Bill > SB391

This bill revises Montana's opencut mining permit notification and public participation laws by modifying several key provisions. The bill updates definitions related to opencut operations, including clarifying what constitutes an opencut operation and adjusting terminology. It introduces more detailed requirements for permit applications, including more comprehensive public notice procedures. Specifically, for operations affecting water or located near residential areas, applicants must provide detailed information about the proposed mining site, including location maps, estimated material volumes, and landowner agreements. The bill also changes public meeting requirements, lowering the threshold for requesting a public meeting from 51% or 10 property owners to 30% of residents within one mile of the proposed operation. Additionally, the bill mandates that the Department of Environmental Quality must respond in writing to all public comments received during the permit review process and post complete permit applications on their website. These changes aim to increase transparency, improve public participation, and provide more clarity in the opencut mining permit application process.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC0646