stennett, Thorne, Wheeler, Williams
      NAYS -- None
      Absent and excused -- None
    Floor Sponsor - Burtenshaw
    Title apvd - to House
    To enrol - rpt enrol - Sp signed - Pres signed
03/18    To Governor
03/20    Governor signed
         Session Law Chapter 153
         Effective: 05/01/02

Bill Text


                                                                        
                                                                        
  ||||              LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO             ||||
 Fifty-sixth Legislature                  Second Regular Session - 2002
                                                                        
                                                                        
                              IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
                                                                        
                                     HOUSE BILL NO. 685
                                                                        
                             BY REVENUE AND TAXATION COMMITTEE
                                                                        
  1                                        AN ACT
  2    RELATING TO MINES AND MINING; AMENDING TITLE 47, IDAHO CODE, BY  THE  ADDITION
  3        OF  A  NEW CHAPTER 18, TITLE 47, IDAHO CODE, TO PROVIDE THE PURPOSE OF THE
  4        CHAPTER, TO PROVIDE APPLICABILITY TO MINE OPERATORS WHO  ARE  REQUIRED  TO
  5        PROVIDE  ALTERNATIVE  FINANCIAL ASSURANCE, TO PROVIDE FOR FINANCIAL ASSUR-
  6        ANCE AND TO CREATE THE RECLAMATION FUND, TO PROVIDE FOR RECOVERY OF COSTS,
  7        AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE  STATE  BOARD  OF  LAND  COMMISSIONERS  SHALL  NOT
  8        APPROVE  CERTAIN OPERATIONS UNDER SPECIFIED CONDITIONS; DECLARING AN EMER-
  9        GENCY AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
                                                                        
 10    Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:
                                                                        
 11        SECTION 1.  That Title 47, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby  amended
 12    by  the addition thereto of a NEW CHAPTER, to be known and designated as Chap-
 13    ter 18, Title 47, Idaho Code, and to read as follows:
                                                                        
 14                                      CHAPTER 18
 15                                 FINANCIAL ASSURANCE
                                                                        
 16        47-1801.  PURPOSE. The purpose of this chapter is to provide  an  alterna-
 17    tive form of performance bond or financial assurance for mining operations and
 18    mineral leases.
                                                                        
 19        47-1802.  APPLICABILITY.  Mine  operators,  as  described herein, shall be
 20    required to provide alternative financial assurance. Mine  operators  who  are
 21    required  to  provide  alternative financial assurance under the provisions of
 22    this chapter shall include those mine operators  who  are  working  under  the
 23    requirements  of  Idaho law and who are not specifically exempted by the state
 24    board of land commissioners.
                                                                        
 25        47-1803.  FINANCIAL ASSURANCE. (1)  The state treasurer shall be the  cus-
 26    todian  of an interest-bearing, dedicated fund known as the "Reclamation Fund"
 27    which is hereby created. The reclamation fund shall be funded by payments from
 28    applicable parties, interest and cost recoveries initiated by the state  board
 29    of  land  commissioners.  All  payments, interest and cost recoveries shall be
 30    established by the state board of land commissioners.
 31        (2)  An operator's commitment to reclaim  affected  lands  and  operator's
 32    payments  to the reclamation fund shall be documented on a department of lands
 33    form requiring that the operator shall faithfully perform the requirements  of
 34    the approved plan and comply with all administrative rules governing the oper-
 35    ation.
 36        (3)  Moneys  accruing  to or received by the fund shall be expended by the
 37    department of lands, after approval by the state board of  land  commissioners
 38    and  upon  legislative  appropriation, for reclamation of mines subject to the
 39    provisions of this chapter. Moneys in excess of those needed  for  reclamation
 40    liabilities  shall be utilized, after approval of the state board of land com-
                                                                        
                                           2
                                                                        
  1    missioners, for mine administration, abandoned mine land reclamation or educa-
  2    tional purposes. The state board of  land  commissioners  shall  determine  by
  3    rules  adopted  pursuant  to  chapter 52, title 67, Idaho Code, an appropriate
  4    minimum balance to be maintained in the reclamation fund for reclamation  lia-
  5    bilities.
                                                                        
