Wisconsin Code § 295.51

Mining waste site location criteria; feasibility study, and plan of operation
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(1) DEFINITIONS. In this
section:
(a) “Groundwater flow net” means a drawing showing
equipotential contour lines and the direction that groundwater
will flow.
(c) “Regional” means relating to the area that may affect or be
affected by a proposed mining waste site, which ordinarily will
not exceed the area within a radius of 5 miles of the mining waste
site.
(e) “Water budget” means an assessment of water inputs, outputs, and net changes to a natural system or engineered facility
over a fixed period.
(f) “Well nest” means 2 or more wells constructed to different
depths and installed within 10 feet of each other at the ground
surface.
(1e) HAZARDOUS MINING WASTE. (a) Prior to the informational hearing under s. 295.57 (5) the department shall designate
any mining wastes identified by the department as hazardous under s. 291.05 (1).
(b) The disposal of any mining wastes that are identified by
the department as hazardous under s. 291.05 (1) in a mining
waste site is subject to this subchapter, and not to chs. NR 660 to
679, Wis. Adm. Code, except as necessary to comply with applicable federal regulations adopted under the federal Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act, 42 USC 6901 to 6991m.
(1m) LOCATION CRITERIA. (a) Except as provided in par.
(b), no person may locate or operate a mining waste site, excluding the portion of a mining site from which ferrous minerals are
extracted and that is backfilled with mining waste, within 1,000
feet of any of the following:
1. The nearest edge of the right-of-way of any state trunk
highway, as defined in s. 340.01 (60).
2. The boundary of any state or national park.
3. The boundary of a scenic easement purchased by the department or the department of transportation.
4. The boundary of a designated scenic or wild river.
5. A scenic overlook designated by the department by rule.
6. A hiking or biking trail designated by the department or
the U.S. Congress.
(b) The prohibition in par. (a) does not apply if, regardless of
season, the proposed mining waste site is visually inconspicuous
due to screening or being visually absorbed due to natural objects, compatible natural plantings, earth berm, or other appropriate means; or if, regardless of season, the proposed mining waste
site is screened so as to be as aesthetically pleasing and inconspicuous as is feasible.
(be) Except as provided in par. (bn), no person may locate or
operate a mining waste site, excluding the portion of a mining site
from which ferrous minerals are extracted and that is backfilled
with mining waste, within 1,000 feet of a navigable water that is a
lake, pond, or flowage.
(bg) Except as provided in par. (bn), no person may locate or
operate a mining waste site, excluding the portion of a mining site
from which ferrous minerals are extracted and that is backfilled
with mining waste, within 300 feet of a navigable water that is a
river or stream.
(bn) The prohibitions in pars. (be) and (bg) do not apply to an
activity that is associated with a mining waste site and that is approved by the department under s. 295.60, 295.605, or 295.61.
(bq) No person may locate or operate a mining waste site, excluding the portion of a mining site from which ferrous minerals
are extracted and that is backfilled with mining waste, within a
floodplain.
(bt) No person may locate or operate a mining waste site, excluding the portion of a mining site from which ferrous minerals
are extracted and that is backfilled with mining waste, in an area
within the property owned or leased by the mining operator, or on
which the mining operator holds an easement, and on which the
mining site is located if the area is closer than 200 feet to the outer
boundary of that property.
(c) No person may locate or operate a mining waste site, excluding the portion of a mining site from which ferrous minerals
are extracted and that is backfilled with mining waste, within
1,200 feet of any public or private water supply well that provides
water for human consumption.
(d) No person may locate or operate a mining waste site, excluding the portion of a mining site from which ferrous minerals
are extracted and that is backfilled with mining waste, within an
area that contains mineral resources that are known at the time
the application for the mining permit is issued, are likely to be
mined in the future, and lie within 1,000 feet of the surface.
