Chapter NR 132

NR 132.107(6) (6) The hearing procedure outlined in s. 293.43, Stats., shall govern all hearings on the mining permit application, any statements prepared under s. 1.11, Stats., and, to the fullest extent possible, all other applications for approvals, licenses, and permits relating to the proposed mining project issued by the department.

NR 132.107 History History: CR 20-043: cr. Register December 2021 No. 792, eff. 1-1-22.

NR 132.108 NR 132.108 Mining plan. The mining plan shall include all of the following:

NR 132.108(1) (1) A detailed map of the proposed mining site in accordance with s. 293.37 (2) (a), Stats.

NR 132.108(2) (2) Details of the nature, extent, and final configuration of the proposed excavation and mining site including location and total production of tailings and other mining refuse and the nature and depth of overburden.

NR 132.108(3) (3) Details of the proposed operating procedures, including all of the following:

NR 132.108(3)(a) (a) Mining operation sequence and duration including site preparation, construction, operation and reclamation.

NR 132.108(3)(b) (b) Handling of topsoil, merchantable by-products, overburden, and waste rock materials.

NR 132.108(3)(c) (c) Tailings production, handling, and final disposition, including design specifications for any tailings transport pipelines.

NR 132.108(3)(d) (d) Ore processing including crushing, milling, concentrating, refining, and reagent use and storage.

NR 132.108(3)(e) (e) Storage, loading, and transportation of final product.

NR 132.108(3)(f) (f) Groundwater and surface water management techniques including provisions for erosion prevention and control, drainage control and a detailed water management plan showing sources, flow paths and flow rates, storage volumes, and release points. The water management plan shall include a detailed water budget that includes groundwater, surface water and process waters.

NR 132.108(3)(g) (g) Plans for adequate covering or isolation of all pollutant-bearing minerals or materials handled on the site.

NR 132.108(3)(h) (h) Plans for collection, treatment, and discharge of water resulting from the operation.

NR 132.108(3)(i) (i) Plans for the collection, disposal, and recycling of refuse and solid waste materials generated during the life of the project but not regulated as mining waste under ch. NR 182.

NR 132.108(3)(j) (j) Plans for air quality protection as required under ch. 285, Stats.

NR 132.108(3)(k) (k) A risk assessment of possible accidental health and environmental hazards potentially associated with the mining operation. The risk assessment shall include contingency measures with respect to these risks and hazards, and the assumptions in this assessment, shall be explicitly stated.

NR 132.108(3)(L) (L) Measures for notifying the public and responsible governmental agencies of potentially hazardous conditions including the movement or accumulation of contaminants in groundwater and surface water, soils, and vegetation and other consequences of the operation of importance to public health, safety and welfare.

NR 132.108(3)(m) (m) Description of all surface facilities associated with the mining site.

NR 132.108(3)(n) (n) Description of anticipated geological and geotechnical investigations and drilling programs.

NR 132.108(4) (4) Evidence satisfactory to the department that the proposed mining operation will be consistent with the reclamation plan and will comply with all of the following minimum standards:

NR 132.108(4)(a) (a) Grading and stabilization of excavation, sides, and benches to conform with state and federal environmental and safety requirements and to prevent environmental pollution and prevent and control erosion.

NR 132.108(4)(b) (b) Grading and stabilization of deposits of mining refuse in conformance with applicable state and federal environmental and safety requirements and applicable solid waste laws and regulations.

NR 132.108(4)(c) (c) Stabilization of merchantable by-products.

NR 132.108(4)(d) (d) Adequate diversion and drainage of water from the mining site to prevent contamination of surface water and groundwater and prevent and control erosion.

NR 132.108(4)(e) (e) Notwithstanding the provisions of ch. NR 812, excavations shall be backfilled when the backfilling procedure will not interfere with the mining operation and will not do any of the following:

NR 132.108(4)(e)1. 1. Cause an exceedance of any groundwater quality standards implemented under this chapter and ch. NR 182.

NR 132.108(4)(e)2. 2. Adversely affect public health or welfare.

NR 132.108(4)(f) (f) Handling and storage, including covering as needed, of all materials on the mining site in an environmentally sound manner as determined by the department. Materials not licensed as mining waste under ch. NR 182, but deemed by the department to present a potential threat to the environment, shall be appropriately characterized in a manner consistent with procedures specified in s. NR 182.108.

NR 132.108(4)(g) (g) Removal and stockpiling, or other measures to protect topsoil or other soil materials from erosion and leaching, consistent with environmental considerations and reclamation, during mining site preparation and active mining unless the department determines that such action will be environmentally undesirable.