  6        47-1804.  COST  RECOVERY. If an operator fails to provide financial assur-
  7    ance as required by the provisions of this chapter, or  has  forfeited  moneys
  8    from  the reclamation fund and has not repaid those moneys, the state board of
  9    land commissioners shall be authorized to file liens against personal property
 10    and equipment of the operator to recover costs. The operator shall  be  liable
 11    for the actual cost of the required financial assurance, reclamation costs and
 12    administrative costs incurred by the department of lands.
                                                                        
 13        47-1805.  OPERATIONS  NOT  APPROVED. The state board of land commissioners
 14    shall not approve any application for a reclamation plan, placer permit,  min-
 15    eral  lease,  or approve an amendment of any such document filed by a company,
 16    individual, corporate officer or operator who is not in compliance with appli-
 17    cable mining or leasing statutes or administrative rules, or who has forfeited
 18    reclamation funds and has not fully reimbursed the department of lands for the
 19    reclamation and administrative costs incurred by the state board of land  com-
 20    missioners, or who has not paid the required financial assurance.
                                                                        
 21        SECTION  2.  An  emergency  existing  therefor,  which emergency is hereby
 22    declared to exist, this act shall be in full force and effect on and after May
 23    1, 2002.

Amendment


                                                                        
                                                                        
  ||||              LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO             ||||
 Fifty-sixth Legislature                  Second Regular Session - 2002
                                                                        
                                                                        
                                                     Moved by    Moyle               
                                                                        
                                                     Seconded by Barrett             
                                                                        
                                                                        
                              IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
                              HOUSE AMENDMENT TO H.B. NO. 685
                                                                        
  1                               AMENDMENTS TO SECTION 1
  2        On page 1 of the printed bill, in line 18, following "leases" insert:  "as
  3    required  by  the  state  board  of land commissioners"; in line 19, following
  4    "operators" delete the remainder of the line; delete lines 20 through  24  and
  5    insert:  "who  are working under the requirements of title 47, Idaho Code, may
  6    be required to provide alternative financial assurance, and  if  so  required,
  7    shall provide such alternative financial assurance in accordance with the pro-
  8    visions  of this chapter."; in line 25, following "1803." insert: "RECLAMATION
  9    FUND CREATED -- "; and in line 34, following "rules" insert: "and policy".
 10        On page 2, in line 2, following "shall" delete the remainder of the  line;
 11    and  in  line 3, delete "rules adopted pursuant to chapter 52, title 67, Idaho
 12    Code," and insert: "adopt policy to determine".

Engrossed Bill (Original Bill with Amendment(s) Incorporated)


                                                                        
                                                                        
  ||||              LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO             ||||
 Fifty-sixth Legislature                  Second Regular Session - 2002
                                                                        
                                                                        
                              IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
                                                                        
                               HOUSE BILL NO. 685, As Amended
                                                                        
                             BY REVENUE AND TAXATION COMMITTEE
                                                                        
  1                                        AN ACT
  2    RELATING TO MINES AND MINING; AMENDING TITLE 47, IDAHO CODE, BY  THE  ADDITION
  3        OF  A  NEW CHAPTER 18, TITLE 47, IDAHO CODE, TO PROVIDE THE PURPOSE OF THE
  4        CHAPTER, TO PROVIDE APPLICABILITY TO MINE OPERATORS WHO  ARE  REQUIRED  TO
  5        PROVIDE  ALTERNATIVE  FINANCIAL ASSURANCE, TO PROVIDE FOR FINANCIAL ASSUR-
  6        ANCE AND TO CREATE THE RECLAMATION FUND, TO PROVIDE FOR RECOVERY OF COSTS,
  7        AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE  STATE  BOARD  OF  LAND  COMMISSIONERS  SHALL  NOT
  8        APPROVE  CERTAIN OPERATIONS UNDER SPECIFIED CONDITIONS; DECLARING AN EMER-
  9        GENCY AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
                                                                        
 10    Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:
                                                                        
 11        SECTION 1.  That Title 47, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby  amended
 12    by  the addition thereto of a NEW CHAPTER, to be known and designated as Chap-
 13    ter 18, Title 47, Idaho Code, and to read as follows:
                                                                        