(1s) BACKFILLED WASTE SITE. For surface mining, the portion of a mining site from which ferrous minerals are extracted
and that is backfilled with mining waste and any buildings, structures, roads, or drainage controls associated with that portion of
the mining site may be considered a single mining waste site.
(2) GENERAL. An applicant for a mining permit shall submit
as part of the application a mining waste site feasibility study and
plan of operation that demonstrates the suitability of the proposed mining waste site for the disposal of mining wastes and that
describes the operation of the mining waste site.
(3) WASTE CHARACTERIZATION AND ANALYSIS. For the purposes of this section, the applicant shall perform waste characterization and analysis, to identify the quantities, variability, and
physical, radiological, and chemical properties of each mining
waste as necessary to assess the potential environmental impact
of handling, storage, and disposal. The applicant may include in
the waste characterization and analysis a review of the literature
and results from similar existing facilities, materials, or studies.
For the purpose of the waste characterization and analysis, the
applicant shall conduct testing on representative samples of materials available, on individual mining wastes from the mining
process, and if the applicant proposes mixed storage or disposal
of individual mining wastes, on composite mining wastes. If
physical or chemical segregation of a mining waste is proposed,
the applicant shall test each individual waste resulting from the
physical or chemical segregation. The applicant shall complete
all of the following components of the waste characterization and
analysis:
(a) Identification of all mining wastes that will be disposed of
or stored in the mining waste site, including classification of mining waste types, estimates of the rates of generation and volumes
of each type, and an explanation of the proposed ultimate disposition of each type.
(b) Chemical, radiological, physical, and mineralogical analyses of each type of mining waste.
(c) Analyses of the particle size of the mining wastes.
(d) Chemical and physical characteristics testing, including
testing to determine the leaching potential of the mining wastes
and the composition of the resulting leachate, using, at a minimum, static testing, kinetic testing, and microscopic testing for
mineralization characterization, except that this testing is not required if the applicant demonstrates, based on the analyses in
pars. (b) and (c) or on past experience, that there is not a probabil-

ity for significant adverse environmental impact or a probability
of an adverse impact on public health, safety, or welfare.
(4) SITE SPECIFIC INFORMATION. In addition to performing
the mining waste characterization and analysis under sub. (3), for
the purposes of the mining waste site feasibility study and plan of
operation, an applicant shall conduct field and laboratory investigations to determine physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of the proposed mining waste site. The applicant shall do
all of the following:
(a) Perform field investigations to determine the specific topography, soil types, and depth to bedrock and groundwater.
(b) Perform at least one soil boring, to bedrock or refusal, every 80 acres, characterizing the major geomorphic features such
as ridges and lowlands and characterizing each major soil layer
according to the unified soil classification system.
(c) Prepare a boring log for each soil boring, including soil
and rock descriptions, method of drilling, method of sampling,
sample depths, date of boring, and water level measurements and
dates, with elevations referring to United States geological survey
mean sea level datum.
(d) Collect soil samples to adequately determine the geology
and ensure the proper design and monitoring of the mining waste
site, including doing all of the following:
1. Collecting the soil samples at not greater than 5 foot depth
intervals, unless physical conditions such as soil homogeneity indicate that greater intervals are adequate.
2. Collecting the soil samples using generally accepted techniques for sampling undisturbed soils, where that is appropriate.
3. Classifying all soil samples according to the unified soil
classification system.
(e) Perform soil tests as necessary for classification and correlation purposes and to develop necessary geotechnical design parameters for the mining waste site, without compositing soil
samples.
(f) Determine the hydraulic conductivity of the various soil
strata, using in situ hydraulic conductivity testing procedures as
appropriate to confirm values determined in the laboratory.
(g) Determine horizontal and vertical groundwater flow patterns in and around the proposed mining waste site based on data
obtained from groundwater monitoring wells and piezometers
constructed in conformity with ch. NR 141, Wis. Adm. Code.
