{"data":{"id":"us-ok/okla.-stat.-tit.-27a-27a-2-6-111","jurisdiction":"us-ok","citation":"Okla. Stat. tit. 27A, § 27A-2-6-111","heading":"Moratorium on permitting of discharge to water","body":"emanating from sensitive sole source groundwater basins or\n\nsubbasins.\n\nA. For purposes of this section, a \"subject mine\" shall mean a\n\nmine, as defined in paragraph 2 of Section 723 of Title 45 of the\n\nOklahoma Statutes, proposed for a location overlying a sensitive\n\nsole source groundwater basin or subbasin, exclusive of any mine\n\nthat meets at least one of the following conditions:\n\n1. As of November 1, 2019, is engaged in the permitted\n\nextraction of minerals from natural deposits; or\n\n2. Satisfies the criteria of paragraph 1 or 2 of subsection C\n\nof Section 1020.2 of Title 82 of the Oklahoma Statutes; or\n\n3. Is not to be permitted to operate for a period of more than\n\nfive (5) years, with no extensions or renewals; or\n\n4. The operation of which will not result in more than five (5)\n\nacre-feet per year of groundwater emanating from a sensitive sole\n\nsource groundwater basin or subbasin to infiltrate its pit, as that\n\nterm is defined in paragraph 12 of Section 723 of Title 45 of the\n\nOklahoma Statutes.\n\nB. Due to the inadequacy of existing technical resources,\n\nanalytic tools and regulatory systems for purposes of the effective\n\nimplementation of statutes relating to the operation of mines that\n\noverlies a sensitive sole source groundwater basin or subbasin, the\n\nLegislature hereby declares and establishes a moratorium on the\n\nDepartment of Environmental Quality permitting of any discharge from\n\na subject mine to streams fed or supported by water emanating from\n\nsensitive sole source groundwater basins or subbasins.\n\nC. The moratorium shall remain in effect until such time as:\n\n1. The conditions of subsection C of Section 3 of this act have\n\nbeen satisfied; and\n\n2. The Department of Environmental Quality promulgates final\n\nrules to provide for effective interagency consultation and\n\ncoordination of activities among the Department, the Oklahoma Water\n\nResources Board and the Department of Mines on all administrative\n\nmatters relating to the operation of mines at locations that overlie\n\na sensitive sole source groundwater basin or subbasin.\n\nD. Notwithstanding the moratorium, the Department of\n\nEnvironmental Quality may issue any new permits, permit\n\nmodifications, permit amendments, permit revisions or permit\n\nrenewals necessary to maintain compliance or remedy identified\n\ncompliance issues pursuant to Title 27A of the Oklahoma Statutes to\n\noperators of any mines lawfully engaged in mining, as defined in\n\nparagraph 3 of Section 723 of Title 45 of the Oklahoma Statutes.\n\nE. The Department of Environmental Quality is hereby authorized\n\nand instructed to promulgate rules to implement the provisions of\n\nthis section.\n\nF. The Department of Environmental Quality is hereby authorized\n\nto cooperate with federal, tribal and any other agency in this state\n\nin performing its responsibilities under this section.","path":["OK Code","Title 27A"],"source_url":"https://www.oklegislature.gov/OK_Statutes/CompleteTitles/os27A.pdf","current_through":"2026-08-14","vintage":"open-us-law v2026.08, retrieved 2026-09-14","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T18:32:36Z","sha256":"16ba53ac2a2c1e7ccb4a4f4e32f4c6f4ab51363389d4ef6c37f1302b98ce74ca","source_id":"us-ok","stale":false,"prev":"us-ok/okla.-stat.-tit.-27a-27a-2-6-110","next":"us-ok/okla.-stat.-tit.-27a-27a-2-6-201"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}