293.61 Determination of abandonment of mining. (1) Except as provided under sub. (2), abandonment of mining occurs if there is a cessation of mining, not set forth in an operator’s mining or reclamation plans or by any other sufficient written or constructive notice, extending for more than 6 consecutive months. (2) Abandonment of mining does not occur: (a) If the cessation of mining is due either to labor strikes or to such unforeseen developments as adverse market conditions, as determined by the department; (b) If the cessation of mining does not continue beyond the time period specified by the department. The time limit specified by the department may not exceed 5 years for a mining operation for which a permit is issued under s. 293.49 on or after May 19, 1984. The time limit specified by the department may not exceed 10 years for a mining operation for which a permit is issued under s. 293.49 before May 19, 1984; (c) If the site is maintained in an environmentally stable manner, as determined by the department, during the cessation of mining; and (d) If the reclamation of the site continues according to the
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reclamation plan during the cessation of mining to the extent possible. History: 1983 a. 517 s. 1, 2; 1995 a. 227 s. 743; Stats. 1995 s. 293.61.
293.63 Certificate of completion, partial completion and bond release. (1) Upon the petition of the operator, but not less than 4 years after notification to the department by the operator of the completion of the reclamation plan, if the department finds after conducting a hearing that the operator has completed reclamation for any portion of the mining site in accordance with the reclamation plan and this chapter, the department shall issue a certificate of completion setting forth a description of the area reclaimed and a statement that the operator has fulfilled its duties under the reclamation plan as to that area. (2) Upon the issuance of any certificate of completion under sub. (1) for any portion of the mining site, but not for the entire mining site, the department shall allow the operator to reduce the amount of the bond to an amount which shall equal the estimated cost of reclamation of the portion of the mining site which is disturbed or for which reclamation has been completed but no certificate of completion has been issued. (3) Upon issuance of a certificate or certificates of completion of reclamation for the entire mining site, the department shall require that the operator maintain a bond equal to at least 10 percent of the cost to the state of reclamation of the entire mining site if mining of the site was wholly underground, and at least 20 percent of the cost to the state of reclamation of the entire mining site if any surface mining was conducted. Where the mining site in the mining plan is less than 10 acres, the department may release the bond after issuance of the certificate under sub. (1). (4) After 20 years after the issuance of a certificate or certificates of completion for the entire mining site, the department shall release the bond if the department finds that the reclamation plan has been complied with. (5) The department shall, by rule, establish a procedure for release of reclamation bonds for prospecting sites similar to subs. (1) to (4), but with shorter time periods. History: 1973 c. 318; 1977 c. 421; 1995 a. 227 s. 792; Stats. 1995 s. 293.63.