1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to mining; specifying duties of owners and 
  1.3             operators when operations are discontinued; amending 
  1.4             Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 93.003. 
  1.5   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.6      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 93.003, is 
  1.7   amended to read: 
  1.8      93.003 [IRON MINING; CONDITIONS.] 
  1.9      Subdivision 1.  [DUTY TO MAINTAIN MINE.] Legal authority to 
  1.10  mine and process iron ore, a basic irreplaceable natural 
  1.11  resource of the people of the state of Minnesota, is subject to 
  1.12  the conditions of this section.  When the owner or operator of 
  1.13  an iron mine or related production or beneficiation facilities 
  1.14  determines to discontinue the operation of the mine or 
  1.15  facilities for any reason it shall maintain the mine or 
  1.16  facilities in salable operating condition for at least two years 
  1.17  after it discontinues operation in order to allow the state of 
  1.18  Minnesota and other interested public and private bodies to seek 
  1.19  a new owner and operator.  The requirement imposed by this 
  1.20  section is a preliminary and permanent requirement on the right 
  1.21  of an owner to commence or continue the operation of an iron 
  1.22  mine or related facilities.  This requirement is enforceable on 
  1.23  all owners and operators and successors of owners and operators 
  1.24  and shall be enforced by the state in any action in bankruptcy 
  1.25  or other litigation that may affect it. 
  2.1      Subd. 2.  [SALABLE OPERATING CONDITIONS.] In order to 
  2.2   maintain the mine or facilities in salable operating conditions, 
  2.3   as required by subdivision 1, the owner or operator must: 
  2.4      (1) empty fines and coarse ore bins of all material; 
  2.5      (2) empty rod and ball mills of all concentrate; 
  2.6      (3) empty kiln and coolers of all material; 
  2.7      (4) drain tailings systems; 
  2.8      (5) rotate all major equipment weekly, including but not 
  2.9   limited to kilns, coolers, grates, and primary and secondary 
  2.10  mills; 
  2.11     (6) heat the facilities to a temperature that facilitates 
  2.12  lubrication of the equipment; 
  2.13     (7) keep the pit dewatered; 
  2.14     (8) heat and dewater the crusher; 
  2.15     (9) seed the tailing pond; 
  2.16     (10) keep the fire prevention system operational; 
  2.17     (11) provide adequate security to prevent vandalism and 
  2.18  trespass; and 
  2.19     (12) maintain major utilities needed to support the 
  2.20  property. 
  2.21     Sec. 2.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
  2.22     Section 1 is effective the day following final enactment.