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S1169......................................................by STATE AFFAIRS ORE PROCESSING - Amends existing law relating to practices governing ore processing by cyanidation to specify requirements for a permit from the Director of the Department of Environmental Quality for a facility to conduct ore processing by cyanidation; to include closure of cyanidation facilities within duties of the Board of Land Commissioners; to enumerate duties of a cyanidation facility operator; to govern approval or rejection of a permanent closure plan; to provide application or closure requirements; to govern submission of a bond; to provide forfeiture of bond and penalties for operator's failure to comply with a permanent closure plan of a cyanidation facility; to provide for appeal from an order; to specify requirements for conduct of a cyanidation facility; and to govern application of the act. 03/01 Senate intro - 1st rdg - to printing 03/02 Rpt prt - to Res/Env 03/03 Rpt out - rec d/p - to 2nd rdg 03/04 2nd rdg - to 3rd rdg 03/08 3rd rdg - PASSED - 33-0-1, 1 vacancy AYES -- Andreason, Brandt, Broadsword, Bunderson, Burkett, Burtenshaw, Cameron, Coiner, Compton, Corder, Darrington, Davis, Gannon, Geddes, Goedde, Hill, Jorgenson, Kelly, Keough, Little, Lodge, Malepeai, Marley, McGee, McKenzie, Pearce, Richardson, Schroeder, Stegner, Stennett, Sweet, Werk, Williams NAYS -- None Absent and excused -- Langhorst, (District 21 seat vacant) Floor Sponsors - Cameron, Little, & Stennett Title apvd - to House 03/09 House intro - 1st rdg - to Res/Con 03/16 Rpt out - rec d/p - to 2nd rdg 03/17 2nd rdg - to 3rd rdg 03/21 3rd rdg - PASSED - 64-2-4 AYES -- Anderson, Andrus, Barraclough, Bastian, Bayer, Bedke, Bell, Bilbao, Block, Boe, Bolz, Bradford, Cannon, Chadderdon, Clark, Collins, Crow, Deal, Edmunson(Barker), Ellsworth, Field(18), Field(23), Garrett, Hart, Henbest, Henderson, Jaquet, Jones, Kemp, Lake, LeFavour, Loertscher, Martinez, Mathews, McGeachin, McKague, Miller, Mitchell, Moyle, Nielsen, Nonini, Pasley-Stuart, Pence, Raybould, Ring, Ringo, Roberts, Rusche, Rydalch, Sali, Sayler, Schaefer, Shepherd(2), Shepherd(8), Shirley, Skippen, Smith(30), Smith(24), Smylie, Snodgrass, Stevenson, Trail, Wills, Mr. Speaker NAYS -- Barrett, Wood Absent and excused -- Black, Denney, Eskridge, Harwood Floor Sponsors - Moyle & Ellsworth Title apvd - to Senate 03/22 To enrol 03/23 Rpt enrol - Pres signed 03/24 Sp signed 03/25 To Governor 03/28 Governor signed Session Law Chapter 167 Effective: 07/01/05
]]]] LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO ]]]] Fifty-eighth Legislature First Regular Session - 2005IN THE SENATE SENATE BILL NO. 1169 BY STATE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE 1 AN ACT 2 RELATING TO PRACTICES GOVERNING ORE PROCESSING BY CYANIDATION; AMENDING SEC- 3 TION 39-103, IDAHO CODE, TO FURTHER DEFINE TERMS AND TO MAKE A TECHNICAL 4 CORRECTION; AMENDING SECTION 39-118A, IDAHO CODE, TO SPECIFY REQUIREMENTS 5 FOR A PERMIT FROM THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY 6 FOR A FACILITY TO CONDUCT ORE PROCESSING BY CYANIDATION AND TO GOVERN 7 APPLICATION OF PROVISIONS DURING TRANSITION; AMENDING SECTION 47-1501, 8 IDAHO CODE, TO INCLUDE CLOSURE OF CYANIDATION FACILITIES WITHIN PURPOSES 9 OF THE CHAPTER AND TO MAKE A TECHNICAL CORRECTION; AMENDING SECTION 10 47-1502, IDAHO CODE, TO SPECIFY SCOPE OF THE CHAPTER AND TO MAKE TECHNICAL 11 CORRECTIONS; AMENDING SECTION 47-1503, IDAHO CODE, TO FURTHER DEFINE TERMS 12 AND TO MAKE TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS; AMENDING SECTION 47-1505, IDAHO CODE, 13 TO INCLUDE CLOSURE ACTIVITIES OF A CYANIDATION FACILITY WITHIN DUTIES OF 14 THE BOARD OF LAND COMMISSIONERS AND TO MAKE TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS; AMEND- 15 ING SECTION 47-1506, IDAHO CODE, TO ENUMERATE DUTIES OF A CYANIDATION 16 FACILITY OPERATOR AND TO MAKE TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS; AMENDING SECTION 17 47-1507, IDAHO CODE, TO GOVERN APPROVAL OR REJECTION OF A PERMANENT CLO- 18 SURE PLAN AND TO MAKE TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS; AMENDING SECTION 47-1508, 19 IDAHO CODE, TO GOVERN SUBMISSION OF AN AMENDED OR SUPPLEMENTAL PLAN, TO 20 PROVIDE APPLICATION OF CLOSURE REQUIREMENTS AND TO MAKE TECHNICAL CORREC- 21 TIONS; AMENDING SECTION 47-1512, IDAHO CODE, TO GOVERN SUBMISSION OF A 22 BOND AND TO MAKE TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS; AMENDING SECTION 47-1513, IDAHO 23 CODE, TO PROVIDE FORFEITURE OF BOND AND PENALTIES FOR OPERATOR'S FAILURE 24 TO COMPLY WITH PERMANENT CLOSURE PLAN OF A CYANIDATION FACILITY, TO PRO- 25 VIDE FOR REVIEW AND REVISION OF PLANS AND TO MAKE TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS; 26 AMENDING SECTION 47-1514, IDAHO CODE, TO PROVIDE FOR APPEAL FROM AN ORDER 27 AND TO MAKE TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS; AMENDING SECTION 47-1517, IDAHO CODE, 28 TO SPECIFY REQUIREMENTS FOR CONDUCT OF A CYANIDATION FACILITY; AMENDING 29 SECTION 47-1518, IDAHO CODE, TO GOVERN APPLICATION OF THE CHAPTER AND TO 30 MAKE TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS; AND AMENDING SECTION 42-202B, IDAHO CODE, TO 31 PROVIDE A CORRECT CODE REFERENCE. 32 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho: 33 SECTION 1. That Section 39-103, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby 34 amended to read as follows: 35 39-103. DEFINITIONS. Whenever used or referred to in thisactchapter, 36 unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context, the following 37 terms shall have the following meanings: 38 (1) "Air contaminant" or "air contamination" means the presence in the 39 outdoor atmosphere of any dust, fume, mist, smoke, radionuclide, vapor, gas or 40 other gaseous fluid or particulate substance differing in composition from or 41 exceeding in concentration the natural components of the atmosphere. 42 (2) "Air pollution" means the presence in the outdoor atmosphere of any 43 contaminant or combination thereof in such quantity of such nature and dura- 2 1 tion and under such conditions as would be injurious to human health or wel- 2 fare, to animal or plant life, or to property, or to interfere unreasonably 3 with the enjoyment of life or property. 4 (3) "Board" means the board of environmental quality. 5 (4) "Cyanidation" means the method of extracting target precious metals 6 from ores by treatment with cyanide solution, which is the primary leaching 7 agent for extraction. 8 (5) "Cyanidation facility" means that portion of a new ore processing 9 facility, or a material modification or a material expansion of that portion 10 of an existing ore processing facility that utilizes cyanidation and is 11 intended to contain, treat, or dispose of cyanide containing materials includ- 12 ing spent ore, tailings, and process water. 13 (6) "Department" means the department of environmental quality. 14 (57) "Director" means the director of the department of environmental 15 quality or the director's designee. 16 (68) "Emission" means any controlled or uncontrolled release or discharge 17 into the outdoor atmosphere of any air contaminant or combination thereof. 18 Emission also includes any release or discharge of any air contaminant from a 19 stack, vent or other means into the outdoor atmosphere that originates from an 20 emission unit. 21 (79) "Laboratory" means not only facilities for biological, serological, 22 biophysical, cytological and pathological tests, but also facilities for the 23 chemical or other examination of materials from water or other substances. 24 (810) "Medical waste combustor" means any device, incinerator, furnace, 25 boiler or burner, and any and all appurtenances thereto, which burns or 26 pyrolyzes medical waste consisting of human or animal tissues, medical cul- 27 tures, human blood or blood products, materials contaminated with human blood 28 or tissues, used or unused surgical wastes, used or unused sharps, including 29 hypodermic needles, suture needles, syringes and scalpel blades. 30 (911) "Person" means any individual, association, partnership, firm, joint 31 stock company, trust, estate, political subdivision, public or private corpo- 32 ration, state or federal governmental department, agency or instrumentality, 33 or any other legal entity which is recognized by law as the subject of rights 34 and duties. 35 (102) "Public water supply" means all mains, pipes and structures through 36 which water is obtained and distributed to the public, including wells and 37 well structures, intakes and cribs, pumping stations, treatment plants, reser- 38 voirs, storage tanks and appurtenances, collectively or severally, actually 39 used or intended for use for the purpose of furnishing water for drinking or 40 general domestic use in incorporated municipalities; or unincorporated commu- 41 nities where ten (10) or more separate premises or households are being served 42 or intended to be served; or any other supply which serves water to the public 43 and which the department declares to have potential health significance. 