15A NCAC 05B .0112      PERMIT APPLICATION PROCESSING FEES

(a)  A non‑refundable permit application processing fee, in the amounts stated in Paragraphs (b), (c) and (d) of this Rule, shall be paid when an application for a new mining permit, a permit modification or a renewal permit, is filed in accordance with G.S. 74‑51 or G.S. 74‑52 and 15A NCAC 5B .0003, .0004, and .0005.

(b)  A non‑refundable fifty dollar ($50.00) permit application processing fee is required for minor permit modifications.  Minor permit modifications include administrative changes such as ownership transfers, name changes, and bond substitutions.  A minor permit modification also includes lands added to a permitted area, outside of the minimum permit buffer zone requirements, where no plans for mining related disturbance of the added lands have been approved.  All other changes to the permit are major modifications.  No fee is required for administrative changes initiated by the Director to correct processing errors, to change permit conditions or to implement new standards.

(c)  A non‑refundable fifty dollar ($50.00) permit application processing fee is required for permit renewal of an inactive site, provided that any previously disturbed areas have been reclaimed in a manner acceptable to the Department.  Once renewed, prior to initiating any mining related disturbance, an application for a major modification and a processing fee shall be submitted to and approved by the Department. For purposes of this Paragraph, and notwithstanding Paragraph (d) of this Rule, the acreage for a major modification shall be the total acreage at the site.  All other modifications to the renewed permit shall be governed by Paragraphs (b) and (d) of this Rule.

(d)  For the purposes of this Rule, acres for new permits and renewal permits means the total acreage at the site; and acres for major modification of permits means that area of land affected by the modification within the permitted mine area, or any additional land that is to be disturbed and added to an existing permitted area, or both.  Each permit application shall be deemed incomplete until the permit application processing fee is paid.  Schedule of Fees:

     MAJOR

TYPE                     ACRES                                  NEW PERMIT                     MODIFICATION                RENEWAL

CLAY                     1 but less                                $ 500                                      $ 250                                      $ 250

than 25

25 but less                             1000                                       500                                         500

than 50

50 or more                            1500                                       500                                         500

SAND &               1 but less                                150                                         100                                         100

GRAVEL,              than 5

GEMSTONE         5 but less                                250                                         100                                         100

AND                       than 25

BORROW             25 but less                             500                                         250                                         500

PITS                       than 50

50 or more                            1000                                       500                                         500

QUARRY,              1 but less                                250                                         100                                         100

INDUSTRIAL      than 10

MINERALS,         10 but less                             1000                                       250                                         500

DIMENSION        than 25

STONE                  25 but less                             1500                                       500                                         500

than 50

50 or more                            2500                                       500                                         500

PEAT &                 1 or more                               2500                                       500                                         500

PHOSPHATE

GOLD (HEAP      1 or more                               2500                                       500                                         500

LEACH),

TITANIUM &

OTHERS

(e)  Payment of the permit application processing fee shall be by check or money order made payable to the "N.C. Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources".  The payment shall refer to the new permit, permit modification or permit renewal.

(f)  In order to comply with the limit on fees set forth in G.S. 143B‑290(4)b, the Director shall, in the first half of each state fiscal year, project revenues for the fiscal year from fees collected pursuant to this Rule.  If this projection shows that the statutory limit will be exceeded, the Director shall order a pro rata reduction in the fee schedule for the remainder of the fiscal year to avoid revenue collection in excess of the statutory limits.

History Note:        Filed as a Temporary Rule Eff. November 1, 1990, for a Period of 180 Days to Expire on April 29, 1991;

Authority G.S. 143B‑290;

ARRC Objection Lodged November 14, 1990;

ARRC Objection Removed December 20, 1990;

Eff. January 1, 1991;

Amended Eff. December 1, 1991.