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Surface Mining

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The North Dakota State Soil Conservation Committee (SSCC) was designated by the ND Legislature to administer the Surface Mining Reports Law, which requires any person conducting surface mining operations for minerals other than coal to comply with the reporting requirements of N.D.C.C. Chapter 38-16.

The Law requires any person conducting surface mining operations for minerals, other than coal, who, within one calendar year, removes 10,000 cubic yards or more of earthen material or products, including overburden, or affects one-half acre or more in combined mining operations to report. Minerals included are: cement rock, clay, fines, gravel, limestone, manganese, molybdenum, peat, potash, pumicite, salt, sand, scoria, sodium sulfate, stone, zeolite, or other minerals, but coal is not included.

The Surface Mining Reports Law also requires the SSCC to prepare and transmit to local soil conservation districts (SCDs) a report giving information about surface mining operations and reclamation activities conducted during the preceding calendar year.

The SSCC typically shares the completed Surface Mining Report by the middle of the year. Physical copies of the Report are mailed to local SCDs, and electronic copies are posted to this page (see below).