Fees Associated With Mining Activities
This page was last updated on Jan 05, 2024.
Applicants are encouraged to submit applications electronically. Separate pieces should be individual submittals because of the designated fees (example: mining permit and NPDES permit should be separate submittals). For paper submittals, the applicant must include with the application the total of all individual fees via check payable to “Commonwealth of Pennsylvania”. In addition, the operator must have and maintain an appropriate mining license. Yearly administrative fees must be submitted corresponding to the number and type of permits held by a licensed operator until the bond is released. Fees are nonreturnable and are directly used to fund the program costs for permit review and inspections.
Coal Mining Application Fees
|
New permits |
| Surface Mining Permit, New | $3,250 |
| Coal Refuse Reprocessing Permit, New | $1,900 |
| Coal Refuse Disposal Permit, New | $3,250 |
| Coal Preparation Plant Permit, New | $1,650 |
| Anthracite Underground Mining Permit, New | $1,650 |
| Bituminous Underground Mining Permit, New | $5,750 |
| Incidental Extraction Permit, New | $1,650 |
| Auger Safety, New | $200 |
|
Revisions/Renewals |
| Revision to Bituminous UMP, CRD, Prep Plant | $1,250 |
| Revision to Anthracite UMP, CRD, Prep Plant | $300 |
| Major Revision to SMP or Coal Refuse Reprocessing Permit | $300 |
| Transfer | $250 |
| Renewal | $250 |
| Bond Liability Revision | $100 |
Government-Financed Construction Contract Fees
| GFCC Review | $4,500 |
| Small (Short-Term) Refuse Removal GFCC Review | $4,000 |
| Monitoring Fee | Number of Months ___ X $185 |
| Final Inspection | $225 |
| Small Projects, as Defined in 25 PA Code §105.1 (Each) | $100 |
Coal Mining Administrative Fees
| Reclamation Fee | $100 per acre |
Beneficial Use of Coal Ash
| Permit Filing Fee - Active Coal Ash Placement | $2,000 per year |
| Permit Filing Fee - Final Placement to Bond Release | $1,000 per year |
Noncoal Mining Application Fees
|
New |
| Surface with Groundwater Pumping | $29,500 |
| Surface without Groundwater Pumping | $19,750 |
| Underground Permit/Authorization | $29,500 |
| Completion Report | $875 |
| Blast Plan | $775 |
| NOI for Exploration or Waiver | $85 |
| Pre-Application | $4,950 |
| Small noncoal permit | $775 |
| NOI General Permit for Short Term Construction Projects: GP-103 | $725 |
| NOI General Permit for Bluestone (5 Acres or Less) Mining: GP-105 | $550 |
| NOI General Permit for Reclamation of Forfeited Noncoal Mines: GP-106 | $725 |
|
Revisions |
| Bond Revision | $650 |
| Major Revision. Large, site with groundwater pumping | $5,625 |
| Major Revision, Large, site without groundwater pumping | $2,350 |
| Major Revision, Underground | $3,900 |
| Minor Revision, Large permit | $1,050 |
| Minor Revision, Small permit and GP | $225 |
| Transfer, Large | $1,300 |
| Transfer, Small | $775 |
| Renewal | $225 |
Noncoal Administrative Fees
|
Annual Administrative Fees |
| Active Large Noncoal Surface Mining Permit | $1,750 |
| Active Large Noncoal Surface Mining Permit with Blasting | $2,250 |
| Active Small Noncoal Surface Mining Permit | $500 |
| Active Small Noncoal Surface Mining Permit with Blasting | $700 |
| Active Underground Noncoal Mining Permit | $1,750 |
| General Permit | $500 |
| Not Started or Inactive Noncoal Mining Permits | $175 |
Additional Activity Associated with Mining Permits
A mining permit requires additional authorizations concurrent with the mining application. For example, all operators require a
mining license and permits 1 acre or greater must have an associated NPDES permit (individual or GP-104). Applications for stream encroachment or wetlands disturbance that take place in association with the mining activity can be submitted with the mining application.
|
NPDES |
| Individual NPDES Permit Associated with Mining Activities | $1,000 |
| Reissuance of Individual NPDES Permit Associated with Mining Activities (Revision, Renewal, Transfer) | $500 |
| GP-104 Stormwater Associated with Mining Activities | $250 |
|
Air Quality |
| BAQ-GPA/GP-12 | $1,000 |
Operation and Maintenance (O&M) Water Supplies
Use
Technical Guidance 562-4000-102, Increased Operation and Maintenance Costs of Replacement Water Supplies to complete the calculations.
As of April 2023: Inflation rate is 3.19% and Rate of return is 2.41%
Bond Rates
The permittee is required to post a reclamation bond prior to permit issuance and periodically in response to operation or bond rate updates. Bond rates are published every year in the PA Bulletin for Coal and Noncoal Operations. Operators are notified when bonds need to be submitted. See the
Bonding page for the current bond rate guidelines. Contact the District Mining Office that reviews your application to discuss bonding details for any site.
Questions on fees and bond rates can be directed to the appropriate
District Mining Office or email
RA-EPminingpermits@pa.gov.