(h) Conduct a program to establish baseline water quality
through monitoring groundwater and surface water in the vicinity
of the mine and the proposed mining waste site on a monthly basis and establishing physical-chemical and biological characteristics of the concentrations of substances in the water before mining begins at the mining site. The applicant shall do all of the
following:
1. Select physical-chemical parameters based on transport
and transformation mechanisms in the environment as well as
other factors affecting the mobility and toxicity of pollutants.
2. Select biological parameters based on the environmental
characterizations under sub. (5) (g), the degree of impact predicted, and the potentially affected organism’s sensitivity to
contaminants.
3. Establish a final parameter list for groundwater and surface water based on preliminary sampling and known information concerning the waters in the vicinity of the mine and the
mining waste site, consideration of applicable water quality standards, and the geology and composition of the ferrous mineral
deposit that will be mined. At a minimum, in the program under
this paragraph the applicant shall collect water quality data for all
of the following parameters:
a. Specific conductance.
b. Temperature.
c. Hydrogen ion concentration (pH).
d. Dissolved oxygen.
e. The major anions sulfate, chloride, and bicarbonate.
f. The major cations calcium, magnesium, potassium, and
sodium.
g. Other total and dissolved metals, including aluminum,
iron, and manganese, that may be introduced by the mining
activities.
h. General chemistry, including total alkalinity, total organic
carbon, gross alpha, gross beta, ammonia, nitrate, total dissolved
solids, total hardness, and total suspended solids.
(5) CONTENTS RELATED TO WASTE SITE FEASIBILITY. An applicant shall include all of the following in the mining waste site
feasibility study and plan of operation:
(a) A description of the mining waste site location, proposed
acreage, proposed mining waste site life and range of disposal capacity, and estimated types and quantities of mining wastes to be
contained.
(b) A description of the mining waste characterization and
analysis conducted under sub. (3), including a description of the
test methods used in evaluating the characteristics of the mining
waste and the procedures and records for documenting the chain
of custody of the test samples.
(c) An existing site conditions plan sheet consisting of a topographic survey of the area, with elevations tied to United States
geological survey mean sea level datum, illustrating the property
boundaries, proposed boundaries of the mining waste site, survey
grid and north arrow, buildings, water supply wells, utility lines,
other man-made features, soil boring locations, observation well
locations, and other pertinent information.
(d) A series of geologic cross-sections illustrating existing topography; soil borings; soil classification; soil properties; interpreted soil stratigraphy; bedrock; well and boring locations and
constructions; and stabilized water level readings.
(e) A water table map, using the existing site conditions plan
under par. (c) as a base, that is based on stabilized water level
readings and, if seasonal changes in groundwater levels are significant, maps those changes.
(f) If more than 2 well nests are constructed, groundwater
flow nets to illustrate horizontal and vertical flow, which may be
illustrated on the geologic cross-sections under par. (d), if
appropriate.
(g) An environmental characterization that describes the
structure and functional relationships of ecosystems potentially
affected by the proposed mining waste site.
(h) A report on the water quality data collected under the
baseline monitoring program under sub. (4) (h) to establish baseline water quality.
(i) A land use map, using the existing site conditions plan under par. (c) as a base, showing plant communities, wildlife habitat, places where rare and endangered species have been sighted,
archaeological or historic sites, buildings, and areas of social
importance.
(j) A table showing existing water quality of all potentially affected surface waters, indicating important aquatic habitat.
(k) Local climatological data for seasonal precipitation, evaporation, air temperature, and wind velocity and direction. The
applicant may use an annual record on the proposed mining waste
site or adequate data to correlate the proposed mining waste site
conditions to an existing observation station as the basis for this
data.
(L) A discussion of regional conditions, supplemented with

maps or cross-sections where appropriate, addressing all of the
following:
1. Topography.
2. Hydrology, including surface water drainage patterns and
important hydrologic features such as navigable waters, springs,
drainage divides, and wetlands.
3. Geology, including the nature and distribution of bedrock
and unconsolidated deposits.
