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Minerals Program -Public Participation and the Board Hearing Process <br />How can you pet involved in the bLnerals Program's reclamation permitting process? <br />^ Once the application is filed, you can submit commenu and objections during afive-to <br />approximately 50-day period, depending on the permit type. (A 112 Regulaz Operation Permit, <br />which applies to mines that cover ] 0 acres or more or will extract more than 70,000 tons of material, <br />usually receives the mort citizen scrutiny because of the extent of the mining operation.) <br />^ Watch your local newspaper. Operators applying fora 112 Permit must publish notices that <br />include the due date for comments/objections for four consecutive weeks after the application is <br />submitted. They must also notify the local county government, municipalities within 2 miles and all <br />landowners within 200 feet of the mine's affected lands. <br />^ Following the final publication date, interested people have 20 days to file an objection. If there <br />are objections-or at the requert of the applicant or local board of county commissioners -the <br />Division will schedule an informal conference among the parties. <br />^ After the conference and staff review of the application to make sure it complies with state <br />r=gulations; the Division will make its decision. If it approves the permit when there have been <br />objections filed within the timeframe; the Division will schedule's hearing before the Mined Land <br />Reclamation Board (MI.RB). At the hearing, objectors must present their evidence in opposition to . <br />the decision. (Board decisions can be appealed through the state court ryrtem. For more on the <br />hearing process see page 2 of this Bulletin.) <br />^ Citizens can also comment when mine operations requert release of a reclamation bond. At this <br />time, operators .must prove they have reached .the reclamation goals and met state standazds. An <br />inspection is done within 60 days to ensure reclamation has been completed to the Division's <br />satisfaction. Although the operation is required to notify only the county and the owner of the <br />property where the mine is located, any citizen can comment on the request and has 15 days from <br />the date of the Division's decision to appeal it to the MLRB. <br />How can I find out more? <br />^ Call the Minerals Program (330/866-3567). A specialist can update you on the status'of a <br />particular permit. The specialirt can also answer questions about the specifics of the public comment <br />process for all types of permits administered by the program. <br />Pa~~ I <br />OVER <br /> <br />