Fees Associated With Mining Activities
This page was last updated on October 12, 2023.
Fees
The applicant must include an application fee (total of all individual fees as applicable) via check payable to “Commonwealth of Pennsylvania” with the application. In addition, the operator must have and maintain an appropriate mining license. When a mining permit is issued, yearly administrative fees must be submitted corresponding to the number and type of permits held by a licensed operator. Fees are nonreturnable and are directly used to fund the program costs for permit review and inspections.
Select the links below for current fee tables corresponding to the type of operation:
Coal Mining
Applications
Anthracite
Bituminous, Surface
Bituminous, Underground, Prep Plant, Coal Refuse Disposal
Government Financed Construction Contracts
Administrative fees
Noncoal Mining
Applications
Administrative fees
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 general). Water obstructions, or general permit requests can be submitted with the mining applications.
Associated authorizations
Operation and Maintenance (O&M) Water Supplies
April 2023 rates: Inflation rate is 3.19% and Rate of return is 2.41%
Use
Technical Guidance 562-4000-102, Increased Operation and Maintenance Costs of Replacement Water Supplies to complete the calculations.
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. Select the links below to see the current bond rate guidelines. Contact the District Mining Office that reviews your application to discuss bonding details for any site. Go to the
Bonding page.
Questions on fees and bond rates can be directed to the appropriate
District Mining Office or email
RA-EPminingpermits@pa.gov
Anthracite Coal Mining Application Fees
|
New Applications |
| Surface Mining Permit | $3,250 |
| Coal Refuse Reprocessing Permit | $1,900 |
| Coal Refuse Disposal Permit | $3,250 |
| Coal Preparation Plant Permit | $1,650 |
| Underground Mining Permit | $1,650 |
| Post Mining Activity Permit | $300 |
| Incidental Extraction Permit | $1,650 |
|
Revisions and Renewal |
| Major Revisions (All Types) | $300 |
| Transfer (All Types) | $250 |
| Renewal | $250 |
| Bond Liability Revision | $100 |
Bituminous Coal Surface Mining Application Fees
|
New Applications |
| Surface Mining Permit | $3,250 |
| Coal Refuse Reprocessing Permit | $1,900 |
| Coal Refuse Disposal Permit | $3,250 |
| Coal Preparation Plant Permit | $1,650 |
| Post Mining Activity Permit | $300 |
| Incidental Extraction Permit | $1,650 |
| Auger Safety Permit | $200 |
|
Revisions and Renewal |
| Major Revision to Surface Mining Permit | $300 |
| Major Revision to Coal Refuse Reprocessing Permit | $300 |
| Transfer | $250 |
| Renewal | $250 |
| Bond Liability Revision | $100 |
Bituminous Coal Underground/CRDA/Prep Plant Application Fees
|
New Applications |
| Bituminous Coal Underground Mining Permit | $5,750 |
| Bituminous Coal Refuse Disposal Permit | $3,250 |
| Bituminous Coal Preparation Plant Permit | $1,650 |
| Post Mining Activity Permit | $300 |
| Incidental Extraction Permit | $1,650 |
| Auger Safety Permit | $200 |
|
Revisions and Renewal |
| Revision to Bituminous Coal Underground Mining Permit | $1,250 |
| Revision to Bituminous Coal Refuse Disposal Permit | $1,250 |
| Revision to Bituminous Coal Preparation Plant Permit | $1,250 |
| 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 (Effective 1/1/2020) | $100 per acre |
Beneficial Use of Coal Ash
| Permit Filing Fee - Active Coal Ash Placement | $2000 per year |
| Permit Filing Fee - Final Placement to Bond Release | $1000 per year |
Noncoal Mining Application Fees
|
New Applications |
| Surface with Groundwater Pumping | $25,525 |
| Surface without Groundwater Pumping | $17,025 |
| Underground Permit | $25,525 |
| Bonding Increment | $550 |
| Completion Report | $750 |
| Blast Plan | $675 |
| Notice of Intent to Explore | $75 |
| Pre-Application (Large and Underground) | $4,250 |
|
Revisions |
| Major Revision (site with groundwater pumping) | $4,850 |
| Major Revision (site without groundwater pumping) | $2,000 |
| Major Revision Underground | $3,350 |
| Minor Amendment | $900 |
| Transfer | $1,125 |
| Renewal | $200 |
|
Small Applications and General Permits |
| New Small Permit | $675 |
| Minor Amendment | $225 |
| General Permit for Short Term Construction Projects: GP-103 | $725 |
| General Permit for Bluestone (5 Acres or Less) Mining: GP-105 | $550 |
| General Permit for Reclamation of Forfeited Noncoal Mines: GP-106 | $725 |
Noncoal Administrative Fees
|
Annual Administrative Fees |
| Active Large Noncoal Surface Mining Permit | $1,500 |
| Active Large Noncoal Surface Mining Permit with Blasting | $1,925 |
| Active Small Noncoal Surface Mining Permit | $450 |
| Active Small Noncoal Surface Mining Permit with Blasting | $625 |
| Active Underground Noncoal Mining Permit | $1,500 |
| General Permit | $450 |
| Not Started Noncoal Mining Permits | $150 |
| Inactive Noncoal Mining Permits | $150 |
Additional Activities Associated With Mining
|
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 |