44 (113) "Solid waste" means garbage, refuse, radionuclides and other dis- 45 carded solid materials, including solid waste materials resulting from indus- 46 trial, commercial and agricultural operations and from community activities 47 but does not include solid or dissolved materials in domestic sewage or other 48 significant pollutants in water resources, such as silt, dissolved or sus- 49 pended solids in industrial waste water effluents, dissolved materials in 50 irrigation return flows or other common water pollutants. 51 (124) "Solid waste disposal" means the collection, storage, treatment, 52 utilization, processing or final disposal of solid waste. 53 (135) "State" means the state of Idaho. 54 (146) "Substantive" means that which creates, defines or regulates the 55 rights of any person or implements, interprets or prescribes law or policy, 3 1 but does not include statements concerning only the internal management of the 2 department and not affecting private rights or procedures available to the 3 public. 4 (157) "Water pollution" is such alteration of the physical, thermal, chem- 5 ical, biological or radioactive properties of any waters of the state, or such 6 discharge of any contaminant into the waters of the state as will or is likely 7 to create a nuisance or render such waters harmful or detrimental or injuri- 8 ous to public health, safety or welfare or to domestic, commercial, indus- 9 trial, recreational, esthetic or other legitimate uses or to livestock, wild 10 animals, birds, fish or other aquatic life. 11 (168) "Waters" means all accumulations of water, surface and underground, 12 natural and artificial, public and private or parts thereof which are wholly 13 or partially within, flow through or border upon this state except for private 14 waters as defined in section 42-212, Idaho Code. 15 SECTION 2. That Section 39-118A, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby 16 amended to read as follows: 17 39-118A. ORE PROCESSING BY CYANIDATION. (1) All plans and specifications 18 for the construction ofthat part of a new ore-processing facility, or for19modification or expansion to an existing ore-processing facility, that is20intended to contain, treat, or dispose process water or process-contaminated21water containing cyanidea cyanidation facility shall be submitted to and 22 approved by the department before construction may begin, and all construction 23 shall be in compliance therewith. Within thirty (30) days of the completion 24 of such construction, modification or expansion, complete and accurate plans 25 and specifications depicting that actual construction, modification or expan- 26 sion does not deviate from the original approved plans and specifications, 27 shall be submitted to the department. All plans and specifications submitted 28 to satisfy the requirements of this section shall be certified by registered 29 professional engineers. 30 (2)That portion of a new ore-processing facility, or a modification or31expansion of an existing ore-processing facility, which utilizes cyanidation32and is intended to contain, treat or dispose process water or process-33contaminated water containing cyanide34 (a) A cyanidation facility shall not be constructed, operated, or closed 35 prior to a permit being obtained from the department. 36 (b) Weather permitting, the director shall deliver to the operator within 37 one hundred eighty (180) days after the receipt of a complete permit 38 application the notice of rejection or notice of approval of the permit, 39 as the case may be, provided however, that, subject to the provisions of 40 subsection (3) of this section, if the director fails to deliver a notice 41 of approval or notice of rejection within the time period, the permit sub- 42 mitted shall be deemed to comply with this chapter, and the operator may 43 commence to build, operate or close the cyanidation facility covered by 44 the permit, as the case may be, as if a notice of approval of the permit 45 had been received from the director. Provided however, that if weather 46 conditions prevent the director from inspecting the cyanidation facility 47 to obtain information needed to approve or reject a submitted permit, he 48 may, in writing to the operator, extend the time not to exceed thirty (30) 49 days after weather conditions permit such inspection. 50 (c) The director may require a reasonable fee for processing permit 51 applications, and financial assurance for permanent closure of a new ore-52processing facility, or a modification or expansion to an existing ore-53processing facility. 4 1 (3)An existing facility which utilizes cyanidation water or process-2contaminated water containing cyanide shall not be subject to the provisions3of subsections (1) and (2) of this section if such facility shall be regis-4tered by the owner or operator using a form provided by the director of the5department. Failure to register an existing facility shall subject such facil-6ity to the provisions of subsections (1) and (2) of this section.7 (a) Prior to the effective date of rules promulgated under chapter 15, 8 title 47, Idaho Code, the department is authorized to issue a permit under 9 subsection (2) of this section if the cyanidation facility has provided 10 financial assurance under the provisions of IDAPA 58.01.13 in an amount 11 determined by the department to be the estimated reasonable costs to com- 12 plete the activities specified in the permanent closure plan required in 13 IDAPA 58.01.13, in the event of the failure of an operator to complete 14 those activities, plus ten percent (10%) of such costs. In setting the 15 amount of financial assurance, the department shall avoid duplication with 16 any financial assurance, bonds and sureties deposited with other govern- 17 mental agencies. 18 (b) After the effective date of rules promulgated under chapter 15, title 19 47, Idaho Code, the department shall not issue a permit under subsection 20 (2) of this section unless the cyanidation facility has satisfied the 21 financial assurance requirements of chapter 15, title 47, Idaho Code, 22 relating to ore processing by cyanidation. 23 (4) A cyanidation facility with an existing permit approved by the 24 department prior to July 1, 2005, shall be subject to the applicable laws and 25 rules for ore processing by cyanidation in effect on June 30, 2005. If there 26 is a material modification or a material expansion of a cyanidation facility 27 after June 30, 2005, all provisions of this chapter shall apply to the modifi- 28 cation or expansion; provided however, that reclamation or closure related 29 activities at a facility with an existing cyanidation permit approved by the 30 department that did not actively add cyanide after January 1, 2005, shall not 31 be considered to be material modifications or a material expansion of the 32 facility. 33 (5) The department shall promulgate temporary rules by August 1, 2005, to 34 implement the provisions of this act; however, no rulemaking is necessary, nor 35 shall be required, to increase the amount of financial assurance provided by 36 the department's interim authority under subsection (3)(a) of this section. 37 SECTION 3. That Section 47-1501, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby 38 amended to read as follows: 39 47-1501. PURPOSE OF CHAPTER. It is the purpose of thisactchapter to 40 provide for the protection of the public health, safety and welfare, through 41 measures to reclaim the surface of all the lands within the state disturbed by 42 exploration and surface mining operations and measures to assure the proper 43 closure of cyanidation facilities and thereby conserve natural resources, aid 44 in the protection of wildlife, domestic animals, aquatic resources, and reduce 45 soil erosion. 46 SECTION 4. That Section 47-1502, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby 47 amended to read as follows: 48 47-1502. SHORT TITLE. This act may be known and cited as "the Idaho sur- 49 face mining act." The reclamation provisions of tThis act shall not apply to 50 surface mining operations regulated by the IdahoDdredge andPplacerMmining 51PprotectionAact. 5 1 SECTION 5. That Section 47-1503, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby 2 amended to read as follows: 3 47-1503. DEFINITIONS. Wherever used or referred to in thisactchapter, 4 unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context: 5 (1.) "Board" means the state board of land commissioners or such depart- 6 ment, commission, or agency as may lawfully succeed to the powers and duties 7 of such board. 8 (2.) "Cyanidation" means the method of extracting target precious metals 9 from ores by treatment with cyanide solution, which is the primary leaching 10 agent for the extraction. 11 (3) "Cyanidation facility" means that portion of a new ore processing 12 facility, or a material modification or a material expansion of that portion 13 of an existing ore processing facility, that utilizes cyanidation and is 14 intended to contain, treat, or dispose of cyanide containing materials includ- 15 ing spent ore, tailings, and process water. 