Sec. 63103c.

(1) A ferrous mineral mining permit issued by the department is valid for the life of the mine. However, the department may revoke a ferrous mineral mining permit under the following conditions:

(a) The permittee has not commenced construction of plant facilities or conducted actual mining and reclamation activities covered by the permit within 3 years after the date of issuance of the permit.

(b) The permittee requests the revocation of the ferrous mineral mining permit and the department determines the mining activity has not polluted, impaired, or destroyed the air, water, or other natural resources or the public trust in those resources, as provided in part 17.

(c) The permittee fails to submit the annual report of production as required by section 63103d(2).

(d) The department finds that the permittee is not in compliance with this part, the rules promulgated under this part, or the ferrous mineral permit and there exists an imminent threat to the health and safety of the public.

(2) The department may order immediate suspension of any or all activities at a ferrous mineral mining operation, including the removal of ferrous product from the site, if the department finds there exists an emergency endangering the public health and safety or an imminent threat to the natural resources of the state.

(3) An order suspending operations shall be in effect until the operation is in compliance and protection of the public health and safety is ensured or the threat to the natural resources has been eliminated, but not more than 10 days. To extend the suspension beyond 10 days, the department shall issue an emergency order to continue the suspension of operations and shall schedule a hearing as provided by the administrative procedures act of 1969, 1969 PA 306, MCL 24.201 to 24.328. The total duration of the suspension of operations shall not be more than 30 days.

(4) A ferrous mineral mining permit may be transferred with approval of the department. The person seeking to acquire the permit shall submit a request for transfer of the permit to the department on forms provided by the department. The person acquiring the permit shall accept the conditions of the existing permit and adhere to the requirements set forth on the approved mining and reclamation plan. Pending the transfer of the existing permit, the person seeking to acquire the permit shall not operate the mine.

(5) A ferrous mineral mining permit shall not be transferred to a person who has been determined by the department to be in violation of any of the following, until the person acquiring the permit has corrected the violation or the department has accepted a compliance schedule and a written agreement has been reached to correct the violations:

(a) This part.

(b) The rules promulgated under this part.

(c) Permit conditions.

(d) An order of the department.

(6) If the permittee of a ferrous mineral mining operation is under notice because of unsatisfactory conditions at the mining site involved in the transfer, then the permit for the mining operation shall not be transferred to a person until the permittee has completed the necessary corrective actions or the person acquiring the permit has entered into a written agreement to correct all of the unsatisfactory conditions.

(7) A ferrous mineral mining permit may be amended upon submission to the department of a request by the permittee. Upon receipt of the request to amend an existing ferrous mineral permit, the department shall determine if the request constitutes a significant change from the conditions of the approved permit. If the department determines the request is a significant change from the conditions of the approved permit, the department may submit the request for amendment to the same review process as provided in part 13. If a request to amend the permit is denied, the reasons for denial shall be stated in a written report to the permittee. If the department determines the request for amendment does not constitute a significant change from the conditions of the approved permit, the department shall approve the amendment and notify the permittee.

History: Add. 1997, Act 149, Imd. Eff. Dec. 2, 1997 ;-- Am. 2004, Act 325, Imd. Eff. Sept. 10, 2004 ;-- Am. 2011, Act 214, Imd. Eff. Nov. 8, 2011 Popular Name: Act 451Popular Name: NREPA