A Wyoming reclamation bond is required by the Land Quality Division of the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality. The LQD administers and enforces all statutes and regulations on land disturbances dealing with mining and reclamation within the State of Wyoming. The LQD has the authority to require permitting and licensing of all operator actions of surface and underground mine facilities. Each mining operation must be covered by a Wyoming reclamation bond in the event the operator is unable to fulfill the reclamation requirements. The LQD’s authority derives from the Federal Surface Mining Reclamation and Control Act and the Wyoming Environmental Quality Act. The LQD divides mining permits into two classes, coal and non-coal. Both permit type requires that the mining/exploration operation adopt a reclamation plan and follow the LQD’s Guidelines for proper remediation. Simply defined, the LQD holds the Wyoming reclamation bond pending the reclaiming of the area of land affected by mining to use for grazing, agricultural, recreational, wildlife purposes, or any other purpose of equal or greater value. Mine reclamation may require contouring, terracing, grading, resoiling, revegetation, compaction and stabilization, settling ponds, water impoundments, diversion ditches, and other water treatment facilities in order to eliminate water diminution to the extent that existing water sources are adversely affected. The Wyoming reclamation bond also insures risks of pollution, soil and wind erosion, and/or flooding resulting from the mine operation. The LQD accepts reclamation surety bonds on an “area” basis or on an “incremental” basis. Pursuant to state rule Chapter 12, Sec. 2(a)(i), the area bond calculation shall be no less than the estimated cost of completing the maximum amount of rough backfilling during the annual bonding period set forth in W.S. §§ 35-11-411 and 35-11-417(c), in order to meet the applicable rough backfilling standards in Chapter 4 of these regulations and any other rough backfilling requirements of the approved permit. The Wyoming reclamation bond written on an incremental basis must be no less than the estimated cost of performing all reclamation requirements other than those covered by (a)(i) above, during the annual bonding period in order to meet the standards of the Act, the 12 – 21 regulations, and the provisions of the permit. The bond obligation states that it remain in full force and effect until either released or forfeited pursuant to the provisions of the Wyoming Environmental Quality Act and the rules and regulations adopted pursuant to that Act. The Wyoming reclamation bond also guarantees the same as they are applicable federal laws and regulations, and in accordance with the provisions of the permanent program Cooperative Agreement between the Department of Interior and the State of Wyoming. Wyoming surety leader, Surety One, Inc. is the premier bonding resource for any operation requiring reclamation surety. We offer reclamation bond support of petroleum, coal, uranium, metal mining, and hydraulic fracturing “fracking” operations. We will write these for ALL state departments of environmental protection, the Railroad Commission of Texas, and federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Visit us at www.ReclamationBonds.com, call (787) 333-0222 or (800) 373-2804, or email Underwriting@SuretyOne.org for Wyoming reclamation bond application materials or further information regarding surety in any state.
