SENATE BILL NO. 345

INTRODUCED BY D. SHEA, C. AHNER, S. ANDERSON, G. BECK, T. BECK, R. BITNEY, R. CLARK, W. CRISMORE, R. DALE, B. DEPRATU, G. DEVLIN, S. GALLUS, D. GRIMES, L. GROSFIELD, D. HARGROVE, J. HARP, T. KEATING, S. KITZENBERG, J. LYNCH, G. MASOLO, W. MCNUTT, S. ORR, B. PAVLOVICH, J. QUILICI, S. ROSE, P. SLITER, M. SPRAGUE, S. STANG, B. STORY, C. SWYSGOOD, B. TASH, F. THOMAS, J. WITT

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE CONTINUATION OF A MINE OR ANY AMENDED PERMIT FOR THAT MINE THAT IS NECESSARY FOR THE CONTINUED OPERATION OF THAT MINE; AMENDING SECTION 82-4-390, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE."

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:

Section 1. Section 82-4-390, MCA, is amended to read:

"82-4-390. Cyanide heap and vat leach open-pit gold and silver mining prohibited. (1) Open-pit mining for gold or silver using heap leaching or vat leaching with cyanide ore-processing reagents is prohibited except as described in subsection (2).

(2) A mine described in this section operating on November 3, 1998, may continue operating under its existing operating permit or any amended permit that is necessary for the continued operation of the mine.

"

NEW SECTION. Section 2. Effective date. [This act] is effective on passage and approval.

- END -