4. Hydrogeology, including depth of groundwater, flow directions, recharge and discharge areas, groundwater divides,
aquifers, and the identification of the aquifers used by all public
and private wells within at least 1,200 feet of the proposed mining
waste site.
5. Groundwater and surface water quality and precipitation
chemistry.
6. Climatology.
7. Identification of owners of land adjacent to the proposed
mining waste site.
8. Zoning.
9. Existing land uses with particular emphasis on known
recreational, historic, archaeological, scientific, cultural, or
scenic significance.
10. Existing or proposed access roads and weight restrictions
on those roads.
11. Identification of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems such
as stream orders and classifications.
(m) A discussion of alternative methods of disposing of mining waste materials, including an analysis of the practicability of
the reuse, sale, recovery, or processing of the mining wastes for
other purposes.
(n) An analysis of the results of the mining waste characterizations under sub. (3), the site specific information under sub. (4)
and this subsection, and the regional information under par. (L) in
relation to the approach for locating the mining waste site and developing appropriate design, construction, operation, monitoring,
and long-term care requirements for each type of mining waste.
(o) A proposed mining waste site design, based on conclusions resulting from analysis of the mining waste characterizations under sub. (3) and the site data under sub. (4), that includes
all of the following:
1. A map, using the existing site conditions plan under par.
(c) as a base, that shows proposed access, lateral extent of filling,
and phases of mining waste site development.
2. A series of cross-sections, using the geologic cross-sections under par. (d) as the base, that show existing topography,
proposed base grades, and final grades.
3. Preliminary earthwork balance calculations, showing
amounts of materials expected to be moved on the mining waste
site prior to the disposal of mining waste.
4. Proposed methods for leachate control.
5. Proposed methods of mining waste site development,
phasing, access control, and other special design features.
6. Expected material balances showing the quantities of each
type of mining waste identified in par. (a) showing the amounts
generated, disposed of on site, and taken off site, including all of
the following:
a. The projected conditions existing at the end of a typical
year of production.
b. The projected conditions existing at the end of operations.
c. The projected conditions existing at the end of
reclamation.
7. A discussion of the reasoning behind the design of the major features of the mining waste site, such as traffic routing, base
grade and relationships to subsurface conditions, anticipated
waste types and characteristics, phases of development, mining
waste site monitoring, and similar design features.
8. A proposed monitoring program, based on potential variations in the quality and quantity of mining waste and methods of
processing, transport and disposal, and on the variability of important environmental conditions, designed to monitor the proposed mining waste site for compliance with all environmental
standards that are applicable under this subchapter.
9. The results of engineering and hydrologic modeling to assess mining waste site performance relative to compliance with
applicable groundwater quality standards to a depth of not more
than 1,000 feet into the Precambrian bedrock or to the final depth
of the mining excavation, whichever is greater, and to compliance
with applicable surface water quality standards, examining a period equal to the proposed period in which the mining waste site
is proposed to operate plus 250 years after closure of the mining
waste site. The applicant may also include information from
other mining operations and operations for the extraction of nonferrous metallic minerals to substantiate that the proposed mining
waste site design, including associated contingency plans and
monitoring and response plans, will allow for the operation and
closure of the mining waste site in a manner that will not substantially adversely affect groundwater and surface water quality in
accordance with applicable standards.
10. If the applicant proposes to expand an existing mining
waste site, an evaluation of the existing mining waste site design
and operation.
(p) Preliminary water budgets for the periods before construction, during construction, and after closure of the mining waste
site, each addressing climatological situations depicting dry, wet,
and average precipitation and evaporation conditions, based on
climatological records. In preparing the water budget, the applicant shall consider precipitation, slurry water input and return,
evaporation, surface runoff, evapotranspiration, the moisture
holding capacity of soil and mining waste, and the velocities and
volumes of groundwater flow. In the water budget, the applicant
shall describe the estimated amount and quality of seepage and
discharge to surface water and groundwater.
