Montana Code Annotated 2023

TITLE 82. MINERALS, OIL, AND GAS

CHAPTER 4. RECLAMATION

Part 3. Metal Mine Reclamation

Quality Assurance During Construction

82-4-378. Quality assurance during construction. (1) An operator constructing a new or expanded tailings storage facility shall:

(a) when indicated by the construction management plan, engage a professional engineer or other oversight specified in the plan to implement the construction management plan specified in the final design document. The professional engineer must be an employee of the engineer of record or an employee of the design firm represented by the engineer of record but may not be an employee of the constructor or the operator.

(b) ensure the collection of all records, including as-built plans and specifications, necessary to demonstrate that the tailings storage facility is constructed as specified in the final design document;

(c) when indicated by the construction management plan, secure a certification from the professional engineer for the records generated by the implementation of the quality assurance monitoring as specified in the final design document; and

(d) submit to the department the records collected during the quality assurance monitoring specified in the approved design document for all tailings storage facility construction conducted during a calendar year in the annual report required by the facility's operating permit or an independent submittal at the completion of the construction activity.

(2) After an appropriate investigation and consultation with the operator, the department shall, pursuant to 82-4-362, order the suspension of tailings storage facility construction activities if credible evidence is observed, submitted, or otherwise obtained that construction activities are not being conducted as specified in the design document.

History: En. Sec. 7, Ch. 399, L. 2015.