Mineral and Waste Disposal Well Permits
The Office of Geological Survey (OGS), within the
Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), has responsibility for issuing permits to drill and deepen brine, solution mining, waste disposal, storage, and test wells under the authority of Part 625, Mineral Wells (formerly Public Act 315 of 1969, as amended), of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, 1994 PA 451, as amended. The purpose of this permit is for resource protection and to prevent surface or underground waste.
A. NAME OF PERMIT OR APPROVAL:
Permit to drill/deepen/convert, and operate a mineral well
B. STATUTORY AUTHORITY:
Part 625, Mineral Wells,Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, Public Act 451 of 1994, as amended
C. APPLICABLE REGULATION:
Michigan Administration Code, Rules Administered by MDEQ, OGS
Mineral Wells (R 299.2211 to R 299.2229)
D. SUMMARY OF PERMIT/APPROVAL PROCESS:
1. Applicability (activities that require the permit)
Drilling or deepening wells for brine production, solution mining, waste disposal, storage, or as test wells.
2. Pre-Application Requirements
- A permit to drill is required from OGS
- Other permits (e.g., wetlands, stream crossings, surface water discharge) are required if the project impacts regulated features
3. Application Submission Requirements
An administratively complete application consists of the following
- Form EQP 7200-1 Application for Permit to Drill/Deepen/Convert, and Operate a Well
- Form EQP 7200-2 Survey Record of Well Location
- A surveyor's expanded plat of the proposed well site
- A bond for conformance (Form EQP 7200-3 or other acceptable financial instrument)
- Form EQP 7200-4 Wellhead Blowout Control Systems
- Form EQP 7200-13 Well Permittee Organizational Chart
- Form 7500-3 Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for Mineral Wells and Surface Facilities
- Form EQP 7200-18 Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control Plan and Attachments
- Description of project and operations
- Work plan for conducting drilling operations
- Permit fee
- Additional information specific to the proposed well type
4. Procedures and Time-Frame for Obtaining Permit or Approval
- Applicant submits application to Lansing Office of OGS.
- Each application is reviewed to verify it is administratively complete and technically accurate. In addition, each proposed well site is inspected to verify the EIA is accurate.
- Other divisions of the MDEQ or Michigan Department of Natural Resources may be involved in the review process if the proposed drilling operation is likely to impact natural resources.
- A public hearing may be held if a storage or disposal well raises issues of public safety or potential waste.
- If the application is found to be administratively incomplete within the first 30 days, a written or email notice will be sent to the applicant specifying the information necessary to make the application complete. The 30-day application period is tolled (suspended) pending receipt of the specified information.
- If the application is found to have a technical deficiency or error, a written notice or email will be sent to the applicant specifying the information needed to correct the application. If the applicant does not correct the deficiency by the 45th day since the application was received (not counting any days the application was tolled) it will be denied as being technically deficient.
- A permit decision is made within 50 calendar days from receipt, minus any period that the application was tolled.
5. Operational Requirements
Applicant must comply with all applicable statutes, rules, permit conditions, and stipulations set forth in the application.
6. Fees
Permits:
- Disposal well for waste products other than processed brine: $2,500
- Disposal well for processed brine: $500
- Storage well: $500
- Natural brine production well: $500
- Artificial brine production well: $500
- Individual test well: $500
- Blanket test wells;
1 to 24 wells: $75, 25 to 49 wells: $150, 50 to 75 wells: $300, 76 to 200 wells: $600
Annual mineral well regulatory fee:
- Disposal well for waste products other than processed brine: $2,500
- Disposal well for processed brine: $500
- Storage well: $500
- Natural brine production well: $500
- Artificial brine production well: $500
- Individual test well: $500
- Blanket test wells;
1 to 24 wells: $75, 25 to 49 wells: $150, 50 to 75 wells: $300, 76 to 200 wells: $600
Bonds:
- $33,000 for an individual disposal, storage, or brine well
- $5,500 for an individual test well to a depth of 0 to 1,000'
- $11,000 for an individual test well to a depth greater than 1,000' to 2,000'
- $22,000 for an individual test well to a depth greater than 2,000' to 4,000'
- $33,000 for an individual test well to a depth greater than 4,000'
- A maximum 50 individual disposal, storage, brine, or test wells or combination of these wells may be covered by a blanket bond in the amount of $440,000
- $5,500 for a blanket test well permit for 1 to 24 wells
- $11,000 for a blanket test well permit for 25 to 49 wells
- $16,500 for a blanket test well permit for 50 to 75 wells
- $22,000 for a blanket test well permit for 76 to 200 wells
- Blanket test well permits are not eligible for blanket conformance bonds
7. Appeal Process
Public hearing before the Supervisor of Wells, then to Circuit Court
8. Public Input Opportunities
For applications to drill disposal or storage wells individual or public notice may be published by the applicant. The Supervisor of Mineral Wells is the decision maker in this process and may schedule a hearing to collect public input for disposal or storage wells. If a hearing is scheduled, then notice is provided in the MDEQ Calendar. Natural brine wells, artificial brine wells and test wells are confidential under Part 625. Therefore, there is no public notice related to these applications. The best opportunity for public comment would be at the hearing, if one is scheduled, or direct to the Permits and Bonding Unit of OGS.
E. MICHIGAN BUSINESS ONE STOP:
The Michigan Business One Stop (One Stop) www.michigan.gov/businessis a tool designed to allow businesses to interact with the State of Michigan. The tool offers:
- a set of screening questions based upon your business sector to identify permits, licenses and registrations that may be required to do business in Michigan.
- an option to pay fees online. For many programs, you can pay your business license fee in One Stop through use of an online form and shopping cart.
- many online permit applications and renewals. When starting a new business and registering in One Stop, you will need to identify a business sector (also known as a NAICS Code). You can find your code at www.naics.com, select "Code Search." After entering this code in One Stop and answering some screening questions, links to relevant permit applications will automatically be available in your newly created workspace. One benefit of accessing applications through One Stop is that you will receive status messages throughout the application process.
Using the One Stop provides many benefits to businesses in Michigan. By conducting your business through One Stop you can organize your State of Michigan transactions in one place. If you ever need assistance with One Stop, then you can contact the Customer Assistance Center at 877-766-1779; they are open from 7 am to 6 pm. One Stop is a valuable tool that offers many benefits to business. We hope you give it a try.
F. ADMINISTERING AGENCY:
Office of Geological Survey, Minerals and Mapping Unit, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, P.O. Box 30256, Lansing, Michigan 48909-7756
- Program Phone: 517-241-1532
- Environmental Assistance Center: 1-800-662-9278, e-mail: deq-ead-env-assist@michigan.gov
Creation/Revision Date:
October 2010
