Chapter 378.403(10), Florida Statutes (F.S.), defines a mine as “an area of land upon which mining operations have been conducted, are being conducted, or are planned to be conducted, as the term is commonly used in the trade.” Mining typically involves material being excavated from the ground and sold off-site for commercial, industrial or construction use.
Chapter 378.403(16), F.S., defines reclamation as “the reasonable rehabilitation of land where resource extraction has occurred.” Land reclamation after mining typically involves removing debris, recontouring the land to reduce steep slopes and restore or maintain drainage basin boundaries, and revegetating the site. In some cases, mine tailings are pumped back into mine pits prior to recontouring. Revegetation may be accomplished through natural recruitment, seeding, or planting vegetation. Standards for reclamation vary depending on the type of mineral that was mined and are outlined in the reclamation rules for phosphate,limestone, dolomite, shell, heavy minerals, fuller’s earth, peat, and clay, gravel, and sand.
There is no permit issued specifically for mining in Florida; however, mines are considered stormwater management systems regulated under the Environmental Resource Permitting (ERP) Program. Forms used for ERP projects are found on the Mining and Mitigation Program's ERP Forms page. Permits also may be required from other agencies, such as the Army Corps of Engineers, local county government, the local water management district, etc. To start construction, you must have all necessary federal, state and local approvals. You also may need to file a Conceptual Reclamation Plan or a Notice of Intent to Mine for your project. Copies of reclamation forms can be found on the reclamation forms page.
I want to open a new mine; what are my reclamation responsibilities?
If you are mining, you are required to reclaim the land disturbed by mining or mining operations. You may need to submit a Conceptual Reclamation Plan or a Notice of Intent to Mine. There is no fee to file a Conceptual Reclamation Plan or a Notice of Intent to Mine. Other resources mines that are less than 20 acres in size, and peat extracted for agricultural purposes, are exempt from the requirement to file a Notice of Intent to Mine, but the operator is still required to reclaim the land after mining. You should begin reclamation at the earliest practical time; reclamation timetable requirements are included in the reclamation rule for each mineral resource. You can download PDF versions of reclamation forms and review filing instructions at the reclamation forms page.
ERPs are obtained by filling out Section A (all mines), Section C (if wetlands or other surface waters will be impacted by the project), and Section H (all mines) of the ERP application and submitting the required permit fee. Consult Chapter 62-330, F.A.C., and the Applicant’s Handbook, Volume I and Applicant's Handbook Volume II for additional information about the criteria for ERP issuance. Permits also may be required from other agencies, such as the Army Corps of Engineers, local county government, the local water management district, etc. To start construction, you must have all necessary federal, state and local approvals. The Mining and Mitigation Program encourages new applicants to set up a pre-application meeting to discuss their proposed project and the permitting process.
How much does it cost to get an Environmental Resource Permit?
Fees for Environmental Resource Permits are based on both the size of the project and the number of acres of wetlands or other surface waters proposed for impact. A complete fee schedule is found in Chapter 62-4, F.A.C.
Whom do I contact to get more information on how to open a new mine?
Send an email to MiningAndMitigation@dep.state.fl.us or call 850-245-8336. The Mining and Mitigation Program encourages new applicants to set up a pre-application meeting to discuss their proposed project and the permitting process.
You will need the permit application number to pay electronically. The permit application number is assigned when the application is entered into our permit tracking computer system. You should receive an email with your permit number when it is entered into the permit tracking system (typically within one to three days of application receipt). If you do not, you can obtain your permit application number by contacting the Mining and Mitigation Program at MiningAndMitigation@dep.state.fl.us or 850-245-8336.
Whom can I contact to schedule MSHA (mine safety) training for my staff?
The mine safety training program is conducted through the Florida Public Safety Institute (FPSI) at Tallahassee Community College. To schedule training or learn more about MSHA training, contact Karen Miller at 850-201-7689.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is the state’s lead agency for environmental management and stewardship – protecting our air, water and land. The vision of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection is to create strong community partnerships, safeguard Florida’s natural resources and enhance its ecosystems.