This bill establishes new requirements for the use of explosives in noncoal surface mining operations in Wyoming. It mandates that operators create a blasting plan that complies with specific standards and procedures, as outlined in the newly inserted legal language. The bill also requires the Department of Environmental Quality to develop rules governing the use of explosives, ensuring compliance with state and federal laws, and includes provisions for maintaining detailed logs of blasting activities. Additionally, operators must submit annual reports detailing their use of explosives and adhere to a blasting plan as part of their mining and reclamation plans.

To support the implementation of these new regulations, the bill authorizes one full-time position within the Department of Environmental Quality and appropriates $502,846 from the general fund for this purpose, effective until June 30, 2026. The bill also includes provisions for the Environmental Quality Council to promulgate necessary rules and specifies that the act will take effect on July 1, 2024, with certain sections becoming effective immediately upon the bill's passage.

Statutes affected:
24LSO-0073 v0.6: 35-11-401, 35-11-402, 35-11-415