16 (4) "Director" means the head of the department of lands or such officer 17 as may lawfully succeed to the powers and duties of said director. 183.(5) "Affected land" means the land area included in overburden disposal 19 areas, mined areas, mineral stockpiles, roads, tailings ponds and other areas 20 disturbed at the surface mining operation site. 214.(6) "Mineral" shall mean coal, clay, stone, sand, gravel, metalliferous 22 and nonmetalliferous type of ores, and any other similar solid material or 23 substance of commercial value to be excavated from natural deposits on or in 24 the earth. 255.(7) "Surface mining operations" means the activities performed on a 26 surface mine in the extraction of minerals from the ground, including the 27 excavating of pits, removal of minerals, disposal of overburden, and the con- 28 struction of haulage roads, exclusive of exploration operations, except that 29 any exploration operations which, exclusive of exploration roads, (1a) result 30 during a period of twelve (12) consecutive months in more than five (5) con- 31 tiguous acres of newly affected land, or (2b) which, exclusive of exploration 32 roads, result during a period of twelve (12) consecutive months in newly 33 affected land consisting of more than ten (10) noncontiguous acres, if such 34 affected land constitutes more than fifteenper centpercent (15%) of the 35 total area of any circular tract which includes such affected land, shall be 36 deemed to be a surface mining operation for the purposes of thisactchapter. 376.(8) "Exploration operations" means activities performed on the surface 38 of lands to locate mineral bodies and to determine the mineability and mer- 39 chantability thereof. 407.(9) "Surface mine" means an area where minerals are extracted by remov- 41 ing the overburden lying above and adjacent to natural deposits thereof and 42 mining directly from the natural deposits thereby exposed. 438.(10) "Mined area" means surface of land from which overburden or min- 44 erals have been removed other than by drilling of exploration drill holes. 459.(11) "Overburden" means material extracted by an operator which is not a 46 part of the material ultimately removed from a surface mine and marketed by an 47 operator, exclusive of mineral stockpiles. 4810.(12) "Overburden disposal area" means land surface upon which overbur- 49 den is piled or planned to be piled. 5011.(13) "Exploration drill holes" means holes drilled from the surface to 51 locate mineral bodies and to determine the mineability and merchantability 52 thereof. 5312.(14) "Exploration roads" means roads constructed to locate mineral bod- 54 ies and to determine the mineability and merchantability thereof. 6 113.(15) "Exploration trenches" means trenches constructed to locate min- 2 eral bodies and to determine the mineability and merchantability thereof. 314.(16) "Peak" means a projecting point of overburden. 415.(17) "Mine panel" means that portion of a mine designated by an opera- 5 tor as a panel of a surface mine on the map submitted pursuant to section 6 47-1506, Idaho Code. 716.(18) "Mineral stockpile" means minerals extracted during surface mining 8 operations and retained at the surface mine for future rather than immediate 9 use. 10 (19) "Permanent closure plan" means a description of the procedures, meth- 11 ods, and schedule that will be implemented to meet the intent and purposes of 12 this chapter in treating and disposing of cyanide containing materials includ- 13 ing spent ore, tailings, and process water and in controlling and monitoring 14 discharges and potential discharges for a reasonable period of time based on 15 site specific conditions. 1617.(20) "Pit" means an excavation created by the extraction of minerals or 17 overburden during surface mining operations. 1818.(21) "Ridge" means a lengthened elevation of overburden. 1919.(22) "Road" means a way constructed on a surface mine for the passage 20 of vehicles, including the bed, slopes and shoulders thereof. 2120.(23) "Operator" means any person or persons, any partnership, limited 22 partnership, or corporation, or any association of persons, either natural or 23 artificial,including, but not limited to, every public or governmental agency 24 engaged in surface mining or exploration operations or in operating a 25 cyanidation facility, whether individually, jointly, or through subsidiaries, 26 agents, employees, or contractors and shall mean every governmental agency 27 owning or controlling the use of any surface mine when the mineral extracted 28 is to be used by or for the benefit of such agency. It shall not include any 29 such governmental agency with respect to those surface mining or exploration 30 operations as to which it grants mineral leases or prospecting permits or sim- 31 ilar contracts, but nothing herein shall relieve the operator acting pursuant 32 to a mineral lease, prospecting permit or similar contract from the terms of 33 thisactchapter. 3421.(24) "Hearing officer" means that person selected by the board to hear 35 proceedings under section 47-1513, Idaho Code. 3622.(25) "Final order of the board" means a written notice of rejection, 37 the order of a hearing officer at the conclusion of a hearing, or any other 38 order of the board where additional administrative remedies are not available. 3923.(26) "Tailings pond" means an area on a surface mineinclosedenclosed 40 by a man-made or natural dam onto which has been discharged the waste material 41 resulting from the primary concentration of minerals in ore excavated from a 42 surface mine. 43 SECTION 6. That Section 47-1505, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby 44 amended to read as follows: 45 47-1505. DUTIES AND POWERS OF BOARD. In addition to the other duties and 46 powers of the board prescribed by law, the board is granted and shall be enti- 47 tled to exercise the following authority and powers and perform the following 48 duties: 49 (1) To administer and enforce the provisions of thisactchapter and the 50 rules and orders promulgated thereunder as provided in thisactchapter. 51 (2) To conduct and promote the coordination and acceleration of research, 52 studies, surveys, experiments, demonstrations and training in carrying out the 53 provisions of thisactchapter. In carrying out the activities authorized by 7 1 this section, the board may enter into contracts with and make grants to 2 institutions, agencies, organizations and individuals, and shall collect and 3 make available any information obtained therefrom. 4 (3) To adopt and promulgate reasonable rules respecting the administra- 5 tion of thisactchapter and such rules as may be necessary to carry out the 6 intent and purposes of thisactchapter, provided that no rules shall be 7 adopted which require reclamation activities in addition to those set forth in 8 thisactchapter. All such rules shall be adopted in accordance with and sub- 9 ject to the provisions of chapter 52, title 67, Idaho Code. 10 (4) To enter upon affected lands at all reasonable times, for the purpose 11 of inspection, to determine whether the provisions of thisactchapter have 12 been complied with. Such inspections shall be conducted in the presence of the 13 operator or his duly authorized employees or representatives, and the operator 14 shall make such persons available for the purpose of inspections. 15 (5) To reclaim affected land with respect to which a bond has been for- 16 feited, and, in the board's discretion, with the permission of the landowner, 17 to reclaim such other land which becomes affected land. 18 (6) To complete closure activities with respect to a cyanidation facility 19 for which a permanent closure bond has been forfeited. 20 (7) (a) Upon receipt of a proposed reclamation or permanent closure plan 21 or amended or supplementalreclamationplan, the director shall notify the 22 cities and counties in which the surface mining operation or cyanidation 23 facility is proposed. The notice shall include the name and address of the 24 operator and shall describe the procedure and the schedule by which the 25 plan may be approved or denied. This notification requirement shall not 26 apply to exploration operations. 27 (b) Cities and counties may review the nonconfidential portions of the 28 plan at the department's office and may provide comments to the director 29 concerning the plan. Nothing in this section shall extend the time limit 30 for the board to deliver to the operator a notice of rejection or approval 31 of the plan or affect the confidentiality provisions of section 47-1515, 32 Idaho Code. 33 (c) No city or county shall enact or adopt any ordinance, rule or resolu- 34 tion to regulate exploration or surface mining operations or a permanent 35 closure plan in this state which conflicts with any provision of this 36 chapter or the rules promulgated thereunder. This subpart shall not affect 37 the planning and zoning authorities available to cities and counties pur- 38 suant to chapter 65, title 67, Idaho Code. 39 SECTION 7. That Section 47-1506, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby 40 amended to read as follows: 41 47-1506. OPERATOR -- DUTIES PRIOR TO OPERATION -- SUBMISSION OF MAPS AND 42 PLANS. (a) Any operator desiring to conduct surface mining operations within 43 the state of Idaho for the purpose of immediate or ultimate sale of the min- 44 erals in either the natural or processed state, shall submit to the board 45 prior to commencing such surface mining operations a reclamation plan that 46 contains the following: 47 (1) A map of the mine panel on which said operator desires to conduct 48 surface mining operations, which sets forth with respect to said panel the 49 following: 50 (i) The location of existing roads and anticipated access and main 51 haulage roads planned to be constructed in conducting the surface 52 mining operations. 