ARIZONA MINING PERMITTING GUIDE - AZGS Document Repository

Arizona Game and Fish Department
Arizona Game and Fish Department
5000 West Carefree Highway
Phoenix, AZ 85086-5000
602 942-3000
www.azgfd.gov
Arizona Mining Permitting Guide
PERMITS, AUTHORIZATIONS OR FILINGS:
The Department issues Hunting/Fishing Licenses and Scientific Collecting Permits (for
handling of animals). No actual permits are issued for mining. The Department acts as a
consultant in the mine permitting process to ensure project impacts to wildlife resources are
avoided and/or minimized to the extent possible.
LEGAL AUTHORITY:
A.R.S. § 17
A.A.C. Title 12
CONDITIONS REQUIRING PERMITS, AUTHORIZATIONS OR FILINGS:
The Department manages resident wildlife and fish populations and has primary regulatory
responsibility to promulgate regulations for the harvest of these resources. The Department
also shares management authority for migratory and threatened and endangered species with
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The Department becomes involved in the permits or authorizations required for mining
operations through various pieces of federal legislation, such as the National Environmental
Policy Act, Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act, which require coordination with
the state wildlife agency. The Department may be asked to review mining permits,
authorizations and associated projects to ensure that potential impacts to fish and wildlife
resources are adequately addressed. There have been delays when proposed mining projects
are in some way controversial. When delays are due to controversy over fish and wildlife
resource issues, the Department works closely with the involved regulatory agencies and
project proponents to address the issues in the most expeditious manner possible.
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