Section 5-4 - License issuance and renewal (a) Within thirty (30) days following receipt of a complete application for a license to explore, the Administrator shall notify the applicant of the amount of bond to be required for the applicant. Such bond shall be in an amount sufficient to pay all costs which would be incurred by the State in the event it is necessary for the State to forfeit such bond and accomplish reclamation of the affected area including access roads, drill pads, and exploration pits. - (i) Upon receipt of a satisfactory bond in the amount required by the Administrator, the Administrator shall approve the application if it is otherwise in order and shall return a duplicate to the applicant to serve as his license to explore by dozing. No holder of a license to explore shall produce and save or sell any minerals from within the license area without first obtaining a permit and license to mine. The only material which may be removed from the permit area shall be that necessary for assay and testing purposes.
- (ii) It shall be the operator's responsibility to inform the Administrator whenever an increase in the bond is necessary should the amount of affected land be greater than that estimated in the license application. The operator shall take immediate steps to obtain an increase in the amount of the bond for such contingencies.
(b) The Administrator may deny the issuance of a license to explore by dozing if he finds the following: - (i) If the application is in violation of the intent of the Wyoming Environmental Quality Act, which is to reclaim the land to a use equal to or higher than the highest previous use.
- (ii) If the application is incomplete.
- (iii) If the bond is insufficient to reclaim the area listed within the license as to be affected.
- (iv) If the operation will irreparably harm lands which lie within an area designated by the Council as of unique and irreplaceable, historical, archaeological, scenic or natural value.
- (v) If information submitted by the operator is found to be intentionally misrepresenta-tive.
(c) The license to explore may be renewed annually. Renewal reports shall be filed within 30 days before the anniversary date of the license on forms provided by the Land Quality Division and shall include: - (i) Name of licensee and license number.
- (ii) Location of area by section, quarter section (when available), township, and range.
- (iii) Number of acres disturbed during the last year.
- (iv) Estimated number of acres to be disturbed in the next twelve (12) months.
- (vi) Current status of reclamation performed.
- (vii) Estimated cost of reclaiming the land to be disturbed during the renewal period and the estimated cost of completing reclamation of unreleased lands disturbed during prior periods of time.