AUGUSTA

A state environmental board will let the public weigh in on rules that would do away with the de facto ban on metallic mineral mining and exploration.

J.D. Irving mining subsidiary Aroostook Resources says that Maine’s mining regulations are so mismatched they’ve effectively shut down an industry that could employ thousands of people. The subsidiary has reported nearly $150,000 in lobbying expenses since 2011.

Legislators passed a 2012 act to streamline the mining permitting process, but the Legislature has twice refused to accept the Department of Environmental Protection’s proposed rules to put the law into effect. Republican Gov. Paul LePage has criticized highly paid environmental lobbyists for opposing the rules and lawmakers for thwarting the law instead of changing or repealing it.

DEP Deputy Commissioner Melanie Loyzim says the department will ask legislators to consider new rules that will replace Maine’s mining rules while addressing environmental and legal concerns.

On Thursday, the citizen led Board of Environmental Protection set a public hearing for Sept. 15.

Loyzim told board members that new mining sites are being developed in other states and in New Brunswick, Canada.

Maine’s 2012 act eliminated several previously needed permits for metal mining and directed the DEP to process other permits in a consolidated way.

Loyzim said several inconsistencies between Maine law and regulations complicate, though don’t prevent, mining permit applications.

The state has at least 10 mineral deposits, including a copper, zinc, gold and silver deposit in Bald Mountain that’s owned by J.D. Irving, the state’s largest landowner.

The proposed new rules say the DEP won’t issue a mining permit until an applicant provides full financial assurance.

Permits will be needed for advanced exploration activities from 2,000 up to 10,000 tons of mine waste, with anything higher needing the “more extensive review process” of mining permits, according to a draft of the rules.

Limited exploration activities, which the staff says are less likely to pose environmental or public health risks, won’t need permits.

The proposed rules would prohibit block caving, which involves allowing ore to cave under its own weight.

The rules would tighten groundwater monitoring requirements and require the posting of applications, comments and other materials on a new state website.

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