Michigan Compiled Laws, Chapter 324. Natural Resources and Environmental Protection § 324.63401

(a) “Administratively complete” refers to an application for a mining permit under this part that includes the fee and all of the documents and other information required under this part and any rules promulgated under this part.

(b) “Conformance bond” means a surety bond that has been executed by a surety company authorized to do business in this state, cash, a certificate of deposit, a letter of credit, or other security filed by a person and accepted by the department to ensure compliance with this part or rules promulgated under this part.

(c) “Department” means the department of environmental quality.

(d) “Fund” means the small native copper mine surveillance fund created in section 63415.  1

(e) “Life of the mine” means the period from initiation of mining activities through the completion of reclamation.

(f) “Mine” or “mining” means an operation to excavate or remove earth material that generates not less than 10,000 tons of land in a calendar year in the regular operation of a business for the primary purpose of extracting native copper by 1 or both of the following:

(g) “Mining activity” means any of the following activities within a mining area for the purpose of, or associated with, mining:

(h) “Mining area” means all of the following:

(i) “Mining permit” or “permit” means a permit issued under section 63405  2 for conducting mining activities.

(j) “Native copper” means copper in its elemental form.

(k) “Operator” means a person that is engaged in or preparing to engage in mining activities, whether individually or jointly, or through agents, employees, or contractors, and that has overall responsibility for the mining activities.

(l) “Permittee” means a person that holds a mining permit.

(m) “Waste rock” means earth material that is excavated during mining, from which the economically recoverable native copper has been separated, and that is stored on the surface for 1 year or more. Waste rock does not include earth material from excavation or grading done in preparation for commencement of mining.