Minnesota Administrative Rules

6132.0200 PURPOSE AND POLICY.

The purpose of parts 6132.0100 to 6132.5300 is to implement Minnesota Statutes, sections 93.44 to 93.51, to control possible adverse environmental effects of nonferrous metallic mineral mining, to preserve natural resources, and to encourage planning of future land utilization, while at the same time promoting orderly development of nonferrous metallic mineral mining, encouragement of good mining practices, and recognition and identification of the beneficial aspects of nonferrous metallic mineral mining.

To accomplish the purposes of parts 6132.0100 to 6132.5300, it is the policy of the Department of Natural Resources that mining be conducted in a manner that will reduce impacts to the extent practicable, mitigate unavoidable impacts, and ensure that the mining area is left in a condition that protects natural resources and minimizes to the extent practicable the need for maintenance. This shall be accomplished according to parts 6132.0100 to 6132.5300 through the use of mining, mine waste management, and passive reclamation methods that maximize physical, chemical, and biological stabilization of areas disturbed by mining, as opposed to the use of ongoing active treatment technologies. The department recognizes that in some cases passive treatment alone will not entirely meet all reclamation goals. In these cases, active treatment technologies may be necessary and provisions for continued maintenance of the treatments will be required.

Because of the unique character of each mining operation and the extreme diversity of the possible types and sizes of operations, specific permit requirements shall be established within the framework established by parts 6132.0100 to 6132.5300. Permit terms and conditions shall be directed toward attaining the goals while fulfilling the requirements described in parts 6132.0100 to 6132.5300.

Statutory Authority:

MS s 93.44 to 93.51; 103G.222

History:

17 SR 2207

Published Electronically:

June 11, 2008