Mined Land Reclamation Board approves updated hard‑rock rules and new reclamation‑only permit

The Mined Land Reclamation Board on Feb. 18 voted to accept a package of revisions to the state’s hard‑rock and construction‑materials rules, including a newly created reclamation‑only permit (1‑10R) designed to ease regulatory burdens for small cleanup projects while preserving environmental safeguards.

The board accepted the draft rules by voice vote after a multi‑hour public hearing and staff presentation. Russ Spain of the Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (DRMS) described the 1‑10R permit as a "scoop and go" tool that permits removal of historic waste piles to a permitted receiving or processing facility, limits disturbance to generally five affected acres or less, prohibits on‑site processing or conversion to a mining permit, and requires legal right of entry, public notice and a financial warranty.

"The idea of the 1‑10R was to lift some of the regulatory burden and try to incentivize some of the cleanup of…