 14                                      CHAPTER 18
 15                                 FINANCIAL ASSURANCE
                                                                        
 16        47-1801.  PURPOSE. The purpose of this chapter is to provide  an  alterna-
 17    tive form of performance bond or financial assurance for mining operations and
 18    mineral leases as required by the state board of land commissioners.
                                                                        
 19        47-1802.  APPLICABILITY. Mine operators who are working under the require-
 20    ments  of  title 47, Idaho Code, may be required to provide alternative finan-
 21    cial assurance, and if so required, shall provide such  alternative  financial
 22    assurance in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
                                                                        
 23        47-1803.  RECLAMATION  FUND CREATED -- FINANCIAL ASSURANCE. (1)  The state
 24    treasurer shall be the custodian of an interest-bearing, dedicated fund  known
 25    as  the "Reclamation Fund" which is hereby created. The reclamation fund shall
 26    be funded by payments from applicable parties, interest  and  cost  recoveries
 27    initiated by the state board of land commissioners. All payments, interest and
 28    cost recoveries shall be established by the state board of land commissioners.
 29        (2)  An  operator's  commitment  to  reclaim affected lands and operator's
 30    payments to the reclamation fund shall be documented on a department of  lands
 31    form  requiring that the operator shall faithfully perform the requirements of
 32    the approved plan and comply with all administrative rules and policy  govern-
 33    ing the operation.
 34        (3)  Moneys  accruing  to or received by the fund shall be expended by the
 35    department of lands, after approval by the state board of  land  commissioners
 36    and  upon  legislative  appropriation, for reclamation of mines subject to the
 37    provisions of this chapter. Moneys in excess of those needed  for  reclamation
 38    liabilities  shall be utilized, after approval of the state board of land com-
 39    missioners, for mine administration, abandoned mine land reclamation or educa-
 40    tional purposes. The state board of land commissioners shall adopt  policy  to
                                                                        
                                           2
                                                                        
  1    determine  an  appropriate minimum balance to be maintained in the reclamation
  2    fund for reclamation liabilities.
                                                                        
  3        47-1804.  COST RECOVERY. If an operator fails to provide financial  assur-
  4    ance  as  required  by the provisions of this chapter, or has forfeited moneys
  5    from the reclamation fund and has not repaid those moneys, the state board  of
  6    land commissioners shall be authorized to file liens against personal property
  7    and  equipment  of the operator to recover costs. The operator shall be liable
  8    for the actual cost of the required financial assurance, reclamation costs and
  9    administrative costs incurred by the department of lands.
                                                                        
 10        47-1805.  OPERATIONS NOT APPROVED. The state board of  land  commissioners
 11    shall  not approve any application for a reclamation plan, placer permit, min-
 12    eral lease, or approve an amendment of any such document filed by  a  company,
 13    individual, corporate officer or operator who is not in compliance with appli-
 14    cable mining or leasing statutes or administrative rules, or who has forfeited
 15    reclamation funds and has not fully reimbursed the department of lands for the
 16    reclamation  and administrative costs incurred by the state board of land com-
 17    missioners, or who has not paid the required financial assurance.
                                                                        
 18        SECTION 2.  An emergency existing  therefor,  which  emergency  is  hereby
 19    declared to exist, this act shall be in full force and effect on and after May
 20    1, 2002.

Statement of Purpose / Fiscal Impact


                    STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
                              
                          RS 12062
                              
The purpose of this Act is to allow State Land Board designated mine
operators an alternative form of reclamation bond. The alternative
bond will be provided in the form of annual payments to a dedicated
reclamation account. The reclamation account will reduce the economic
impact of reclamation bonding on small mining operations, streamline
the process for providing reclamation assurance and maintain adequate
financial guarantee for mine reclamation.

                        FISCAL IMPACT
                              
                              
There is no fiscal impact on the general fund. A dedicated
reclamation account will be established at the Idaho Department of
Lands. Annual revenue into this account is anticipated in the amount
of $100,000.00 annually.

Contact
Name:  Rep. Lenore Barrett
Phone: 208 332 1000
Scott Nicholls, Dept. of Lands/208-334-0261
Pat Holmberg 208-983-9360
Lois Van Hoover 208-363-9697


STATEMENT OF PURPOSE/FISCAL NOTE            H 685