53 (ii) The approximate boundaries of the lands to be utilized in the 8 1 process of surface mining operations. 2 (iii) The approximate location and, if known, the names of all 3 streams, creeks, or bodies of water within the area where surface 4 mining operations shall take place. 5 (iv) The name and address of the person to whom notices, orders, 6 and other information required to be given to the operator pursuant 7 to thisactchapter may be sent. 8 (v) The drainage adjacent to the area where the surface is being 9 utilized by surface mining operations. 10 (vi) The approximate boundaries of the lands that will become 11 affected lands as a result of surface mining operations during the 12 year immediately following the date that a reclamation plan is 13 approved as to said panel, together with the number of acres included 14 within said boundaries. 15 (vii) A description of foreseeable, site-specific nonpoint sources 16 of water quality impacts upon adjacent surface waters, and the best 17 management practices that will be used to control such nonpoint 18 source impacts. 19 (viii) A description of foreseeable, site-specific impacts from acid 20 rock drainage and the best management practices that will be used to 21 mitigate the impacts, if any, from such acid rock drainage. 22 (2) Diagrams showing the planned location of pits, mineral stockpiles, 23 overburden piles and tailings ponds on said panel. 24 (3) A description of the action which said operator intends to take to 25 comply with the provisions of thisactchapter as to the surface mining 26 operations conducted on such mine panel. 27 (b) Any operator who is not required to submit an operating plan for a 28 surface mining operation to an entity of the federal government shall submit 29 to the board, as part of the reclamation plan, an operating plan with regards 30 to that surface mining operation. The operating plan shall include: 31 (1) Maps showing the location of existing roads and anticipated access 32 and main haulage roads planned to be constructed for surface mining opera- 33 tions. 34 (2) The boundaries and acreage of the lands to be utilized in the process 35 of surface mining operations. 36 (3) Maps showing the planned location of pits, mineral stockpiles,over37burdenoverburden piles and tailings ponds for the surface mining opera- 38 tions. 39 (4) The location and, if known, the names of all streams, creeks, or bod- 40 ies of water within the area where surface mining operations shall take 41 place. 42 (5) The drainage adjacent to the area where the surface is being utilized 43 by surface mining operations. 44 (6) The approximate boundaries and acreage of the lands that will become 45 affected during the first year of construction of surface mining opera- 46 tions. 47 (7) The board shall promulgate rules or guidelines to allow the content 48 of a nonfederal operating plan to be determined based upon the type and 49 size of the surface mining operation. 50 (c) No operator who is required to submit an operating plan for a surface 51 mining operation to an entity of the federal government shall be required to 52 submit an operating plan to the board. This provision shall apply to all 53 lands, regardless of surface or mineral ownership, covered by the operating 54 plan submitted to the entity of the federal government. 55 (d) No operator shall commence surface mining operations on any mine 9 1 panel without first having a reclamation plan approved by the state board of 2 land commissioners. 3 (e) Any operator desiring to conduct exploration operations within the 4 state of Idaho using motorized earth-moving equipment in order to locate min- 5 erals for immediate or ultimate sale in either the natural or the processed 6 state shall notify the board by certified mail as soon after beginning explo- 7 ration operations as possible and in any event within seven (7) days after 8 beginning exploration operations. The letter shall include the following: 9 (1) The name and address of the operator; 10 (2) The location of the operation and the starting date and estimated 11 completion date; 12 (3) The anticipated size of the operation, and the general method of 13 operation. 14 The letter shall be subject to disclosure according to chapter 3, title 9, 15 Idaho Code. 16 (f) Any operator desiring to operate a cyanidation facility within the 17 state of Idaho shall submit to the board prior to the operation of such a 18 facility a permanent closure plan that contains the following: 19 (1) The name and address of the operator; 20 (2) The location of the operation; 21 (3) The objectives, methods and procedures the operator will use to 22 attain permanent closure; 23 (4) An estimate of the cost of attaining permanent closure as well as an 24 estimate of the costs to achieve critical phases of the closure plan; 25 (5) Any other information specified in the rules adopted to carry out the 26 intent and purposes of this chapter. 27 (g) The board may require a reasonable fee for reviewing and approving a 28 permanent closure plan. The fee may include the reasonable cost to employ a 29 qualified independent party, acceptable to the operator and the board, to ver- 30 ify the accuracy of the cost estimate required in subsection (f)(3) of this 31 section. 32 (h) The board shall coordinate its review of activities in the permanent 33 closure plan under the statutory responsibility of the department of environ- 34 mental quality with that department, but that coordination shall not extend 35 the time limit in which the board must act on a plan submitted. 36 (i) No operator shall commence operation of a cyanidation facility with- 37 out first having a permanent closure plan approved by the board. 38 SECTION 8. That Section 47-1507, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby 39 amended to read as follows: 40 47-1507.RECLAMATIONPLAN -- APPROVAL OR REJECTION BY BOARD -- HEARING. 41 (a) Upon determination by the board that a reclamation or permanent closure 42 plan or any amended plan submitted by an operator meets the requirements of 43 thisactchapter, the board shall deliver to the operator, in writing, a 44 notice of approval of suchreclamationplan, and thereafter said plan shall 45 govern and determine the nature and extent of thereclamationobligations of 46 the operator for compliance with thisactchapter, with respect to the mine 47 panel or cyanidation facility for which the plan was submitted. 48 (b) If the board determines that a reclamation or permanent closure plan 49 or amended plan fails to fulfill the requirements of thisactchapter, it 50 shall deliver to the operator, in writing, a notice of rejection of therecla-51mationplan and shall set forth in said notice of rejection the reasons for 52 such rejection, the factual findings upon which such rejection is based, the 53 manner in which the plan fails to fulfill said requirements, and the require- 10 1 ments necessary to comply with thisactchapter. Upon receipt of said notice 2 of rejection, said operator may submit amended plans. Upon further determina- 3 tion by the board that the amended plan still does not fulfill the require- 4 ments of said section, it shall deliver to the operator, in writing, a notice 5 of rejection of the amendedreclamationplan in the same form as set out 6 above. 7 (c) Weather permitting, the board shall deliver to the operator within 8 sixty (60) days after the receipt of any reclamation plan or amended reclama- 9 tion plan, or within one hundred eighty (180) days after the receipt of any 10 permanent closure plan or amended permanent closure plan the notice of rejec- 11 tion or notice of approval of said plan, as the case may be, provided, how- 12 ever, that if the board fails to deliver a notice of approval or notice of 13 rejection within said time period, the plan submitted shall be deemed to com- 14 ply with thisactchapter, and the operator may commence and conduct his sur- 15 face mining operations on the mine panel or operate the cyanidation facility 16 covered by such plan as if a notice of approval of said plan had been received 17 from the board; provided, however, that if weather conditions prevent the 18 board from inspecting the mine panel or cyanidation facility to obtain infor- 19 mation needed to approve or reject a submitted plan, it may, in writing to the 20 operator, extend the time not to exceed thirty (30) days after weather condi- 21 tions permit such inspection. 