Mining

1. Notice of Intent
2. Test Pit Application/Amendment
3. Short Form Application/Amendment
4. Long Form Application/Amendment
5. Revision Form
6. Renewal Application
7. Transfer Application
8. Assignment Form 
9. Monthly/Annual Report Form
10. Bond Release Application

1. New Permit Application
2. Amendment Application
3. Major Revision Application
4. Minor Revision Application
5. Renewal Application
6. Transfer Application
7. Assignment Form
8. Bond Release Application

1. Blaster Certification/Renewal Form
2. New Blaster Affidavit
3. Renewal Blaster Affidavit
4. Blaster Training Manual
5. Online Blasting Classes Approved for Montana:
   1. ISEE Practical Blasting Fundamentals (16 hours)
   2. Academy Blasting: Basics of Blasting (4 hours)
   3. IME eLearning Modules Based on IME SLPs
   4. ISEE Blaster Training 2020 Webinar Series (16 hours)

1. Map Affidavit
2. Designation of Mine Contacts
3. Designation of Permit Coordinator

1. ePermit Instructions
2. Submittal Guidelines 
3. Annual Report Standard 
4. Annual Hydro Report Standard 
   1. Quality Assurance Summary Report 
   2. Monitoring and Quality Assurance Plan 
5. Cultural and Historic Resource Guidelines 
6. Erosional Features Guidelines 
7. Postmine Topography Plan Guidelines 
8. Soil, Overburden and Regraded Spoil Guidelines 
9. Vegetation Sampling Guidelines 
10. Fish and Wildlife Guidelines
11. Approximate Original Contour Guidelines 

1. U.S.D.A. Soil Conservation Service,1951 Soil Survey Manual - ARM 17.24.301(114)
2. U.S.D.A Soil Conservation Service, National Soils Handbook - ARM 17.24.301(115)
3. U.S.D.A. Soil Conservation Service, Soil Taxonomy (Handbook 436) - ARM 17.24.301(115)
4. U.S.D.A. Soil Conservation Service, Technical Release No. 60 (Earth Dams and Reservoirs) - ARM 17.24.642(1)(f)
5. U.S.D.A. Soil Conservation Service, Pond 378 - ARM 17.24.642(1)(f)
6. 40 CFR Part 136, Guidelines Establishing Test Procedures for the Analysis of Pollutants - ARM 17.24.645(6)
7. Montana DEQ, Montana Numeric Water Quality Standards, Circular WQB-7- ARM 17.24.645(6)
8. 40 CFR Part 434, Coal Mining Point Source Category BPT, PAT, PCT Limitations and New Source Performance Standards - ARM 17.24.646(6)
9. U.S.D.A. Soil Conservation Service, Land Capability Classification for Montana - ARM 17.24.746
10. Maas and Hoffman, Crop Salt Tolerance-Current Assessment - ARM 17.24.806(1)
11. 30 CFR 761.16 - ARM 17.24.1133(3)

1. New Application or Amendment License 
2. New Application or Amendment Supplemental Questions 
3. New Application or Amendment Drill Hole Appendix 
4. Annual Renewal Form
5. Map Guidelines

1. New Small Miner Exclusion Statement (SMES) Packet
2. Annual Renewal Form

Please contact the Permit License Technician at 444-4953 for the bond instrument forms.

1.  Reclamation Bond Requirements - PDF

Additional guidelines or permit requirements associated with hard rock mining from other government entities

1. Sage Grouse Advisory
2. Exploration and Mining on State Lands/School Trust - Department of Natural Resources Trust Lands Management
3. Mining Claims on Federal Land - Bureau of Land Management Montana/Dakotas
4. DEQ Water Protection Bureau - MPDES/Storm Water Permits
5. USDA Forest Service
6. US Army Corps of Engineers

DEQ strongly recommends Operators request a meeting before submitting an application. In response, an Opencut scientist will contact the Operator and schedule a visit to provide guidance on the application process and recommendations on the proposed Opencut operation. Activities within or adjacent to designated sage grouse habitats require consultation with the Montana Sage Grouse Habitat Conservation Program. The DEQ Sage Grouse Advisory is also a source of information.

