New exploration operations may begin when both of the following occur:

Terms Used In Arizona Laws 27-954

  • Exploration operations: means activities that create surface disturbances outside a mining facility and that are conducted to determine the presence, location, extent, depth or grade of minerals, including constructing access roads and drill pads. See Arizona Laws 27-901
  • Inspector: means the state mine inspector. See Arizona Laws 27-901
  • Reclamation: means measures that are taken on surface disturbances at exploration operations and mining units to achieve stability and safety consistent with post-mining land use objectives specified in the reclamation plan. See Arizona Laws 27-901

1. The state mine inspector approves the reclamation plan for the exploration operations or ninety days after the inspector receives a reclamation plan if the inspector fails to notify the owner or operator that the plan submitted is incomplete or denied.

2. Financial assurance has been submitted to the inspector as required by article 5 of this chapter.