22 (d) For the purpose of determining whether a proposedreclamationplan or 23 amended or supplementalreclamationplan complies with the requirements of 24 thisactchapter, the board may, in its discretion, call for a public hearing. 25 The hearing shall be held under such rules as promulgated by the board. Any 26 interested person may appear at the hearing and give testimony. At the discre- 27 tion of the board, the director may conduct the hearing and transmit a summary 28 thereof to the board. Any hearing held shall not extend the period of time 29 limit in which the board must act on a plan submitted. 30 SECTION 9. That Section 47-1508, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby 31 amended to read as follows: 32 47-1508. AMENDEDRECLAMATIONPLAN -- SUPPLEMENTAL PLAN -- SUBMISSION. (a) 33 In the event that a material change in circumstances arises which the opera- 34 tor, or the board, believes requires a change in an approvedreclamationplan, 35 including any amendedreclamationplan, then the operator shall submit to the 36 board a supplemental plan setting forth the proposed changes and the board 37 shall likewise set forth its proposed changes and stating the reasons there- 38 for. Upon determination by the board that a supplementalreclamationplan or 39 any amended supplemental plan submitted by the operator meets the requirements 40 of thisactchapter, it shall deliver to the operator, in writing, a notice of 41 approval of said supplemental plan, and thereafter said supplemental plan 42 shall govern and determine the nature and extent of thereclamationobliga- 43 tions of the operator for compliance with respect to the mine panel or 44 cyanidation facility for which the plan was submitted. 45 (b) If the board determines that a supplementalreclamationplan fails to 46 fulfill the requirements of thisactchapter, it shall deliver to the opera- 47 tor, in writing, a notice of rejection of the supplementalreclamationplan 48 and shall set forth in said notice of rejection the manner in which said plan 49 fails to fulfill said requirements and shall stipulate the corrective require- 50 ments necessary to comply with said sections. Upon receipt of said notice of 51 rejection, the operator may submit amended supplemental plans. Upon further 52 determination by the board that an amended supplemental plan does not fulfill 53 the requirements of said sections, it shall deliver to the operator, in writ- 11 1 ing, a notice of rejection of amended supplemental plan, and shall set forth 2 in said notice of rejection the manner in which such amended supplemental plan 3 fails to fulfill said requirements, and shall stipulate the requirements nec- 4 essary to comply with said sections. 5 (c) The board shall, weather permitting, deliver to the operator within 6 sixty (60) days after the receipt of any supplemental reclamation plan or 7 amended supplemental reclamation plan, or within one hundred eighty (180) days 8 after the receipt of any supplemental permanent closure plan or amended sup- 9 plemental permanent closure plan, the notice of rejection, setting forth in 10 detail the reasons for such rejection and the factual findings upon which such 11 rejection is based, or notice of approval of said plan as the case may be, 12 provided, however, that if the board fails to deliver a notice of approval or 13 notice of rejection within said time period, the plan submitted shall be 14 deemed to comply with thisactchapter and the operator may commence and con- 15 duct or continue, as the case may be, his surface mining operations or operate 16 the cyanidation facility as if a notice of approval of said plan had been 17 received from the board. If weather conditions prevent the board from inspect- 18 ing the mine panel or cyanidation facility to obtain information needed to 19 approve or reject a submitted plan, it may, in writing to the operator, extend 20 the time not to exceed thirty (30) days after weather conditions permit such 21 inspection. 22 (d) If an operator determines that unforeseen events or unexpected condi- 23 tions require immediate changes in or additions to an approved reclamation or 24 permanent closure plan, the operator may continuesurface miningoperations in 25 accordance with the procedures dictated by the changed conditions, pending 26 submission and approval of a supplemental plan, even though such operations do 27 not comply with the approved plan, provided, however, that nothing herein 28 stated shall be construed to excuse the operator from complying with the rec- 29 lamation requirements of sections 47-1509 and 47-1510, Idaho Code, of thisact30 chapter or from the applicable closure requirements of a permit issued under 31 section 39-118A, Idaho Code. Notice of such unforeseen events or unexpected 32 conditions shall be given to the board within ten (10) days after discovery 33 thereof, and a proposed supplemental plan shall be submitted within thirty 34 (30) days after discovery thereof. 35 SECTION 10. That Section 47-1512, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby 36 amended to read as follows: 37 47-1512. PERFORMANCE BOND -- REQUISITES. (a) Prior to conducting any sur- 38 face mining operations on a mine panel covered by an approved reclamation plan 39 or operating a cyanidation facility covered by an approved permanent closure 40 plan, an operator shall submit to the board a bond meeting the requirements of 41 this section. 42 (1) The penalty of the initial reclamation bond filed prior to conducting 43 any surface mining operations on a mine panel shall be in an amount deter- 44 mined by the board to be the estimated reasonable costs of reclamation 45 required in this chapter, in the event of failure to reclaim by an opera- 46 tor, of affected lands proposed to be mined during the next calendar year 47 plus ten percent (10%) of such costs as to the acreage of affected land 48 designated by the operator pursuant to section 47-1506(a)(1)(vi), Idaho 49 Code, and subsection (b) of this section. 50 (2) The penalty of the initial permanent closure bond filed prior to 51 operating a cyanidation facility shall be in an amount determined by the 52 board to be the estimated reasonable costs to complete the activities 53 specified in the permanent closure plan required in this chapter, in the 12 1 event of the failure of an operator to complete those activities, plus ten 2 percent (10%) of such costs. In setting the bond amount, the board shall 3 avoid duplication with bonds and sureties deposited with other governmen- 4 tal agencies. 5 (3) The determination of the bond amount shall constitute a final deci- 6 sion subject to judicial review as set forth in subsection (a) of section 7 47-1514, Idaho Code. In lieu of any bond required hereunder, the operator 8 may deposit cash and governmental securities with the board, in an amount 9 equal to that of the required bond, on the conditions as prescribed in 10 this section. 11 (b) Prior to the time that lands designated to become affected lands on a 12 mine panel, in addition to those designated pursuant to section 13 47-1506(a)(1)(vi), Idaho Code, become affected land, the operator shall submit 14 to the board a bond meeting the requirements of section 47-1512(c), Idaho 15 Code, and the penalty of such bond shall be in the amount necessary to insure 16 the performance of the duties of the operator under thisactchapter as to 17 such affected lands actually proposed to be mined within the next calendar 18 year. If additional acreage is subsequently proposed to be mined by an opera- 19 tor, the penalty of such bond shall be in an amount determined by the board to 20 be the estimated reasonable costs of reclamation required by this chapter, in 21 the event of failure to reclaim by an operator, of affected lands proposed to 22 be mined during the next calendar year plus ten percent (10%) of such costs. 23 (c) Except as provided in this subsection, no bond for reclamation sub- 24 mitted pursuant to thisactchapter shall exceed two thousand five hundred 25 dollars ($2,500) for any given acre of such affected land. The board may 26 require a bond in excess of two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) for any 27 given acre of affected land only when the following conditions have been met: 28 (1) The board has determined that such bond is necessary to meet the 29 requirements of sections 47-1506, 47-1509, 47-1510 and 47-1511, Idaho 30 Code. 31 (2) The board has delivered to the operator, in writing, a notice setting 32 forth the reasons it believes such bond is necessary. 33 (3) The board has conducted a hearing where the operator is allowed to 34 give testimony to the board concerning the amount of the proposed bond. 35 The hearing shall be held under such rules as promulgated by the board. 36 This requirement for a hearing may be waived, in writing, by the operator. 37 Any hearing held shall,notat the discretion of the director, extend the 38period oftime,limitup to thirty (30) days, in which the board must act 39 on a plan submitted. 