Permitting

Minerals program submittals or correspondence

Submittals or correspondence may be provided by hard copy or sent electronically to ogmminerals@utah.gov with a copy to the lead inspector.

Forms

Please use 3 hole binders for anything bound. Other forms of binding are difficult to process, scan, file, etc.

General Provisions:

The informational requirements for these forms are based on provisions of the Mined Land Reclamation Act, Title 40-8, Utah Code Annotated 1953, as amended, and the General Rules and Rules of Practice and Procedures, R647-1 through R647-5.

Annual Report Forms:

Exploration Progress Report
The exploration progress report form is used to summarize exploration project activities and status of reclamation and is required per rule R647-2-115. Required information such as any unusual drilling conditions, water encountered, hole plugging measures, and reclamation activities conducted, needs to be included in the report. The report must be filed on or before November 30th of the year of filing the notice of intention to conduct exploration and each subsequent year until reclamation is complete. The permit fee of $150 is also due November 30th.

If the project has been regraded and revegetated, please submit form MR-SITE and return the billing statement with the box checked showing grading and seeding have been completed. In this case no annual permit fee is required.

An exploration permit is valid until December 31st of the year following the original filing of the notice, but the permit may be extended. The exploration progress report form contains a section where the operator must request an extension. The Division will then evaluate the extension request and the reclamation surety.

Small Mine Annual Report
This is an annual report form which is required for small mining operations. The annual report summarizes mining operations conducted during the preceding calendar year, the location of the operation, the gross amount of ore and waste material moved during the year, as well as the disposition of such materials. The form also summarizes the reclamation work performed and new surface disturbances created during the year. The annual report must be filed on or before January 31 of each year, unless waived in writing by the Division. In addition to the annual report, the permit fee of $150.00 is due January 31 each year.

Large Mine Annual Report
This is an annual report form which is required for large mining operations. The annual report summarizes mining operations conducted during the preceding calendar year, the location of the operation, the gross amount of ore and waste material moved during the year, as well as the disposition of such materials and a map of the surface disturbance and reclamation performed during the year. The form also summarizes the reclamation work performed and new surface disturbances created during the year. The annual report must be filed on or before January 31 of each year, unless waived in writing by the Division. In addition to the annual report, the permit fee of $500.00 (50 acres of disturbance or smaller) or $1000.00 (larger than 50 acres) is due January 31 each year.

Notices:

MR-EXP
This Notice of Intention to Conduct Exploration form applies only to exploration activities. "Exploration" means surface disturbing activities conducted for the purpose of discovering a deposit or mineral deposit, delineating the boundaries of a deposit or mineral deposit, and identifying regions or specific areas in which deposits or mineral deposits are most likely to exist. "Exploration" includes, but is not limited to: sinking shafts; tunneling; drilling holes and digging pits or cuts; building of roads, and other access ways; and constructing and operating other facilities related to these activities. A $150.00 initial application fee is required to accompany the application form and annually thereafter, until the operator reclaims the site and obtains a formal release from the Division.

MR-SMO
This Notice of Intention to Commence Small Mining Operations form applies only to mining operations which will disturb 10 or fewer surface acres at any time in incorporated areas or 20 or fewer acres in unincorporated areas. A permit fee is required to accompany the application and is due January 31 each year thereafter, until the operator reclaims the site and obtains a formal release from the Division. The fee is $150.00.

MR-LMO
A Notice of Intention to Commence Large Mining Operations applies only to mining operations that will disturb more than five surface acres in incorporated areas or more than ten acres in unincorporated areas. The fee is $500.00 for mines between ten and 50 acres, and $1000.00 for mines larger than 50 acres. The fees are due with the application and on January 31 of each year thereafter.

MR-REV-SMO/EXP (Small Mining Operations/Exploration)
When a Notice of Intention to Commence Small Mining Operations or Exploration (Notice) requires change an Application to Revise a Notice of Intention to Commence Small Mining Operations or Exploration must be submitted. Changes may include Operator address or operational changes. When operational changes are proposed the change may not be implemented until the Division determines that the revised Notice is complete and if necessary a revised reclamation surety approved. The Notice must include all information, concerning the revision, that would have been required if it had been included in the original Notice.

MR-REV (Large Mining Operations)
This Notice of Intention to Revise Mining Operations form applies when changes are proposed for an approved large mining notice of intention. The changes would be considered either a revision (major change to the approved notice of intention) or an amendment (insignificant change to the approved notice of intention).

A revision is processed in the same manner as an original large mine notice of intention. Formal public notice may be required and reclamation surety may have to be adjusted. If the disturbance approved in the original notice of intention is less than 50 acres, and the revision expands the disturbed acreage to greater than 50 acres, then the annual permit fee would be increased to $1,000.00. If the disturbance approved in the original notice of intention is greater than 50 acres of disturbance and the revision reduces the disturbed acres to less than 50 acres, then the annual permit fee would be reduced to $500.00.

An amendment is an insignificant change to the approved notice of intention. An amendment requires Division approval, but does not require formal public notice and a 30-day public comment period.

Application for Site and/or Bond Release:

MR-SITE
The Application for Site and/or Bond Release form must be completed when an operator requests either full or partial release from mining and reclamation obligations and/or full or partial bond release. This same application is required if the operator wishes to roll the surety bond (or a portion of the surety bond) over to a new mining area.

Transfers:

MR-TRE
This Transfer of Notice of Intention for Exploration Project form is used when an operator wishes to transfer an exploration permit to another party. The new operator must assume full responsibility for continued exploration activities and all reclamation obligations for the exploration project. If the project is greater than five acres, the new operator will be required to post a new reclamation surety.

MR-TRS
This Transfer of Notice of Intention for Small Mining Operations form is used when an operator wishes to transfer the existing permit for a small mining operation to another party. The new mine operator must assume full responsibility for continued mining operations and all reclamation obligations related to the small mining operation.

MR-TRL
This Transfer of Notice of Intention for Large Mining Operations form is used when an operator wishes to transfer the approved permit for a large mining operation to another party. The new mine operator will be required to post a new reclamation surety and must assume full responsibility for continued mining operations and all reclamation obligations associated with the large mining operation.