Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes sulfide mining.

Highlights:

• Specifies that the department of health and human services will have the power to authorize licenses, permits, and contracts for any action that is required to engage in bulk sampling, prospecting, or sulfide mining operations (Secs. 14-16).

• Defines “Bulk Sampling” as the practice of excavating in a potential mining site that removes less than 10,000 tons of material in order to obtain site-specific data to assess the quality and quantity of the nonferrous metallic mineral deposits (Sec. 6).

• Defines “Prospecting” as engaging in the examination of an area for the purpose of determining the quality and quantity of nonferrous metallic minerals (Sec. 8).

• Defines “Mining Operation” as all or part of the commercial extraction process of nonferrous metallic minerals (Sec. 7).

• Specifies that the collection of data under a bulk sampling plan will include sampling and analysis related to the following types of water conditions (Sec. 16):

• Geophysical and geochemical; and

• Groundwater and surface water conditions.

• Specifies that a bulk sampling plan will include the following information, including, but not limited to (Sec. 16):

• The number of acres to be disturbed;

• A site-specific plan for controlling surface erosion;

• A revegetation plan that documents the estimated time for completing bulk sampling and revegetation; and

• A description of any known adverse environmental impacts that will be caused by bulk sampling.

• Specifies that the department of health and human services will make the proposed bulk sampling, mining operation, or prospecting plan available for review in the city or county where the site is to be located (Sec. 29).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes sulfide mining.

Highlights:

• Specifies that the department of health and human services will have the power to authorize licenses, permits, and contracts for any action that is required to engage in bulk sampling, prospecting, or sulfide mining operations (Secs. 14-16).

• Defines “Bulk Sampling” as the practice of excavating in a potential mining site that removes less than 10,000 tons of material in order to obtain site-specific data to assess the quality and quantity of the nonferrous metallic mineral deposits (Sec. 6).

• Defines “Prospecting” as engaging in the examination of an area for the purpose of determining the quality and quantity of nonferrous metallic minerals (Sec. 8).

• Defines “Mining Operation” as all or part of the commercial extraction process of nonferrous metallic minerals (Sec. 7).

• Specifies that the collection of data under a bulk sampling plan will include sampling and analysis related to the following types of water conditions (Sec. 16):

• Geophysical and geochemical; and

• Groundwater and surface water conditions.

• Specifies that a bulk sampling plan will include the following information, including, but not limited to (Sec. 16):

• The number of acres to be disturbed;

• A site-specific plan for controlling surface erosion;

• A revegetation plan that documents the estimated time for completing bulk sampling and revegetation; and

• A description of any known adverse environmental impacts that will be caused by bulk sampling.

• Specifies that the department of health and human services will make the proposed bulk sampling, mining operation, or prospecting plan available for review in the city or county where the site is to be located (Sec. 29).

Full Bill Text