Members of the House Utility and Environmental Regulation Committee looked into the permitting process for non-coal mining in Oklahoma after attempting legislation last session to change and balance the process.
Lawmakers heard from the Department of Mines on the current application and appeals process before hearing from citizens, who express their concerns with the department’s informal conference process.
The informal conference process takes place after an application is filed by a mining operation and public notice is given in a newspaper, said DOM Executive Director Mary Ann Pritchard.
Following an informal process, the department takes commentary into consideration before making a departmental decision.
Should further issues ensue, the department has a process in place for a formal conference and an appeals process which involves ligation.
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