About LQD

The LQD administers and enforces all statutes and regulations on land disturbances dealing with mining and reclamation within the State of Wyoming. The LQD has the authority to require permitting and licensing of all operator actions of surface and underground mine facilities. Each mining operation must be covered by a Reclamation Bond in the event the operator is unable to fulfill the reclamation requirements. The LQD's authority derives from the Federal Surface Mining Reclamation and Control Act and the Wyoming Environmental Quality Act.

LQD District Contacts  (Click County on Map Below)

Click here for District 1 Contact Information Click here for District 3 Contact Information Click here for District 2 Contact Information

LQD Administrator

Nancy Nuttbrock

(307) 777 - 7046

LQD Program Manager

Carol Bilbrough

(307) 777 - 6772

LQD Bonding Analyst

Deanna Hill

(307) 777 - 6910

LQD Records Manager

Ramona Christensen

(307) 777 - 7053

 

What's New?

  - Coal Standard Operating Procedure - No. 3.3, Professional Certification of Impoundments and Roads [View SOP Here] (Added 1/24/12)

     -Revised Guideline 12 - Standardized Reclamation Performance Bond Format and Cost Calculation Methods, (used for Coal and Noncoal). [View Guideline Here] (Added 12/21/11)

   - Revised Coal Annual Report Format (CARF) [View CARF Here] (Added 11/21/11)

   - Advisory Board Meeting to Discuss Proposed Rules (Added 10/17/11)

The Land Quality Advisory Board is meeting November 14, 2011 in Casper, WY to discuss the proposed revisions to Chapters 8, 9 and 10 of the LQD's Noncoal Rules and Regulations.  More information regarding the proposed rules can be [Viewed Here]

   [Cumulative Hydrologic Impact Assessments - (CHIA) - coal mining] (Updated 10/17/11)

   - Small Mine and  Limited Mining Operation Checklists (Added 8/26/11)

1. Limited Mining Operation Checklist [View Checklist Here]

2. Small Mine Checklist [View Checklist Here]

     - LQD Pre-Application Process: Start Your Permitting Here (Updated 1/18/12)

In April of 2011, the LQD met with mining industry and consulting representatives in an intensive, week-long session to develop procedures and strategies for a formalized pre-application process.  The use of this process will lead to an early and clear understanding of the permitting requirements and expectations for any permitting action.  The tools and information below were developed to implement the process in the manner recommended during the meeting. 

The LQD is strongly encouraging all mining operators to use the new Pre-Application Process to prepare more complete applications and improve the efficiency of the permitting process.

Process Overview Documents:

1. New Guideline 24:The LQD Pre-Application Process [View Guideline Here] (Updated 1/18/12)

2. Pre-Application Process Overview Flow Chart [View Flow Chart Here]

3. Pre-Application Process: Complex-Simple Path Determination Flow Chart [View Flow Chart Here]

Simple Path Planning Documents:

1. Meeting Agenda Template [View Template Here]

2. Meeting Checklist Template [View Template Here]

3. Action Plan Form [Download Form Here] (Updated 1/18/12)

Complex Path Planning Documents:

1. Meeting Agenda Template [View Template Here]

2. Meeting Checklist Template [View Template Here]

3. Action Plan Form [Download Form Here] (Updated 1/18/12)

      - Revised "Landowner Statement of Satisfactory Reclamation" [Form] and [Webform] (Updated 12/9/10)

      - Updated Mine Operators Contact Lists [Contact_Lists] (Updated 12/2/10)

    - [Sage Grouse Information] including new Executive Order (external G&F link) (Added 9/10/10)

     - Reformatted [Guideline_21] and [Guideline_22]. Revised formatting only. (Added 9/10/10)

    - New Coal [Guideline 23] (Verification and Compliance Standards for Phase 2 Bond Release) (Added 6/8/10) 

     - DRAFT - Approved Sampling & Statistical Methods for Evaluation of Revegetation Success on WY Coal Mines

        (See the following links to review the draft document.  Document is provided in Word and .pdf formats.)

        Draft Sampling & Statistical Methods    Draft Sampling & Statistical Methods     (Added 9/12/08)

           Draft Statistical Methods         Draft Statistical Methods (Added 10/14/08)

Guidance and Information

Statutes, Rules & Regulations, and Advisory Board  

Current Events (Updated 10/17/11)

CHIA - Cumulative Hydrologic Impact Assessments - Coal Mining  (Updated 10/17/11)

 

Data listed below was developed for CHIAs that the LQD prepares for coal mining permit actions. The LQD shares this information in hopes that others can benefit from our work.

 

Active Coal Mine Permit Areas (Data Last Updated 10/17/11)

 

The information below shows the active coal mine permit areas.  Associated with the information is the mine name and the LQD mining permit number.  Coal mine permit areas are dynamic and change often in response to mining needs.  Please not that this information is updated once a year, so changes that occur since the last update are not reflected in this information.  For more detailed information the user is referred to the individual permits. 

 

[Active Coal Mine Permit Areas] - (picture of where active coal mines are located in WY, suitable for use with PowerPoint presentation or report as generalized illustration.  (Added 10/17/11)

 

[ARCgis Shapefile] - (a shapefile of polygons of the active coal mine permit areas in WY and includes an attribute table and metadata) (Added 10/17/11)

 

 

Coordination with the Office of Surface Mining (OSM)

Revised 1/24/2012