2025
STATE OF WYOMING
25LSO-01761HB0059
HOUSE BILL NO. HB0059
Limited mining operations-water quality testing.
Sponsored by: Representative(s) Harshman, Campbell, E and
Larson, JT and Senator(s) Anderson, Boner
and Rothfuss
A BILL
for
1 AN ACT relating to environmental quality; specifying that
2 the department of environmental quality may conduct water
3 quality testing before the commencement of limited mining
4 operations; amending notice requirements for limited mining
5 operations; requiring rulemaking; and providing for an
6 effective date.
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10. W.S. 35-11-401(e)(vi)(intro) and by
11 creating a new subparagraph (H) is amended to read:
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14 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-01762HB00591 (e) The provisions of this article shall not apply to
2 any of the following activities:
3
4 (vi) Limited mining operations, whether
5 commercial or noncommercial, for the removal of sand,
6 gravel, scoria, limestone, dolomite, shale, ballast or
7 feldspar from an area of fifteen (15) acres or less of
8 affected land, excluding roads used to access the mining
9 operation, if the operator has written permission for the
10 operation from the owner and lessee, if any, of the
11 surface. The operator shall notify the land quality
12 division of the department
13 of environmental quality and the inspector of mines within
14 the department of workforce services of the location of the
15 land to be mined and the postal address of the operator at
16 least thirty (30) days before commencing operations. A copy
17 of the notice shall also be mailed to all surface owners
18 located within one (1) mile of the proposed boundary of the
19 limited mining operation at least thirty (30) days before
20 commencing operations. The operator shall notify the land
21 quality division of the department of environmental quality
22 of the date of commencement of limited mining operations
23 within thirty (30) days of commencing operations. Limited 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-01763HB0059
1 mining operations authorized under this paragraph are
2 subject to the following:
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14. The environmental quality council, upon
15 recommendation by the department of environmental quality,
16 shall promulgate all rules necessary to implement this act.
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18. This act is effective immediately upon
19 completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law
20 as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming
21 Constitution.
22
23 (END)