NR 182.108(6)(f)1.1. A baseline environmental monitoring program consistent with the requirements of ss. NR 132.105 and 132.117. The baseline program shall address physical-chemical and biological monitoring in the vicinity of the proposed mining waste facility necessary to evaluate the potential environmental impacts associated with construction and operation of the facility. The applicant shall select physical-chemical parameters based on transport and transformation mechanisms in the environment as well as other factors affecting the mobility and toxicity of pollutants. The applicant shall select biological parameters based on the environmental characterizations, the degree of impact predicted, and the potentially affected organisms’ sensitivity to contaminants. The applicant shall select monitoring programs of sufficient scope and duration to adequately characterize seasonal and spatial variability in natural conditions.

NR 182.108(6)(f)2.2. A land use map showing plant communities, wildlife habitat, endangered and threatened species occurrences, to the extent that disclosure of such information is not restricted, archeological or historic sites, buildings, and areas of social and cultural importance. The applicant shall use the existing site conditions map as a base map.

NR 182.108(6)(f)3.3. The baseline groundwater quality at all wells that were installed outside the proposed limits of filling to evaluate the proposed mining waste facility. The applicant shall analyze samples for appropriate indicator parameters including, calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, iron, manganese, bicarbonate, sulfate, nitrate, chloride and alkalinity, public welfare related parameters identified in ss. NR 140.12 and 140.20, and other constituents based on the specific waste types and waste characteristics. The department may require additional parameters based on the results of ongoing monitoring and characterization studies. To determine baseline groundwater quality for the parameters, the applicant shall collect and analyze a minimum of 8 samples, with at least 30 days between samples, and submit the results to the department with the feasibility report and plan of operation.

NR 182.108(6)(f)4.4. A table showing existing water quality of all potentially affected surface waters. The table shall include navigable waters, as defined in s. 30.01 (1m), Stats., and important aquatic habitat, including wetlands, springs and area of special natural resource interest, as defined in s. 30.01 (4m), Stats.

NR 182.108(6)(f)5.5. Local climatological data for seasonal precipitation, evaporation, air temperature, and wind velocity and direction. The applicant shall collect meteorological data in the vicinity of the proposed facility to facilitate correlation of the on-site conditions with data from existing regional sites with long-term meteorological records.

NR 182.108(7)(7) The applicant shall propose a facility design, based on the conclusions resulting from the analysis of site data and waste characterization, capable of ensuring compliance with applicable standards. The proposed facility design shall consist of the preliminary type, size, and location of the proposed facility, engineering plans, a general discussion of proposed operating procedures, and a proposed monitoring program. This section of the feasibility report shall include, for each waste site, all of the following:

NR 182.108(7)(a)(a) A map, using the existing site conditions map as a base, that shows proposed access, lateral extent of filling, and phases of facility development.

NR 182.108(7)(b)(b) A series of cross-sections showing present topography, proposed base grades, and final grades, using the geological sections as a base.

NR 182.108(7)(c)(c) The preliminary earth work balance calculations.

NR 182.108(7)(d)(d) The proposed methods for leachate minimization, collection, and treatment.

NR 182.108(7)(e)(e) The proposed operating procedures including the method of site development, phasing, erosion control, and stormwater management, screening, access control, and other special design features.

NR 182.108(7)(f)(f) The estimated material balances prepared from best available information showing the quantities of the wastes identified in par. (a). These material balances shall include all of the following:

NR 182.108(7)(f)2.2. The projected conditions existing before and after a significant change in operating practice of the mine waste site or facility, such as the end of active filling and subsequent closure of a cell of a tailings disposal area and the establishment of another.

NR 182.108(7)(g)(g) A discussion of the reasoning and logic behind the design of the major features of the site, such as traffic routing, base grade, and relationships to subsurface conditions, phases of development, anticipated waste types and characteristics, acid-generation controls, liner system and final cover system design, facility monitoring, and similar design features necessary to ensure compliance with applicable standards.

NR 182.108(7)(h)(h) A proposed monitoring program developed for the purpose of determining whether the proposed facilities meet all environmental standards. The initial monitoring program design and specifications should be based on potential variations in the quality and quantity of waste materials, methods of processing, transport and disposal, and the variability of important environmental conditions.

NR 182.108(7)(i)(i) The information, based on predictive modeling, to demonstrate that there is a reasonable certainty that the facility, as designed, will not result in a violation of the groundwater quality standards, specified in ch. NR 140, beyond the design management zone and within the depth of useable groundwater. The operator shall demonstrate compliance with applicable groundwater and surface water quality standards for a period consisting of the time period in which the mining waste site is proposed to operate, plus 250 years after closure of the mining waste site, unless a shorter time period is specified by the department. If any statistically significant change in baseline groundwater quality is predicted, the applicant shall prepare a specific assessment of any adverse environmental impacts reasonably expected to result. If the background concentration of a substance attains or exceeds a preventive action limit for that substance or if it is expected, with reasonable certainty, that a preventive action limit will be exceeded beyond the design management zone, the applicant shall request an exemption under ss. NR 140.28 and 182.119.

NR 182.108(7)(j)(j) For expansion of existing facilities, an evaluation of the effectiveness of the existing site design and operation.

NR 182.108(8)(8) The applicant shall complete a groundwater modeling analysis of potential impacts. The analysis shall include enough information to assess existing groundwater flow conditions and to predict possible impacts to groundwater quality and quantity from the mining waste facility and other facilities on the mining site in compliance with the requirements of sub. (7) (i) and s. NR 182.107. The groundwater modeling analysis shall be completed in coordination with groundwater studies conducted to comply with chs. NR 132 and 150, ss. 281.34 and 293.65, Stats., and other applicable laws and rules of the department. The modeling analysis shall include the following:

NR 182.108(8)(a)(a) A clear statement of the purpose and objectives of the model.

NR 182.108(8)(b)(b) A discussion of the hydrologic data necessary to construct the groundwater model and the methods proposed to obtain the necessary data.

NR 182.108(8)(c)(c) A discussion of the formulation of the conceptual hydrologic model of the study area, including dimensionality, transience, and boundary conditions.

NR 182.108(8)(d)(d) A discussion of the selection criteria for choosing the model code used to simulate the study area and forecast future conditions. Models used for groundwater flow and contaminant transport analyses shall consist of public domain open source software. Secondary models used to generate and organize input files, process model outputs or evaluate model boundaries are not required to consist of public domain open source software but must be fully documented and verified.

NR 182.108(8)(e)(e) A description of the design and construction of the model, including how the conceptual understanding of groundwater flow is translated to the groundwater model.

NR 182.108(8)(f)(f) A discussion of model calibration and verification, including what model parameters were adjusted, what targets were used in the calibration process, how well the model performs at verification/history matching, and why the history matching process and selected targets are appropriate for the modeling purpose. Also included in the model calibration should be a discussion of statistics used to quantify model calibration.