82-4-121. Permit required. No person may commence preparatory work until the operator shall have first obtained from the department a mine-site location permit for a new strip mine or a new underground mine or a permit under part 2 of this chapter, if the application for such permit includes an appropriate long-range mining plan acceptable to the department.

Terms Used In Montana Code 82-4-121

  • Department: means the department of environmental quality provided for in 2-15-3501. See Montana Code 82-4-103
  • Operator: means a person who intends to operate a new strip mine or new underground mine involving the removal of more than 10,000 cubic yards of mineral or overburden. See Montana Code 82-4-103
  • Person: means a person, partnership, corporation, association, or other legal entity or any political subdivision or agency of the state. See Montana Code 82-4-103
  • Preparatory work: means all onsite disturbances, excluding prospecting, associated with the initiation of a new strip mine or underground mine, including but not limited to the construction of railroad spurs or loops, buildings to house mining operations, roads, storage and train load-out facilities, transmission lines, erection of draglines and loading shovels, and other associated facilities. See Montana Code 82-4-103