An Act To Prohibit the Mining of Massive Sulfide Ore Deposits on State Lands

Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §549-A, sub-§5-A  is enacted to read:

Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §549-D  is enacted to read:

§ 549-D.  Mining of massive sulfide ore deposits prohibited

Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, a mining lease may not be issued under this subchapter that authorizes the mining of a massive sulfide ore deposit located on state lands.

summary

This bill amends the laws regarding mining on state lands to prohibit the issuance of a mining lease that authorizes the mining of a massive sulfide ore deposit located on state lands. The bill defines a "massive sulfide ore deposit" as a metal sulfide ore deposit that, as determined by the Maine Geological Survey, contains in total 1,000,000 tons or more of metallic minerals.