Proposed Chapter 13 and Chapter 10 Revisions Metallic Mineral Mining

To: Interested Persons
From: Stacie R. Beyer, Chief Planner
Subject: 30 Day Public Comment Period for Draft Rule: Chapters 13 and 10: Proposed Rulemaking to Repeal and Replace the Commission’s Chapter 13 Rules, Metallic Mineral Exploration, Advanced Exploration and Mining, and Amend Related Sections of the Commission’s Chapter 10 Rules

The Land Use Planning Commission has posted proposed Chapter 13 and Chapter 10 revisions relating to metallic mineral mining to a 30-day public comment period. The proposed rule changes are intended to comply with Public Law 2017 Chapter 142, 128th Legislature. Specifically, that legislation requires the Commission, by July 1, 2018, to “adopt rules related to commission certification of metallic mineral mining permit applications in accordance with the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 38, section 490-NN, subsection 2.” Also, the section requires that, “[r]ules adopted pursuant to this section must include any additional provisions necessary to ensure consistency with the Maine Metallic Mineral Mining Act and rules related to the Maine Metallic Mineral Mining Act adopted by the Department of Environmental Protection.” Proposed changes include a repeal and replacement of the Commission’s Chapter 13 rule, renaming Chapter 13 to Metallic Mineral Exploration and Mining Certifications, updating provisions for metallic mineral exploration, adding provisions for mining certifications, and amending the Commission’s Chapter 10 rule to ensure consistency with Chapter 13 and clarify the relationship between the two chapters.

Notice of the public comment period and the draft rule changes are posted on the Commission’s website at:
Proposed Rulemaking / Opportunities for Public Comment

Notice of the comment period on the proposed changes will also be published in the State’s consolidated rule-making notice on Wednesday, January 24, 2018. The deadline for public hearing requests is set for Wednesday, February 7, 2018; the deadline for written comments is set for Monday, February 26, 2018; and the deadline for rebuttal comments is set for Monday, March 5, 2018.

Contact: If you have any questions on the proposed rules, please contact me during normal business hours at stacie.r.beyer@maine.gov or 207-557-2535.