40 (d) Except as provided in this subsection, no bond submitted for perma- 41 nent closure of a cyanidation facility pursuant to this chapter shall exceed 42 five million dollars ($5,000,000). The board may require a bond in excess of 43 five million dollars ($5,000,000) for a cyanidation facility only when the 44 following conditions have been met: 45 (1) The board has determined that such bond is necessary to meet the 46 requirements of this chapter. 47 (2) The board has delivered to the operator, in writing, a notice setting 48 forth the reasons it believes such bond is necessary. 49 (3) The board has conducted a hearing where the operator is allowed to 50 give testimony to the board concerning the amount of the proposed bond. 51 The hearing shall be held under such rules as promulgated by the board. 52 This requirement for a hearing may be waived, in writing, by the operator. 53 Any hearing held shall, at the discretion of the director, extend the 54 time, up to sixty (60) days, in which the board must act on the permanent 55 closure plan submitted. 13 1 (e) Any bond required under thisactchapter to be filed and maintained 2 with the board shall be in such form as the board prescribes, payable to the 3 state of Idaho, conditioned that the operator shall faithfully perform all 4 requirements of thisactchapter and comply with all rules of the board in 5 effect as of the date of approval of thereclamationplanapproved for said6lands madein accordance with the provisions of thisactchapter. An operator 7 may at any time file a single bond in lieu of separate bonds filed or to be 8 filed pursuant to thisactchapter, provided that the penalty of such single 9 bond shall be equal to the total of the penalties of the separate bonds being 10 combined into a single bond. Further, any bond provided toan entity of the11federal governmentanother governmental agency that also meets the require- 12 ments in this section shall be deemed to be sufficient surety for the purposes 13 of thisactchapter. 14 (ef) A bond filed as above prescribed shall not be canceled by the 15 surety, except after not less than ninety (90) days' notice to the board. Upon 16 failure of the operator to make substitution of surety prior to the effective 17 date of cancellation of the bond or within thirty (30) days following notice 18 of cancellation by the board, whichever is later, the board shall have the 19 right to issue a cease and desist order and seek injunctive relief to stop the 20 operator from conducting operationsupon the landscovered by such bond until 21 such substitution has been made. 22 (fg) If the license to do business in this state of any surety, upon a 23 bond filed with the board pursuant to thisactchapter, shall be suspended or 24 revoked, the operator, within thirty (30) days after receiving notice thereof 25 from the board, shall substitute for such surety a good and sufficient corpo- 26 rate surety licensed to do business in this state or other surety acceptable 27 to the board. Upon failure of the operator to make substitution of surety, the 28 board shall have the right to issue a cease and desist order and seek injunc- 29 tive relief to stop the operator from conducting operationsupon the lands30 covered by such bond until such substitution has been made. 31 (gh) When an operator shall have completed all reclamation requirements 32 under the provisions of thisactchapter as to any affected land, he shall 33 notify the board. Within thirty (30) days after the receipt of such notice, 34 the board shall notify the operator as to whether or not the reclamation per- 35 formed meets the requirements of the reclamation plan pertaining to the land 36 in question. Upon the determination by the board that the requirements of the 37 reclamation plan in question have been met as to said lands, the amount of 38 bond in effect as to such lands shall be reduced by an amount designated by 39 the board to reflect the reclamation done. 40 (i) When an operator shall have completed an activity specified in an 41 approved permanent closure plan he may notify the board. Within thirty (30) 42 days after the receipt of such notice, the board shall notify the operator as 43 to whether or not the activity performed meets the requirements of the perma- 44 nent closure plan. In determining whether or not an activity under the statu- 45 tory responsibility of the department of environmental quality meets the 46 requirements of the permanent closure plan, the board shall consult with that 47 department. Upon the determination by the board that the activity meets the 48 requirements of the permanent closure plan, the bond for permanent closure 49 shall be reduced by an amount designated by the board to reflect the activity 50 completed. 51 (hj) An operator may withdraw any land previously designated as affected 52 land within a mine panel, provided that it is not already affected land, and 53 in such event, he shall notify the board and the amount of the bond in effect 54 as to the lands in that mine panel shall be reduced by an amount designated by 55 the board as the amount which would have been necessary to reclaim such lands. 14 1 SECTION 11. That Section 47-1513, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby 2 amended to read as follows: 3 47-1513. OPERATOR'S FAILURE TO COMPLY -- FORFEITURE OF BOND -- PENALTIES 4 -- RECLAMATION FUND. (a) Whenever the board determines that an operator has 5 not complied with the provisions of thisactchapter, the board may notify the 6 operator of such noncompliance, and may by private conference, conciliation, 7 and persuasion, endeavor to remedy such violation. In the event of a violation 8 referred to in subsections (d) and (e) of this section, the board may proceed 9 without an administrative action, hearing or decision to exercise the remedies 10 set forth in said subsections. Additionally, no administrative action, hearing 11 or decision shall be required from the Idaho board of environmental quality 12 prior to the board proceeding under subsections (d) and (e) of this section. 13 In the event of the failure of any conference, conciliation and persuasion to 14 remedy any alleged violation, the board may cause to have issued and served 15 upon the operator alleged to be committing such violation, a formal complaint 16 which shall specify the provisions of thisactchapter which the operator 17 allegedly is violating, and a statement of the manner in and the extent to 18 which said operator is alleged to be violating the provisions of thisact19 chapter. Such complaint may be served by certified mail, and return receipt 20 signed by the operator, an officer of a corporate operator, or the designated 21 agent of the operator shall constitute service. The operator shall answer the 22 complaint and request a hearing before a designated hearing officer within 23 thirty (30) days from receipt of the complaint if matters asserted in the com- 24 plaint are disputed. If the operator fails to answer the complaint and request 25 a hearing, the matters asserted in the complaint shall be deemed admitted by 26 the operator, and the board may proceed to cancel the reclamation or permanent 27 closure plan and forfeit the bond in the amount necessary to reclaim affected 28 lands or complete the permanent closure activities. Upon request for a hearing 29 by an operator, the board shall schedule a hearing before a hearing officer 30 appointed by the board at a time not less than thirty (30) days after the date 31 the operator requests a hearing. The board shall issue subpoenas at the 32 request of the director of the department of lands and at the request of the 33 charged operator, and the matter shall be otherwise handled and conducted in 34 accordance with chapter 52, title 67, Idaho Code. The hearing officer shall, 35 pursuant to said hearing, enter an order in accordance with chapter 52, title 36 67, Idaho Code, which, if adverse to the operator, shall designate a time 37 period within which corrective action should be taken. The time period desig- 38 nated shall be long enough to allow the operator, in the exercise of reason- 39 able diligence, to rectify any failure to comply designated in said order. In 40 the event that the operator takes such action as is necessary to comply with 41 the order within the time period designated in said order, no further action 42 shall be taken by the board to compel performance under the act. 43 (b) Upon request of the board, the attorney general shall institute pro- 44 ceedings to have the bond of an operator forfeited for the violation by the 45 operator of an order entered pursuant to this section. 