NR 132.108(4)(h) (h) Maintenance of adequate vegetative cover where feasible to prevent and control erosion.

NR 132.108(4)(i) (i) Impoundment of water where necessary in a safe and environmentally acceptable manner.

NR 132.108(4)(j) (j) Adequate planning of the site to achieve the aesthetic standards for the entire mining site described in ss. NR 132.110 (1) (e) and 132.111 (1).

NR 132.108(4)(k) (k) Identification and prevention of pollution, as defined in s. 281.01 (10), Stats., resulting from leaching of waste materials or other stockpiled materials, in accordance with state and federal solid waste laws and regulations.

NR 132.108(4)(L) (L) Identification and prevention of significant environmental pollution as defined in s. 293.01 (4), Stats.

NR 132.108(4)(m) (m) Maintenance of appropriate emergency procedures to minimize damage to public health, safety, and welfare and the environment from events described under sub. (3) (k).

NR 132.108(5) (5) Submission of a plan for a pre-blasting survey to document the condition of permanent structures and buildings within the area potentially affected by blasting at the mining site as determined under s. SPS 307.41 (2), with such survey being completed and submitted to the department prior to any blasting.

NR 132.108 History History: CR 20-043: cr. Register December 2021 No. 792, eff. 1-1-22.

NR 132.109 NR 132.109 Reclamation plan. The reclamation plan for the mining site shall include all of the following:

NR 132.109(1) (1) Detailed information and maps on reclamation procedures including all of the following:

NR 132.109(1)(a) (a) Manner, location, sequence, and anticipated duration of reclamation.

NR 132.109(1)(b) (b) Ongoing reclamation procedures during mining operations.

NR 132.109(1)(c) (c) Proposed interim and final topography and slope stabilization.

NR 132.109(1)(d) (d) Proposed final land use and relationship to surrounding land and land use.

NR 132.109(1)(e) (e) Plans for long-term maintenance of the mining site, including all of the following:

NR 132.109(1)(e)1. 1. Monitoring of all of the following, as applicable:

NR 132.109(1)(e)1.a. a. Wastes, groundwater levels and quality, and surface water levels and quality.

NR 132.109(1)(e)1.b. b. Leachate, slope stability, vegetation, groundwater elevation, surface water flows and elevations, wetlands, and other aquatic and terrestrial systems.

NR 132.109(1)(e)2. 2. Details related to decommissioning or removing monitoring devices that are no longer in use.

NR 132.109(1)(e)3. 3. The need for long-term water control, management, and treatment systems necessary to prevent pollution of groundwater or surface water.

NR 132.109(1)(e)4. 4. Names of persons legally and operationally responsible for long-term maintenance.

NR 132.109(1)(f) (f) Projected costs of reclamation including an itemized statement showing the estimated costs that will be incurred by the state if it is necessary for the state to implement and fulfill the reclamation plan.

NR 132.109(1)(g) (g) Projected costs of periodic repair or replacement of any engineered cover systems or water management control systems used at the mining site or mining waste site to avoid adverse environmental consequences. The estimate shall cover the costs reasonably anticipated to occur during the period between 40 and 250 years after closure of the mining waste site.

NR 132.109(1)(h) (h) Proposed quantitative criteria and evaluation methods to demonstrate success and long-term stability of final reclamation for purposes of determining acceptable completion of reclamation and issuance of a certification of completion of reclamation under s. NR 132.122.

NR 132.109(2) (2) Evidence satisfactory to the department that the proposed reclamation will conform with all of the following minimum standards:

NR 132.109(2)(a) (a) Toxic and hazardous wastes, refuse, tailings, and other solid waste shall be disposed of in conformance with applicable state and federal statutes or regulations.

NR 132.109(2)(b) (b) Tunnels, shafts, or other underground openings shall be sealed in accordance with applicable safety requirements and in a manner that will prevent seepage of water in amounts that may be expected to create a safety, health, or environmental hazard, unless the applicant can demonstrate alternative uses that do not endanger public health and safety and that conform to applicable environmental protection and mine safety laws and rules.

NR 132.109(2)(c) (c) Underground and surface runoff waters from mining sites shall be managed, impounded, or treated so as to prevent soil erosion, flooding, damage to agricultural lands or livestock, damage to wild animals, pollution of groundwater or surface waters, damage to public health, or threats to public safety.

NR 132.109(2)(d) (d) Surface structures constructed as a part of the mining activities shall be removed, unless they are converted to an acceptable alternate use, as determined by the department.

NR 132.109(2)(e) (e) Adequate measures shall be taken to prevent significant surface subsidence, but if such subsidence does occur, the affected area shall be reclaimed.