1. Request for Pre-Application Meeting

These guidance documents may provide additional assistance for permitting activities:

1. Which Permit do I Need?
2. Electronic Submittal of Opencut Documents 

Use the following documents to apply for an Opencut Mining Permit or Amendment:

1. Standard Opencut Mining Permit Application
2. Dryland Opencut Mining Permit Application
3. Landowner Consultation
4. Zoning Compliance
5. Operator Certification of Surface Landowners and Occupied Dwelling Units for a Standard Permit
6. Boundary Coordinate Table (BCT)
7. Reclamation Bond Spreadsheet
8. Weed Board Notification of Opencut Operation
9. SHPO File Search Request Form for Opencut Site

One of the following bonding instruments is also required:

1. Cash Bond for Opencut Mining Permit
2. Certificate of Deposit Assignment
3. Irrevocable Letter Of Credit for Opencut Mining Permit
4. Property Bond for Opencut Mining Permit
5. Surety Bond for Opencut Mining Permit
6. Surety Bond Rider for Opencut Mining Permit

For Bentonite Operators ONLY:

1. Joint Surety Bond for Opencut Mining Permit
2. Joint Surety Bond Rider for Opencut Mining Permit

Upon Completion of Reclamation, use the following form to request Liability or Bond Release:

1. Phase I Release Request
2. Phase II Release Request

Use the following documents for various permitting functions as appropriate:

1. Limited Opencut Operation (LOO)
2. 5 Year Reclamation Only Amendment
3. Amendment to Extend Reclamation Date
4. Change Postmining Land Use Application
5. Request to Modify Bonded Acreage
6. Assignment of Opencut Mining Permit Application

1. Decline Public Meeting

The following documents provide technical guidance for Opencut permitting process:

1. Map Guideline
2. Seed Mix Guideline
3. Soil Guideline
4. Wash Plant Settling Pond Guideline
5. Class III Cultural Resources Inventory Guideline

Use these worksheets to help you in the Opencut permitting process:

1. Determining Depth to Groundwater Worksheet
2. Pond and Wetland Design Worksheet
3. Stream/Waterway Worksheet

These resources provide additional help to you in the Opencut permitting process:

1. Public Notice and Public Meeting Requirements
2. Opencut Public Participation Flyer
3. DEQ Opencut Frequently Asked Questions
4. DEQ Air Quality Bureau Frequently Asked Questions
5. Water Protection Bureau Permitting Guide
6. DNRC Opencut Mining: Do You Need a Water Right?
7. BLM Mineral Ownership Pamphlet

Cultural Resource Submittal Procedure:

1. Submit two copies and one digital copy (CD/DVD/Thumb Drive or File Transfer Service) of the following to:

      James Strait
      Montana DEQ
      Dir. Office
      1520 E 6th Ave
      Helena, MT 59601
      Email: JStrait@mt.gov

•       Do not submit copies of the Archaeological Reports to Opencut as this is confidential data.  Opencut only requires the “Concurrence” letter from SHPO to be submitted with the application.
•       Please ensure there is an un-attached and completed CRABS form accompanying the report: https://mhs.mt.gov/shpo/forms
•       Montana File Transfer Service instructions: https://transfer.mt.gov/Home/Instructions  (DO NOT send via email.)

2. SHPO Forms Website: https://mhs.mt.gov/shpo/forms
3.  Request a SHPO report using the Opencut form above (under B-8)
4. Refer to G-6 above for completing and submitting a Class III Archaeological Report (i.e., -obtaining SHPO "Concurrence")
5. Small Scale Inventory Report Form
6. SHPO How To Process - PDF