Please contact the Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety prior to engaging in any mining operation within the State of Colorado.
The Division has a questionnaire available to help interested parties determine if an activity requires a Reclamation Permit. Please contact us for more information.
Please contact the Division of Reclamation Mining and Safety prior to engaging in any mining operation within the state of Colorado.
Minerals Program/Limited Impact Operations
A 110 Limited Impact Permit denotes an operation limited in size of acreage (less than 5 acres for a 110(1) and less than 10 acres for a 110(2)) that can be disturbed, and for hard rock operations, the tons of material that can be mined on a yearly basis. It also requires that the material being mined and disturbed is not toxic or acid producing. Several types of limited impact permits are issued.
Mineral Program/112 Regular Mining Operations
A 112 Regular Permit is a permit issued for operations disturbing more than 10 acres, and for hard rock operations mining more than 70,000 tons per year. Award of a 112 permit requires that the material being mined is not toxic or acid producing. It gets its title from section 34-32-112 of the Mined Land Reclamation Act.
Minerals Program/Designated Mining Operations
The category of Designated Mining Operations deals with permits issued to operations considered to be of higher environmental risk than 110 Limited Impact Permits or 112 Regular Permits. They generally mine and disturb materials that are toxic or acid-
producing, and/or include toxic chemicals in on-site processing. Permitting and bonding requirements are more rigorous. There are several types of Designated Mining Operations – 110d, 112d-1, 112d-2, and 112d-3 – based on size of disturbance and amount of material mined in any one year.
Prospecting and exploration are terms used interchangeably in DRMS regulation, referring to the activity of searching for, discovering, and characterizing mineral deposits. Notice of Intent to Conduct Prospecting permits (NOI) are treated on a case-by-case basis. Reclamation plans and bonding are required for prospecting permits. A prospecting permit does not grant legal right of entry. The permit allows the operator to conduct prospecting within the rules and regulations of DRMS. Other permits and right of entry may be required before prospecting can commence.
Under the Mined Land Reclamation Act, the Mined Land Reclamation Board and the DRMS Minerals Program issue and enforce mining and reclamation permits for all non-coal mines in Colorado on state, federal, and private lands. The Minerals program operates under two Acts, the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Act and the Colorado Land Reclamation Act for the Extraction of Construction Materials.
Mining is defined as the development or extraction of a mineral from its natural occurrences on affected land. The term includes, but is not limited to, open mining, in situ mining, in situ leach mining, surface operations and the disposal of refuse from underground mining, in situ mining, and in situ leach mining. The term also includes the following operations on affected lands: transportation; concentrating; milling; evapora-tion; and other processing.
Rule 1.2.4 in both the Construction Materials and Hardrock Rules require a State Reclamation permit on Federal Lands.
The Mined Land Reclamation Board (MLRB) is a multi-interest citizen board which establishes and enforces the regulations, standards and policies that guide the Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety. The Board was created in 1976 by the Colorado General Assembly. Members are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the legislature, serving terms of 4 years. The composition of the Board is established by the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Act.
MLRB Duties and Activities
In the Minerals Program, the Board implements the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Act and is actively involved in the decision-making process for controversial permit issuance and enforcement actions. The Board:
- Approves or denies permits and permit modifications when there have been public objections.
- Issues violations.
- Sets civil penalties.
- Sets program policy and promulgates rules.
- Revokes permits and forfeits bonds.
DRMS -- Mission:
To protect the public, miners and the environment during current mining operations, restore abandoned mines, and to ensure that all mined land is reclaimed to beneficial use.
DRMS -- Vision:
The Division is committed to balance the need for mineral resource production with protection of the public, environment, and Colorado’s natural resources.
The Division also has memorandums of understanding with the following state and federal agencies:
- U.S. Forest Service
- U.S. Bureau of Land Management
- U.S. Department of Energy
- Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment - Solid Waste
- Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment - Water Quality Management at Mineral Mines
- Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment - SB 181
- Colorado Division of Water Resources - Water Rights
- Colorado State Soil Conservation Board