46 (c) The forfeiture of such bond shall fully satisfy all obligations of 47 the operator to reclaim the affected land or complete permanent closure activ- 48 ities under the provisions of thisactchapter. If the violation involves an 49 operator that has not furnished a bond required by thisactchapter, or an 50 operator that is not required to furnish a bond pursuant to thisactchapter, 51 or an operator who violates thisactchapter by performing an act not included 52 in the original approved reclamation plan or the original approved permanent 53 closure plan, and such departure from the plan is not subsequently approved, 54 such operator shall be subject to a civil penalty for his failure to comply 15 1 with such order in the amount determined by the board to be the anticipated 2 cost of reasonable reclamation of affected lands or permanent closure of the 3 cyanidation facility. Nothing in this subsection shall relieve the operator of 4 any obligation, including the obligation to complete closure requirements, 5 pursuant to a permit issued by the department of environmental quality under 6 section 39-118A, Idaho Code, or limit that department's authority to require 7 compliance with such permit requirements. 8 (d) Notwithstanding any other provisions of thisactchapter, the board 9 may commence an action without bond or undertaking, in the name of the state 10 of Idaho to enjoin any operator who is conducting operations without an 11 approvedreclamationplan required by section 47-1506, Idaho Code, or without 12 the bond required by thisactchapter. The court, or a judge thereof at cham- 13 bers, if satisfied from the complaint or by affidavits that such acts have 14 been or are being committed, shall issue a temporary restraining order without 15 notice or bond, enjoining the defendant, his agents, and employees from con- 16 ducting such operations without saidreclamationplan or bond. Upon a showing 17 of good cause therefor, the temporary restraining order may require the 18 defendant to perform reclamation of the mined area in conformity with sections 19 47-1509 and 47-1510, Idaho Code, or to complete permanent closure activities, 20 pending final disposition of the action. The action shall then proceed as in 21 other cases for injunctions. If it is established at trial that the defendant 22 has operated without an approvedreclamationplan or bond, the court shall 23 enter, in addition to any other order, a decree enjoining the defendant, his 24 agents and employees from thereafter conducting such activities or similar 25 actions in violation of thisactchapter. The board may, in conjunction with 26 its injunctive procedures, proceed in the same or in a separate action to 27 recover from an operator who is conducting surface mining or exploration oper- 28 ations or operating a cyanidation facility without the required plan or bond, 29 the cost of performing the reclamation activities required by sections 47-1509 30 and 47-1510, Idaho Code, or the cost of permanent closure activities from any 31 such operator who has not filed a bond to cover the cost of thereclamation32 required activities. 33 (e) Notwithstanding any other provision of thisactchapter, the board 34 may, without bond or undertaking and without any administrative action, hear- 35 ing or decision, commence an action in the name of the state of Idaho (1) to 36 enjoin a permitted surface mining operation or cyanidation facility when, 37 under an existing approved plan, an operator violates the terms of the plan 38 and where immediate and irreparable injury, loss or damage may result to the 39 state and (2) to recover the penalties and to collect civil damages provided 40 for by law. 41 (f) In addition to the procedures set forth in subsections (a), (d) and 42 (e) of this section, and in addition to the civil penalty provided in subsec- 43 tion (c) of this section, any operator who violates any of the provisions of 44 thisactchapter or rules adopted pursuant thereto, or who fails to perform 45 the duties imposed by these provisions, or who violates any determination or 46 order promulgated pursuant to the provisions of thisactchapter, shall be 47 liable to a civil penalty of not less than five hundred dollars ($500) nor 48 more than two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) for each day during which 49 such violation continues, and in addition may be enjoined from continuing such 50 violation. Such penalties shall be recoverable in an action brought in the 51 name of the state of Idaho by the attorney general in the district court for 52 the county where the violation, or some part thereof, occurs, or in the dis- 53 trict court for the county wherein the defendant resides. All sums recovered 54 shall be placed in the state treasury and credited to the surface mining rec- 55 lamation fund, which is hereby created, to be used to reclaim affected lands 16 1 and to administer thisactchapter. 2 (g) Any person whowilfullywillfully and knowingly falsifies any 3 records, information, plans, specifications, or other data required by the 4 board orwilfullywillfully fails, neglects, or refuses to comply with any of 5 the provisions of thisactchapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall 6 be punished by a fine of not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000) and not 7 more than five thousand dollars ($5,000) or imprisonment not to exceed one (1) 8 year or both. 9 (h) Reclamation plans approved by the board as of January 1, 1997, shall 10 be deemed to be in full compliance with the requirements of thisactchapter. 11 However, the board may periodically review, and revise if necessary to meet 12 the requirements of sections 47-1506, 47-1509, 47-1510 and 47-1511, Idaho 13 Code, the amount, terms and conditions of any bond when there is a material 14 change in the reclamation plan or a material change in the estimated reason- 15 able costs of reclamation determined pursuant to section 47-1512, Idaho Code. 16 Any revision to the amount, terms and conditions of a bond due to a material 17 change in the reclamation plan shall apply only to the affected lands covered 18 by the material change in the reclamation plan. 19 (i) A cyanidation facility with an existing permit approved by the 20 department of environmental quality under section 39-118A, Idaho Code, as of 21 July 1, 2005, shall be deemed to be in full compliance with the requirements 22 of this chapter. If there is a material modification or a material expansion 23 of a cyanidation facility after July 1, 2005, the provisions of this chapter 24 shall apply to the modification or expansion. Provided however, that reclama- 25 tion or closure related activities at a facility with an existing cyanidation 26 permit that did not actively add cyanide after January 1, 2005, shall not be 27 considered to be material modifications or a material expansion of the facil- 28 ity. 29 (j) For a permanent closure plan approved by the board after July 1, 30 2005, the board shall periodically review, and revise if necessary to meet the 31 requirements of this chapter, the amount, terms and conditions of any bond 32 when there is a material change in the permanent closure plan or a material 33 change in the estimated reasonable costs of permanent closure determined pur- 34 suant to section 47-1512, Idaho Code. The board may require a fee sufficient 35 to employ a qualified independent party, acceptable to the operator and the 36 board, to verify any revised estimate of the reasonable costs of permanent 37 closure. 38 SECTION 12. That Section 47-1514, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby 39 amended to read as follows: 40 47-1514. APPEAL FROM FINAL ORDER -- PROCEDURE. (a) Any operator dissatis- 41 fied with any final order of the board made pursuant to thisactchapter may, 42 within sixty (60) days after notice of such order, obtain judicial review 43 thereof by appealing to the district court of the state of Idaho for the 44 county wherein the operator resides or has a place of business, or to the dis- 45 trict court for the county in which the cyanidation facility or the land or 46 any portions thereof affected by the order is located. Such appeal shall be 47 perfected by filing with the clerk of such court, in duplicate, a notice of 48 appeal, together with a complaint against the board, in duplicate, which shall 49 recite the prior proceedings before the board or hearing officer, and shall 50 state the grounds upon which the petitioner claims he is entitled to relief. A 51 copy of the summons and complaint shall be delivered to the board or such per- 52 son or persons as the board may designate to receive service of process. The 53 clerk of the court shall immediately forward a copy of the notice of appeal 17 1 and complaint to the board, which shall forthwith prepare, certify and file in 2 said court, a true copy of any decision, findings of fact, conclusions or 3 order, together with any pleadings upon which the case was heard and submitted 4 to the board or hearing officer, and shall, upon order of the court, provide 5 transcripts of any record, including all exhibits and testimony of any pro- 6 ceedings in said matter before the board or any of its subordinates. Such suit 7 in the district court shall be a trial de novo and shall proceed in all 8 respects like other civil suits, including, but not limited to, the rights of 9 appeal to theSsupremeCcourt of the state of Idaho. 10 (b) When the board finds that justice so requires, it may postpone the 11 effective date of a final order made, pending judicial review. The reviewing 12 court, including the court to which a case may be taken on appeal, may issue 13 all necessary and appropriate orders to postpone the effective date of any 14 final order pending conclusion of the review proceedings. 