Section 324.9115 - Logging, mining, or land plowing or tilling; permit exemption; "mining" defined(1) Subject to subsection (2), a person engaged in the logging industry, the mining industry, or the plowing or tilling of land for the purpose of crop production or the harvesting of crops is not required to obtain a permit under this part. However, all earth changes associated with the activities listed in this section shall conform to the same standards as if they required a permit under this part. The exemption from obtaining a permit under this subsection does not include either of the following:(a) Access roads to and from the site where active mining or logging is taking place.(b) Ancillary activities associated with logging and mining.(2) This part does not apply to a metallic mineral mining activity that is regulated under a mining and reclamation plan under part 631 or 634 or a mining, reclamation, and environmental protection plan under part 632, if the plan contains soil erosion and sedimentation control provisions and is approved by the department.(3) A person is not required to obtain a permit from a county enforcing agency or a municipal enforcing agency for earth changes associated with well locations, surface facilities, flowlines, or access roads relating to oil or gas exploration and development activities regulated under part 615 or mineral well exploration and development activities regulated under part 625, if the application for a permit to drill and operate contains a soil erosion and sedimentation control plan that is approved by the department under part 615 or 625. However, those earth changes shall conform to the same standards as required for a permit under this part. This subsection does not apply to a multisource commercial hazardous waste disposal well as defined in section 62506a.(4) As used in this section, "mining" does not include the removal of clay, gravel, sand, peat, or topsoil.Amended by 2017, Act 40,s 2, eff. 8/21/2017.Amended by 2011, Act 214,s 2, eff. 11/8/2011.Add. 1995, Act 60, Imd. Eff. 5/24/1995 ;--Am. 2000, Act 504, Imd. Eff. 1/11/2001.