(q) An analysis of the impact of the mining waste site on aesthetics and how any impact can be minimized or offset to the extent practicable.
(r) Data regarding the safety factors of tailings basin embankments, considering the following, on a case-by-case basis:
1. Geology of the mining waste site including type and homogeneity of the foundation.
2. Materials and methods to be used for embankment
construction.
3. Physical and chemical characteristics of the mining waste
as deposited and predicted changes through time.
4. The potential area to be affected in case of failure, considering land use and the surrounding environment.
5. Requirements of the mine safety and health administration
of the federal department of labor.
(s) An economic analysis, including an engineer’s cost estimate, for mining waste site closure and long-term care.
(t) Identification and analysis of alternatives to the design and
location of any new proposed mining waste site and discussion of
operation alternatives to the extent they have a significant impact
on design and location alternatives.
(u) An appendix that includes all of the following:
1. Boring logs, soil tests, well construction data, and water
level measurements.

2. A description of the methods and equations used in the
analysis of the raw data.
3. References.
(6) CONTENTS RELATING TO OPERATION. An applicant for a
mining permit shall submit as part of the mining waste site feasibility study and plan of operation provisions relating to operation
of the mining waste site including all of the following:
(a) Engineering plans consisting of all of the following:
1. An existing site conditions plan sheet indicating site conditions before development to the extent not provided under sub.
(5).
2. A base grade plan sheet indicating mining waste site base
grades or the appearance of the mining waste site if it were excavated in its entirety to the base elevation, before installation of
any engineering modifications and before disposal of any mining
wastes.
3. An engineering modifications plan sheet indicating the appearance of the mining waste site after installation of engineering
modifications.
4. A final site topography plan sheet indicating the appearance of the site at closing including the details necessary to prepare the mining waste site for reclamation and long-term care.
5. A series of phasing plan sheets showing initial mining
waste site preparations for each subsequent major phase or new
area where substantial mining waste site preparation must be performed, along with a list of construction items and quantities projected to be necessary to prepare the phase indicated.
6. A site monitoring plan sheet showing the location of all
devices for the monitoring of leachate quality, leachate production, and groundwater quality and levels in both the natural zone
of saturation and that developed within the mining waste site,
along with a table indicating the parameters to be monitored for
and the frequency of monitoring before and during mining waste
site development.
7. A long-term care plan sheet showing the completion of
closure and indicating those items anticipated to be performed
during the period of long-term care for the mining waste site,
along with a discussion of the procedures to be used for the inspection and maintenance of runoff control structures, settlement, erosion damage, leachate control facilities, and leachate
and groundwater monitoring and a table listing those items and
the anticipated schedule for monitoring and maintenance.
8. If applicable, the following information on the plan sheets
under subds. 1. to 7.:
a. A survey grid with baselines and monuments to be used
for field control.
b. Limits of filling for each major mining waste type or fill
area.
c. All drainage patterns and surface water drainage control
structures both within the actual fill area and at the perimeter of
the mining waste site, including any berms, ditches, sedimentation basins, pumps, sumps, culverts, pipes, inlets, velocity breaks,
sodding, erosion matting, vegetation, or other methods of erosion
control.
d. The method of placing mining waste within each phase.
e. Ground surface contours at the time represented by the
drawing, indicating spot elevations for key features.
f. Areas to be cleared, grubbed, and stripped of topsoil.
g. Borrow areas for liner materials, granular materials for filter beds, berms, roadway construction, and cover materials.
h. All soil stockpiles, including soils to be used for cover,
topsoil, liner materials, filter bed materials, and other excavation.
i. Access roads and traffic flow patterns to and within the active fill area.
j. All temporary and permanent fencing.
k. The methods of screening such as berms, vegetation, or
special fencing.