15 (c) Notwithstanding any other provision of thisactchapter concerning 16 administrative or judicial proceedings, whenever the board determines that an 17 operator has not complied with the provisions of thisactchapter, the board 18 may file a civil action in the district court for the county wherein the 19 violation, or some part thereof, occurs, or in the district court for the 20 county wherein the defendant resides. The board may request the court to issue 21 an appropriate order to remedy the violation. The right of appeal to the 22SsupremeCcourt of the state of Idaho shall be available. 23 SECTION 13. That Section 47-1517, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby 24 amended to read as follows: 25 47-1517. CONDUCT OFEXPLORATIONSACTIVITIES. (a) An operator shall con- 26 duct all exploration and mining operations in accordance with all applicable 27 statutes and regulations pertaining to water use and mining safety applicable 28 to exploration and surface mining operations. 29 (b) An operator desiring to operate a cyanidation facility within the 30 state of Idaho shall conduct all related activities in accordance with all 31 applicable statutes and rules related to cyanidation including, but not lim- 32 ited to, section 39-118A, Idaho Code. 33 SECTION 14. That Section 47-1518, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby 34 amended to read as follows: 35 47-1518. EFFECTIVE DATE -- APPLICATION OFACTCHAPTER.This actThe rec- 36 lamation provisions of this chapter shall be in full force and effect on and 37 after May 31, 1971. An operator shall not be required to perform the reclama- 38 tion activities referred to in thisactchapter as to any surface mining oper- 39 ations performed prior to May 31, 1972, and further, shall not be required to 40 perform such reclamation activities as to any pit or overburden pile as it 41 exists prior to May 31, 1972. The cyanidation provisions of this chapter shall 42 be in full force and effect on and after July 1, 2005. The board shall promul- 43 gate temporary rules by August 1, 2005, to implement the provisions of this 44 act. 45 SECTION 15. That Section 42-202B, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby 46 amended to read as follows: 47 42-202B. DEFINITIONS. Whenever used in this title, the term: 48 (1) "Consumptive use" means that portion of the annual volume of water 49 diverted under a water right that is transpired by growing vegetation, evapo- 18 1 rated from soils, converted to nonrecoverable water vapor, incorporated into 2 products, or otherwise does not return to the waters of the state. Consumptive 3 use is not an element of a water right. Consumptive use does not include any 4 water that falls as precipitation directly on the place of use. Precipitation 5 shall not be considered to reduce the consumptive use of a water right. 6 "Authorized consumptive use" means the maximum consumptive use that may be 7 made of a water right. If the use of a water right is for irrigation, for 8 example, the authorized consumptive use reflects irrigation of the most con- 9 sumptive vegetation that may be grown at the place of use. Changes in consump- 10 tive use do not require a transfer pursuant to section 42-222, Idaho Code. 11 (2) "Digital boundary" means the boundary encompassing and defining an 12 area consisting of or incorporating the place of use or permissible place of 13 use for a water right prepared and maintained by the department of water 14 resources using a geographic information system in conformance with the 15 national standard for spatial data accuracy or succeeding standard. 16 (3) "Local public interest" is defined as the interests that the people 17 in the area directly affected by a proposed water use have in the effects of 18 such use on the public water resource. 19 (4) "Municipality" means a city incorporated under section 50-102, Idaho 20 Code, a county, or the state of Idaho acting through a department or institu- 21 tion. 22 (5) "Municipal provider" means: 23 (a) A municipality that provides water for municipal purposes to its res- 24 idents and other users within its service area; 25 (b) Any corporation or association holding a franchise to supply water 26 for municipal purposes, or a political subdivision of the state of Idaho 27 authorized to supply water for municipal purposes, and which does supply 28 water, for municipal purposes to users within its service area; or 29 (c) A corporation or association which supplies water for municipal pur- 30 poses through a water system regulated by the state of Idaho as a "public 31 water supply" as described in section 39-103(102), Idaho Code. 32 (6) "Municipal purposes" refers to water for residential, commercial, 33 industrial, irrigation of parks and open space, and related purposes, exclud- 34 ing use of water from geothermal sources for heating, which a municipal pro- 35 vider is entitled or obligated to supply to all those users within a service 36 area, including those located outside the boundaries of a municipality served 37 by a municipal provider. 38 (7) "Planning horizon" refers to the length of time that the department 39 determines is reasonable for a municipal provider to hold water rights to meet 40 reasonably anticipated future needs. The length of the planning horizon may 41 vary according to the needs of the particular municipal provider. 42 (8) "Reasonably anticipated future needs" refers to future uses of water 43 by a municipal provider for municipal purposes within a service area which, on 44 the basis of population and other planning data, are reasonably expected to be 45 required within the planning horizon of each municipality within the service 46 area not inconsistent with comprehensive land use plans approved by each 47 municipality. Reasonably anticipated future needs shall not include uses of 48 water within areas overlapped by conflicting comprehensive land use plans. 49 (9) "Service area" means that area within which a municipal provider is 50 or becomes entitled or obligated to provide water for municipal purposes. For 51 a municipality, the service area shall correspond to its corporate limits, or 52 other recognized boundaries, including changes therein after the permit or 53 license is issued. The service area for a municipality may also include areas 54 outside its corporate limits, or other recognized boundaries, that are within 55 the municipality's established planning area if the constructed delivery sys- 19 1 tem for the area shares a common water distribution system with lands located 2 within the corporate limits. For a municipal provider that is not a municipal- 3 ity, the service area shall correspond to the area that it is authorized or 4 obligated to serve, including changes therein after the permit or license is 5 issued.
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE RS 15038C1 Ore-processing facilities using cyanide are regulated by the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) under Section 39-118A, Idaho Code. That law allows DEQ to require financial assurance (usually in the form of performance bonds) to guarantee the proper closure of a facility when ore processing has ended. Under current agency rules, DEQ cannot require financial assurance in excess of $100,000. This legislation amends the Surface Mining Act to transfer the responsibility for financial assurance for closure of cyanide facilities from DEQ to the Idaho Department of Lands (IDL). It would require cyanide facilities to submit a closure plan for approval and would require financial assurance to cover 110 percent of the estimated cost of closure. There would be no limit on the amount of financial assurance required. The existing authority for DEQ to regulate all aspects of a cyanide operation, including closure activities and water quality impacts, would remain the same as current law. FISCAL NOTE Enactment of the legislation would require DEQ and IDL to engage in rulemaking to implement the legislation. This rulemaking would be completed with current agency appropriations. Costs to implement the legislation will only be incurred if a cyanide facility is proposed. Current law allows DEQ to charge a reasonable application fee, and the legislation allows IDL to charge a similar fee. The actual costs incurred to process an application will depend on the size and scope of the proposed facility. Oversight responsibilities would be incurred only if a facility were approved and built. The legislation does not impose any additional oversight responsibilities on DEQ. The additional IDL oversight required by the legislation would be integrated into existing IDL oversight responsibilities for reclamation activities and would be coordinated with DEQ oversight of closure activities. Any additional incremental costs incurred by IDL would depend on the size and scope of the facility. CONTACT: Jack Lyman, Idaho Mining Association 342-0031 STATEMENT OF PURPOSE/FISCAL NOTE S 1169