(A) A permit holder who wishes to continue surface or in-stream mining operations after the expiration date of the existing permit or renewal permit shall file with the chief of the division of mineral resources management a notice of intent to renew for purposes of the renewal of a surface or in-stream mining permit or renewal permit at least ninety days before the expiration date of the existing permit or renewal permit. The notice of intent to renew shall be on a form that the chief prescribes and provides and shall be accompanied by a permit renewal fee. The amount of the fee for renewal of a surface mining permit or renewal permit shall be one thousand dollars, and the amount of the fee for renewal of an in-stream mining permit or renewal permit shall be five hundred dollars.

(B) Upon receipt of a notice of intent to renew form and the permit renewal fee under division (A) of this section, the chief shall notify the permit holder to submit a renewal application package. The permit holder shall submit a complete renewal package to the chief at least thirty days prior to the expiration of the existing surface or in-stream mining permit or renewal permit. The renewal application package shall include all of the following:

(1) A map that is a composite of the information required to be contained in the most recent annual report map under section 1514.03 of the Revised Code and of all surface or in-stream mining and reclamation activities conducted under the existing permit or renewal permit;

(2) The annual report required under section 1514.03 of the Revised Code;

(3) In the case of an applicant proposing a significant change to the plan of mining and reclamation, as "significant" is defined by rule, a copy of the advertisement that is required to be published in accordance with section 1514.022 of the Revised Code;

(4) Additional maps, plans, and revised or updated information that the chief determines to be necessary for permit renewal.

For a renewal permit requiring minor or minimal updates to the existing permit, renewal permit, or accompanying information, the chief may authorize a permit holder to file updated information through a surface mining permit modification process using a surface mining permit modification form. However, the chief may require such a permit holder to submit a complete renewal application package.

(C)

(1) Upon receipt of the complete renewal application package required under division (B) of this section and except as otherwise provided in division (C)(2) of this section, the chief shall approve the application for renewal and issue an order granting a renewal permit unless the chief finds that any of the following applies:

(a) The permit holder's operation is not in substantial or material compliance with this chapter, rules adopted and orders issued under it, and the plan of mining and reclamation under the existing permit or renewal permit.

(b) The permit holder has not provided evidence that a performance bond filed under section 1514.04 of the Revised Code applicable to lands affected under the existing permit or renewal permit will remain effective until released under section 1514.05 of the Revised Code.

(c) The permit holder, any partner if the permit holder is a partnership, any officer or director if the permit holder is a corporation, or any other person who has a right to control or in fact controls the management of the permit holder or the selection of officers, directors, or managers of the permit holder has failed substantially or materially to comply or continues to fail to comply with this chapter as provided in section 1514.02 of the Revised Code.

(2) If the application for renewal proposes significant changes to the plan of mining and reclamation, as "significant" is defined by rule, the chief may, but is not required to, approve the application for renewal.

(D)

(1) After receiving a complete renewal application package and permit renewal fees required under divisions (A) and (B) of this section, the chief shall do one of the following:

(a) Approve the application for renewal and issue an order granting a renewal permit;

(b) Issue an order denying a renewal permit;

(c) Notify the applicant in accordance with division (D)(2) of this section that there are deficiencies in the renewal application package and that an extension of the time limit for issuing an order approving or disapproving the renewal permit has been granted.

In making a decision regarding a renewal application package, the chief shall review the package for compliance with this chapter and rules adopted under it.

(2) The chief shall notify a permit holder and, if applicable, the permit holder's consultant, surveyor, or engineer of deficiencies or errors in a renewal application package and shall include in the notification a discussion of the deficiencies or errors.

A permit holder shall have up to one hundred eighty days after the expiration of the permit holder's permit or renewal permit to submit a revised renewal application package. A permit holder may request, in writing, an extension of the one hundred-eighty-day period for revisions to the renewal application package. The chief may approve a sixty-day extension. The chief shall notify the permit holder of the chief's decision to either grant or deny the extension.

Upon the submission of a revised renewal application package that is determined to be complete by the chief, the chief shall proceed to approve or deny the application in accordance with division (D)(1)(a) or (b) of this section. If the revised renewal application package is not submitted within one hundred eighty days after the permit expiration date or, if an extension has been granted, within two hundred forty days after the permit expiration date, the chief shall issue an order denying the renewal permit in accordance with division (D)(1)(b) of this section.

(E) If an applicant for a renewal permit has complied with division (A) of this section, the applicant may continue surface or in-stream mining operations under the existing permit or renewal permit after its expiration date until the time period for filing a complete renewal application package has expired under division (D) of this section or until the chief issues an order denying the renewal permit.

(F) A permit holder who fails to submit a notice of intent to renew form and required permit renewal fees within the time prescribed by division (A) of this section and a renewal application package under division (B) of this section shall cease surface or in-stream mining operations on the expiration date of the existing permit or renewal permit. If such a permit holder then submits a notice of intent to renew form, an application for renewal, and the permit renewal fees on or before the thirtieth day after the expiration date of the expired permit or renewal permit and provides the information required by the chief under division (B) of this section within sixty days after the permit expiration date, the permit holder need not submit the final map and report required by section 1514.03 of the Revised Code until the later of thirty days after the chief issues an order denying the application for renewal or thirty days after the chief's order is affirmed upon appeal under section 1513.13 or 1513.14 of the Revised Code. An applicant under this division who fails to provide the information required by the chief under division (B) of this section within the prescribed time period shall submit the final map and report required by section 1514.03 of the Revised Code within thirty days after the expiration of that prescribed period.

(G) If the chief issues an order denying an application for renewal of a permit or renewal permit after the expiration date of the permit, the permit holder shall cease surface or in-stream mining operations immediately and, within thirty days after the issuance of the order, shall submit the final report and map required under section 1514.03 of the Revised Code. The chief shall state the reasons for denial in the order denying renewal of the permit. A permit holder may appeal the chief's order denying the renewal under section 1513.13 of the Revised Code and may continue surface or in-stream mining and reclamation operations under the expired permit until the reclamation commission affirms the chief's order under that section and, if the applicant elects to appeal the order of the commission under section 1513.14 of the Revised Code, until the court of appeals affirms the order.

(H) The approval of an application for renewal under this section authorizes the continuation of an existing surface mining permit or renewal permit for a term of fifteen years from the expiration date of the existing permit.

The approval of an application for renewal under this section authorizes the continuation of an existing in-stream mining permit or renewal permit for a term of five years from the expiration date of the existing permit.

(I) Any renewal permit is subject to all the requirements of this chapter and rules adopted under it.

Amended by 129th General AssemblyFile No.125, SB 315, §101.01, eff. 9/10/2012.

Effective Date: 03-15-2002 .