The bill amends existing laws regarding public notice requirements for new sand, gravel, and construction aggregate mining operations in South Dakota. It specifies that operators must publish notice of their mining operations in a local newspaper, with different requirements based on the size and output of the operation. For operations affecting ten acres or less or extracting less than twenty-five thousand tons of material, a single notice must be published at least fourteen days before mining begins. Conversely, for larger operations, operators must publish three notices at specified intervals, starting no sooner than 180 days before mining commences.

Additionally, the bill outlines the information that must be included in the notices, such as the operator's identity, location of the mining operation, and plans for mitigating environmental impacts. It also requires operators of larger mining operations to notify various state departments and local entities at least ninety days prior to commencement, while those with smaller operations must notify them fourteen days in advance. The bill allows the Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources to waive certain notice requirements in emergency situations.

Statutes affected:
Introduced, 01/29/2026: 45-6-68, 45-6-69, 45-6-70