ARIZONA MINING PERMITTING GUIDE - AZGS Document Repository

TOPIC
Bonding
Closure and
Bond
Release
NEPA
Arizona Mining Permitting Guide
FOREST SERVICE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
Plan of Operations are described
at 36 CFR 228.4 (c).
A plan of operations can be
submitted initially and
independently of a notice if
significant disturbance of surface
resources is anticipated by the
proponent.
Any operator who conducts
operations under an approved
plan of operations will be
required to furnish a bond in an
amount specified by the
authorized officer. In calculating
bonds, the authorized officer
shall consider the estimated cost
of stabilizing, rehabilitating and
reclaiming areas disturbed by the
operations.
The operator and agency should
ensure that all requirements of
the approved Plan of Operation
are met and that the
environmental effects of the
operations are as predicted in the
NEPA document. When all or
part of reclamation has been
completed in accordance with the
approved plan, the authorized
officer may release that portion
of the reclamation bond which
covers the work, providing it
meets standards established in the
Plan of Operations.
Forest Service mining regulations
contain guidelines for
environmental protection, (36
CFR 228.8) and require the
Forest Service to conduct an
analysis which meets NEPA
requirements. This analysis is the
35
activities which occur in a Wilderness,
Wilderness-Study Area, Wild-and-Scenic River,
etc. need a Plan of Operation regardless of their
size or type 43 CFR 3809.11.
If you conduct operations under a notice or a
plan of operations then you must provide BLM
or the State a financial guarantee that meets the
requirements of this subpart before starting
operations. 43 CFR 3809.551 through
3809.573.
The operator and agency should ensure that all
requirements of the notice or approved plan are
met. When all of these conditions are met, the
authorized officer will release the bond.
3809 regulations require that at a minimum, an
Environmental Assessment (EA) is to be
prepared for all plans of operation to determine
if an EIS is required. No NEPA review
required for casual use or Notice level
operations. Unless those operations involve
occupancy as defined by 43 CFR 3715. Any