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Home » Placer Mining in BC » Machine Digging

Machine Digging

Getting a Permit

I am not an expert on mining law - I am just trying to help. Use the information in this website at your own risk. See the Notice at the bottom of this page.
Before doing any machine digging on a placer claim, you need to get a Mines Act Permit (also known as a Reclamation Permit).

The steps are:

    1. doing a Notice of Work (NOW) application

    1. being notified that the proposed work is approved and the amount of money required for a reclamation bond

    1. putting up money for a reclamation bond

    1. receiving a Mines Act Permit

    The Notice of Work should be submitted at least two months before the permit is required. You need time to handle any problems. You can't apply for some other permits until you have the reclamation permit.

    A "reclamation bond" is money set aside to cover the costs of reclamation in the case where the miner does not adequately reclaim the site (filling pits, contouring the land, spreading saved topsoil, planting grasses or in some cases, trees). The money for a reclamation bond is returned to the miner if the inspectors are satisfied with the reclamation.

    In BC, a bank can provide a reclamation bond. Miners living in other provinces can arrange with their bank to use a GIC with a note attached saying that the GIC is payable to the Ministry until the Ministry informs the bank that they no longer have an interest in the GIC. A GIC (Guaranteed Investment Certificate) is used because the money must be "guaranteed" by the bank.

    If you acquire a claim that already has disturbed areas, you will only be responsible for any disturbance that is caused while you own the claim.

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