L. Leachate collection, control, and treatment systems, including any pipes, manholes, trenches, berms, collection sumps
or basins, pumps, risers, liners, and liner splices.
m. Leachate and groundwater monitoring devices and
systems.
n. Disposal areas for severe weather operations.
o. Support buildings, utilities, gates, and signs.
p. Handling areas for the segregation of various types of mining waste.
q. Construction notes and references to details.
r. On the appropriate plan sheet, the location of each crosssection under subd. 9., with the section labeled using the mining
waste site grid system.
9. A series of mining waste site cross-sections, drawn perpendicular and parallel to the mining waste site baseline at a maximum distance of 500 feet between cross-sections and at points of
important construction features, each cross-section showing,
where applicable: existing and proposed base and final grades;
soil borings and monitoring wells that the section passes through
or is adjacent to; soil types, bedrock, and water table; leachate
control, collection, and monitoring systems; quantity of mining
waste and area filled by each major mining waste type; drainage
control structures; access roads and ramps on the mining waste
site perimeter and within the active fill area; the filling sequence
or phases; and other appropriate site features.
10. Drawings and typical sections for, as appropriate,
drainage control structures, tailings distribution systems, access
roads, fencing, leachate control systems and monitoring devices,
buildings, signs, and other construction details.
(b) A plan for initial site preparations, including a discussion
of the field measurements, photographs to be taken, and sampling
and testing procedures to be used to verify that the in-field conditions encountered were the same as those defined in the mining
waste site feasibility study and plan of operation and to document
that the mining waste site was constructed according to the engineering plans and specifications submitted for department
approval.
(c) A description of typical daily operations, including a discussion of the timetable for development; methods for determining mining waste types disposed of or excluded; typical mining
waste handling techniques; hours of operation; traffic routing;
drainage and erosion control; windy, wet, and cold weather operations; fire protection equipment; methods for dust control;
method of placing mining waste materials; monitoring; closure of
filled areas; leachate control methods; and critical backup
equipment.
(d) An analysis of the financial responsibility for closure and
long-term care from the time of closing of the mining waste site
to termination of the obligation to maintain proof of financial responsibility for long-term care.
(e) A description of procedures for backfilling all soil borings
and monitoring wells when they are abandoned.
(f) A contingency plan to prevent or minimize damage to human health or the environment in the event of an accidental or
emergency discharge or other condition that does not comply
with conditions of the mining permit or other applicable standards. The applicant shall ensure that the plan does all of the
following:
1. Follows the spill prevention, control, and countermeasures
plan in regulations promulgated under 33 USC 1321.
2. Indicates, for the monitoring programs required under sub.

(5) (o) 8., the levels of substances that if exceeded require the operator to activate the contingency plan.
3. Includes a provision for more concentrated and frequent
monitoring in the area of any excessive measurement.
4. Describes possible accidental or emergency discharges or
other unplanned events and identifies the corresponding corrective action or alternative action to be implemented should the criteria for action be exceeded.
5. Specifies the action to be taken if an analysis of groundwater samples requires a response.
(g) A list of the groundwater and surface water quality parameters for which the applicant will monitor under s. 295.643 and a
description of the methods for groundwater and surface water
sample collection, preservation, and analysis that will be used.
(7) REQUIRED DEMONSTRATIONS. Through the mining waste
site feasibility study and plan of operation, the applicant shall
demonstrate that all of the following apply or will apply with respect to the operation of the mining waste site, excluding the area
from which ferrous minerals will be extracted and that is backfilled with mining waste:
(a) No mining waste will be deposited in such a way that the
mining waste or leachate from the mining waste will result in a
violation of any applicable surface water quality criteria or standards, applicable wetland water quality standards, or applicable
groundwater quality standards.
(b) Surface water drainage will be diverted away from and off
the active fill area.
(c) Access to the mining waste site will be restricted through
the use of fencing, natural barriers, or other methods approved by
the department.
(d) The entire perimeter of the mining waste site will be made
accessible for inspection and for earth moving equipment required for emergency maintenance.
