Rules for Mining Permit Objections
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Bill Summary - 20LSO-0015 Bill No.: SF0044 Effective: 7/1/2020 12:00:00 AM LSO No.: 20LSO-0015 Enrolled Act No.: SEA No. 0014 Chapter No.: 35 Prime Sponsor: Joint Minerals, Business & Economic Development Interim Committee Catch Title: Mining permit applications-objections. Subject: Amending the process for objecting and resolving objections for mining permit applications. Summary/Major Elements: The act amends the procedures for objecting to a mining permit application. The act provides two (2) separate procedures: one (1) for coal mining permit applications and (1) one for all other mining permit applications. For coal mining permits, a person has thirty (30) days to object after the final required notice is published. The applicant and objector can request that the director of the Department of Environmental Quality hold an informal conference to resolve the objection; the conference must be noticed through newspaper publication and must be held in the locality of the proposed mining operation. The director has thirty (30) days to resolve the objection if no informal conference is held, and sixty (60) days if there is an informal conference. For all other permits, a person has thirty (30) days to object after the final required notice is published. The Land Quality Division Administrator of the Department reviews the objection and makes recommendations to the director, who makes a final written decision on the objection within thirty (30) days. For all mining permit applications, either party can appeal the decision to the Environmental Quality Council. Any person who fails to object to an application has no right of appeal. The above summary is not an official publication of the Wyoming Legislature and is not an official statement of legislative intent. While the Legislative Service Office endeavored to provide accurate information in this summary, it should not be relied upon as a comprehensive abstract of the bill.
Public statements
Last checked Aug 5, 9:58 PM
R · S28
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker supports the bill because it separates coal mining objections from smaller mining operations and clarifies that small mines do not require permits. Additionally, they note an improvement allowing for informal conferences between officials.
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker supports the amendment and bill because they believe it avoids duplicating public hearing processes which had made operations more difficult for the department.
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker urges a vote in favor because the amendment clarifies differences between coal and other mining types, noting that the executive branch already has the ability to handle these matters through existing rules.
D · S09
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker opposes the amendment because DEQ needs time to promulgate rules and regulations, which cannot be achieved with an immediate effective date.
R · S30
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker opposes the immediate effective date because changing rules suddenly is bad policy for private organizations and individuals.
R · S28
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker opposes the amendment because DEQ requires months for hearings and rulemaking, which justifies the delayed effective date in the original bill.
S26
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker supports the amendment because allowing immediate effectiveness provides flexibility to complete rulemaking sooner if possible without disrupting existing processes.
R · S21
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker reiterates support for the amendment with confidence that DEQ can complete the necessary work quickly if given the immediate effective date.
If a lawmaker is not listed, we couldn't find a published reason.
Wyoming roll calls
6 roll calls
Official activity
Changes
5 stored
The amendment removes a specific committee's changes to the bill regarding objections to mining permit applications.
This amendment changes how objections to mining permit applications are handled by allowing the director to give the administrator permission to have an informal meeting.
The amendment changes the date by which certain actions must be taken regarding objections to mining permit applications.
The amendment removes certain lines from the original bill and adds new language about when the act becomes effective.
The amendment changes how objections to mining permit applications are handled by modifying deadlines for filing objections and requiring certain hearings to be conducted as contested cases.