Applying for an amendment or change to a final operating plan for mining

You can apply for approval to amend or supplement your final operating plan online via the "BergPass" platform or in writing to your competent mining authority.

Apply for approval online:

• Go to the "BergPass" online platform and log in.

• To apply, you will need a BundID and an identity card or residence permit with an active online ID function.

• Upload the required documents as a file.

Apply directly to the competent mining authority:

• You must prepare your amended final or partial final operating plan in such a way that both the approval requirements and other concerns such as groundwater and nature conservation are comprehensively described. For complex projects, it is advisable to contact your competent authority and coordinate the required application documents.
• Submit all the necessary documents to them.

Further procedural steps:

• The competent authority will check your application and the documents submitted. If any documents are missing, they will contact you.
• You will receive a notification electronically and by post informing you of the decision on your application.
• The approval may contain ancillary provisions (requirements, conditions, time limits), which you must comply with accordingly and whose implementation and compliance will be checked by the mining authority.
• You will also receive a notice of costs. Pay the fees.

Rhineland-Palatinate State Office for Geology and Mining (LGB)

Certain requirements must be met in order to obtain approval for your modified final or partial final operating plan:

• You must prove that you are taking all necessary safety measures to prevent risks to the life and health of employees and third parties - even if you have stopped your work. The protection of material assets must also be guaranteed by the measures,
• Your work must not impair other mineral resources whose protection is in the public interest.
• The ground surface must be protected in the interests of personal safety and public traffic.
• The waste produced must be properly reused or disposed of.
• You must ensure that
  • the surfaces are subsequently made usable again to the extent required by the circumstances,
  • the safety of other mining operations is not jeopardized,
  • the cessation of operations does not have any harmful consequences for the general public and
  • in the case of mining operations in the area of the continental shelf or coastal waters, the removal of the operational facilities down to the seabed is ensured.
• You may have to provide the competent authority with proof of a security deposit with an appropriate sum insured to cover the above-mentioned risks.

You can clarify which documents are required in your case together with your responsible mining authority. The following documents are generally required:

• Reference to the final operating plan/partial final operating plan and its approval,
• Description of the reasons, the reason for the amendment or change to be applied for and subsequently, if necessary:
  • Precise description of the technical measures for the cessation of operations,
  • precise description of the planned duration, e.g. detailed timetable,
  • Evidence that you meet the legal requirements for the approval of operating plans.
• If applicable, operating history in duplicate with the following information:
  • Name of the extraction operation with the name of the municipality and district in which the operation is located,
  • Name and address of your company and, if you do not also hold the authorization to extract, the name and address of the holder of this authorization,
  • Description of the mineral resources extracted, including available chemical analyses, in the case of coal and hydrocarbons, stating the calorific value,
  • Description of the other mineral resources encountered, stating the knowledge gained about them during operation, as well as details of any difficulties encountered during operation in terms of mining technology and safety,
  • Information on the intended use of the extracted mineral resources,
  • a description of the technical and economic operating conditions and, if a mine plan was not kept, a graphic representation of the mining project,
  • information on the date of commissioning and cessation of mining operations and the reasons for cessation,
  • a description of the deposit, including a list of mineral resources and stockpiles,
  • Description of the processing facilities (type, throughput and output of finished products including available chemical analyses),
  • Description of the traffic situation and the essential conditions of the extraction operation for the transportation of the sales products.

You may only start your planned mining work once you have received approval of your amended final operating plan.

• § Section 53 of the Federal Mining Act (BBergG)
• § Section 55 of the Federal Mining Act (BBergG)

• Objection, which is processed by the responsible mining authority.
• If necessary, subsequent appeal to the administrative court

09.12.2024
09.12.2024