(e) Any area to be used for the disposal of mining waste and
any borrow areas will first be stripped of all topsoil to ensure that
adequate amounts are available for reclamation and closure
activities.
(f) Effective means will be taken to control dust resulting
from the mining waste site.
(g) Provisions will be made for back-up equipment in the
event of the breakdown of critical operating equipment.
(h) The design and operation specifications for mining waste
site facilities include contingency measures, which may include
emergency power supplies, redundant equipment, or temporary
holding facilities, to deal with emergency conditions.
(hm) Any mining waste site designed with a liner or situated
in soils with sufficiently low permeability to either partially or
completely contain leachate is designed with a leachate management system that can effectively remove leachate, prevent surface
seepage, and promote adequate settlement to permit final
reclamation.
(i) All surface water drainage ditches, culverts, and other
drainage control structures are designed for a rainfall event measured in terms of the depth of the rainfall occurring within a 24hour period and having an expected recurrence interval of once in
100 years.
(j) The final slopes of the completed mining waste site will be
no greater than 50 percent, unless the mining waste site is specifically designed for a final use compatible with other slopes.
(k) The final cover design for the mining waste site is based
on the results of the mining waste characterization and engineering needs identified in studying the mining waste site feasibility.
(L) Provisions are made for collection and treatment of
leachate for all areas designed to contain leachate.
(m) The mining waste site is located and designed, and will be
constructed and operated, so that any liner system or naturally occurring soil barrier is compatible with all mining waste that is
disposed of or stored in the mining waste site.
(n) For any dam, sufficient freeboard, measured from the inside of the top of the dam, to contain a rainfall event measured in
terms of the depth of the rainfall occurring within a 24-hour period and having an expected recurrence interval of once in 100
years and to prevent overtopping by waves during such a rainfall
event or a minimum of 2 feet of freeboard, whichever is greater,
will be provided.
(o) Drainage or filter bed material has been selected and designed to promote drainage, reduce the potential for piping, and
be stable under leaching conditions.
(p) Material used in earth embankments or drainage or filter
beds will be free of vegetation, organic soils, frozen soils, and
other extraneous matter that could affect the compactibility, density, permeability, or shear strength of the finished embankment.
(q) Embankment materials and drainage or filter bed materials will be compacted to 90 percent of the maximum dry density
as determined by the standard proctor compaction test, ASTM
D698, or to a greater density as necessitated by the embankment
height, and the materials will be compacted in appropriate layers
as determined through the slope stability analysis, except that
compaction and crushing of waste rock for use outside an earth
core is not required.
(r) Emergency spill containment areas will be provided near
the tailings pipeline in case of power or pipeline failure.
(s) Tailings pipelines will be self-draining to the tailings area
or to an emergency spill containment area.
(t) The mining waste site is located in the same watershed as
the surface facilities for the mining unless it is not practicable to
locate the mining waste site in the same watershed as the surface
facilities for the mining, as determined on a site specific basis.
(u) The disposal of the mining waste will minimize the discharge of environmental pollutants to groundwater to the extent
practicable.
(w) Tailings pipelines are as short as practicable.
(x) Upstream rainfall catchment areas are minimized.
(y) The outside of the top of any dam is higher than the inside
of the top of the dam so that runoff from the top is forced to the
inside of the dam.
(z) The mining waste site design includes staged reclamation,
if practicable.
(8) LIMITATION ON REGULATION OF CERTAIN MINING WASTE.
The department may not regulate the use of mining waste in
reclamation or in the construction of any facility or structure on a
mining site except through the department’s review of the mining
plan and reclamation plan and the approval of the application for
the mining permit.
(9) APPLICABILITY OF OTHER LAWS. Subchapters I to V and
VIII of ch. 289 and rules promulgated under those subchapters do
not apply to a mining waste site, to the disposal of mining waste
in a mining waste site, or to mining wastes used in the reclamation or construction of facilities and structures on the mining site.

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