Bill > HB69

This bill revises fees and regulations for hard rock and rock products mining in Montana by establishing a new hard-rock mining permitting program account and making several key changes to existing mining laws. The bill introduces a $100 annual administrative fee for small miners, with an additional $100 late fee if the annual reporting is not completed by March 1st. It also establishes new tiered fees for exploration licenses based on the type of activities, with fees ranging from $1,000 to $2,000 for initial licenses and $250 to $500 for amendments. For operating permits, the bill implements new application fees of $5,000 for most miners (reduced to $500 for rock product miners) and creates a graduated annual permit fee structure based on the size of the mining disturbance, ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 for mines requiring a reclamation bond. The bill also introduces fees for permit amendments, with minor amendments costing $100 and major amendments ranging from $500 to $5,000 depending on the type of mining. These changes are designed to better fund the state's mining regulatory program and ensure more comprehensive oversight of mining operations, with the collected fees being deposited into a new dedicated account to support the department's administrative and enforcement activities.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/20251/LC0538