HB0059 • 2025

Limited mining operations-water quality testing.

AN ACT relating to environmental quality; specifying that the department of environmental quality may conduct water quality testing before the commencement of limited mining operations; amending notice requirements for limited mining operations; requiring rulemaking; and providing for an effective date.

Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor: Representative Harshman
Last action: 2025-02-10
Official status: inactive
Effective date: 3/1/2025

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material did not provide specific details on how many mining operations will be affected by these changes.

Water Quality Testing Before Limited Mining

This act allows the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to conduct water quality testing before limited mining operations start and amends notice requirements for these operations.

What This Bill Does

Allows the DEQ to require water quality testing before limited mining operations commence if there is reason to believe that domestic or drinking water sources may be impacted.
Requires rulemaking by the environmental quality council, upon recommendation by the DEQ, to implement this act.

Who It Names or Affects

Operators of limited mining operations
The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)
Surface owners near proposed mining areas

Terms To Know

Limited Mining Operations: Small-scale mining activities for the removal of materials like sand, gravel, limestone, or shale from an area of fifteen acres or less.
Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ): The government agency responsible for protecting and improving the environment in Wyoming.

Limits and Unknowns

This bill did not pass during its session.
It is unclear how many mining operations will be affected by these changes.
Specific rules about water testing have not been made yet.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HB0059HS001

Standing Committee • House Minerals, Business and Economic Development

Filed

Plain English: The amendment adds a requirement that before starting limited mining operations, an operator must test the water quality of nearby domestic wells if allowed by the well owners and submit those results to the state.

Before beginning limited mining activities, operators now have to conduct water quality tests on domestic wells within 300 feet if permitted by the well owners.
Operators are required to send their test results to a specific department official.

The amendment does not specify what happens if well owners do not give permission for testing.

Bill History

2025-02-10 House
H COW:H Did not consider for COW
2025-01-27 House
H Placed on General File
2025-01-27 House
H09 - Minerals:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 7-1-1-0-0
2025-01-17 House
H Introduced and Referred to H09 - Minerals
2025-01-02 House
H Received for Introduction
2024-12-18 LSO
Bill Number Assigned

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

25LSO-0176
2025
STATE OF WYOMING
25LSO-0176
Numbered
2.0

HOUSE BILL NO. HB0059

Limited mining operations-water quality testing.

Sponsored by: Representative(s) Harshman, Campbell, E and Larson, JT and Senator(s) Anderson, Boner and Rothfuss

A BILL

for

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1
.

W.S. 35
‑
11
‑
401(e)(vi)(intro) and by creating a new subparagraph (H) is amended to read:

35
‑
11
‑
401.

Compliance generally; exceptions.

(e)

The provisions of this article shall not apply to any of the following activities:

(vi)

Limited mining operations, whether commercial or noncommercial, for the removal of sand, gravel, scoria, limestone, dolomite, shale, ballast or feldspar from an area of fifteen (15) acres or less of affected land, excluding roads used to access the mining operation, if the operator has written permission for the operation from the owner and lessee, if any, of the surface. The operator shall notify the land quality division
and the water quality division
of the department of environmental quality and the inspector of mines within the department of workforce services of the location of the land to be mined and the postal address of the operator at least thirty (30) days before commencing operations. A copy of the notice shall also be mailed to all surface owners located within one (1) mile of the proposed boundary of the limited mining operation at least thirty (30) days before commencing operations. The operator shall notify the land quality division of the department of environmental quality of the date of commencement of limited mining operations within thirty (30) days of commencing operations. Limited mining operations authorized under this paragraph are subject to the following:

(H)

The department may require water quality testing before the operator commences limited mining operations if the department determines or has reason to believe that any domestic or drinking water source may be impacted by the limited mining operations. The administrator may require the operator to delay the commencement of the limited mining operations for a reasonable time in order to complete any water quality testing required under this subparagraph.

Section 2
.

The environmental quality council, upon recommendation by the department of environmental quality, shall promulgate all rules necessary to implement this act.

Section 3
.

This act is effective immediately upon completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constitution.

(END)

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HB0059