NR 132.109(2)(f) (f) Topsoil from surface areas disturbed during the mining operation shall be removed and stored in an environmentally acceptable manner for use in reclamation.

NR 132.109(2)(g) (g) Disturbed surface areas shall be revegetated as soon as practicable after the disturbance to stabilize slopes and prevent air and water pollution, with the objective of reestablishing a variety of plants and animals indigenous to the area immediately prior to mining, unless such reestablishment is inconsistent with the provisions of s. 293.01 (23), Stats. Plant species not indigenous to the area may be used if necessary, to provide rapid stabilization of slopes and prevention of erosion, if such species are acceptable to the department, but the ultimate goal of reestablishment of indigenous species shall be maintained.

NR 132.109(3) (3) An analysis of alternative viable final land uses for the reclaimed site, including the presumed final use of returning affected areas to their approximate original state. The analysis of all options shall consider the extent to which the option is physically, economically and environmentally achievable and socially acceptable.

NR 132.109(4) (4) If requested by the department, a comprehensive long-term plan as provided in s. 293.37 (4) (b), Stats., related to reclamation of operator-controlled lands contiguous to the mining site.

NR 132.109 History History: CR 20-043: cr. Register December 2021 No. 792, eff. 1-1-22.

NR 132.110 NR 132.110 Location criteria and environmental standards.

NR 132.110(1) (1) No person shall establish, construct, operate, or maintain the use of property for any mining related buildings, roads, ponds, or other purposes within the following areas, except pursuant to an exemption granted under s. NR 132.112 or in compliance with another approval, license, or permit issued by the department:

NR 132.110(1)(a) (a) Within areas identified as unsuitable under s. NR 132.103 (23).

NR 132.110(1)(b) (b) Within 500 feet of the ordinary high-water mark of any existing navigable lake, pond, or flowage.

NR 132.110(1)(c) (c) Within 500 feet of the ordinary high-water mark of a navigable river or stream.

NR 132.110(1)(d) (d) Within a floodplain.

NR 132.110(1)(e) (e) Within 1,000 feet of the nearest edge of the right-of-way of any of the following unless regardless of season, the site is visually inconspicuous due to screening or being visually absorbed due to natural objects, compatible natural plantings, earth berm, or other appropriate means, or unless, regardless of season, the site is screened so as to be aesthetically pleasing and inconspicuous to the extent feasible:

NR 132.110(1)(e)1. 1. Any state trunk highway, interstate, or federal primary highway.

NR 132.110(1)(e)2. 2. The boundary of a state public park.

NR 132.110(1)(e)3. 3. The boundary of a scenic easement purchased by the department or the department of transportation.

NR 132.110(1)(e)4. 4. The boundary of a designated scenic or wild river.

NR 132.110(1)(e)5. 5. A scenic overlook designated by the department by rule.

NR 132.110(1)(e)6. 6. A bike or hiking trail designated by the United States congress or the state legislature.

NR 132.110(1)(f) (f) Within wetlands, except pursuant to the provisions under s. 281.36, Stats.

NR 132.110(1)(g) (g) Within areas that will result in noncompliance with applicable groundwater quality and quantity protection provisions.

NR 132.110(1)(h) (h) Within areas that will result in noncompliance with other applicable federal and state laws and regulations.

NR 132.110 History History: CR 20-043: cr. Register December 2021 No. 792, eff. 1-1-22.

NR 132.111 NR 132.111 Minimum design and operation. An operator shall construct, establish, operate, and maintain a mining site in conformance with the requirements of this chapter, conditions attached to the mining permit, and all of the following requirements:

NR 132.111(1) (1) An operator shall construct a mining site to meet all of the following requirements:

NR 132.111(1)(a) (a) Place site elements where least observable from off the premises in any season.

NR 132.111(1)(b) (b) Place site elements within the area of the overall site that is most visually compatible in respect to building shape.

NR 132.111(1)(c) (c) Paint and maintain buildings and other structures in a manner that is visually compatible with the surrounding vegetational and earth conditions. If a building or other structure cannot be painted and maintained in a manner that is visually compatible or if painting and maintaining a building or other structure in a manner that is visually compatible would cause safety concerns, the building or structure shall be made as visually inconspicuous as is practicable.

NR 132.111(2) (2) An operator shall implement effective means, consistent with applicable state and federal safety-related regulations, to limit access to the site to minimize exposure of the public to hazards.

NR 132.111(3) (3) An operator shall use mine-mill chemicals and reagents on the mining site and handle materials containing residual amounts of reagents in accordance with all of the following requirements: