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Planning commission recommends raising reclamation guarantee to $6,500 per acre for future mining permits
Summary
At the July 24 meeting the Stearns County Planning Commission recommended increasing the standard reclamation financial guarantee used for mining permits from $3,500 to $6,500 per acre, citing rising equipment and seeding costs; the recommendation will be forwarded to the county board.
Stearns County planning commissioners on July 24 voted to recommend that the county board increase the per‑acre financial guarantee required for mine-site reclamation from $3,500 per acre to $6,500 per acre.
County staff explained the review followed a 2020 change in which the commission and board had set the reclamation rate at $3,500 per acre (the highway department had recommended $5,000 at that time). County engineering estimates prepared for the current review cite rising labor and equipment costs, seeding and erosion-control expenses, and recent market rates for heavy-equipment operators as factors that justify an increase. The county engineer’s recent analysis estimated that reclamation scenarios could cost as much as $6,500 per acre under current market conditions.
Commissioners debated whether a single flat per‑acre guarantee would cover the full range of reclamation scenarios (which can vary widely depending on the pit, presence of paved surfaces or concrete, contaminants, ponds to be filled or habitat to be created). Staff noted the recommended per‑acre amount is not set in ordinance and that applicants can be asked for individual detailed reclamation-cost estimates and higher surety amounts for sites with unusual circumstances. The commission voted to forward a recommendation of $6,500 per acre to the county board for consideration.
The measure will appear on the county board’s agenda for future consideration; staff said additional comparative data from other counties could be provided if the board requests it.
Commissioners characterized the action as a triennial fee/guarantee review and said increasing the per‑acre guarantee reflects updated market information and would reduce county exposure to reclamation cost shortfalls.
