15-32-502. Definitions. For purposes of this part, the following definitions apply:

(1) (a) "Certified expenditures" means those costs incurred for activities in direct support of exploration activity conducted at a specific exploration site for the purpose of determining the existence, location, extent, or quality of a mineral or coal deposit. The term includes:

(i) the costs of obtaining the approvals, permits, licenses, and certificates for an exploration activity referred to in 15-32-503;

(ii) direct labor costs and the cost of benefits for employees directly associated with work described in 15-32-503;

(iii) the cost of renting or leasing equipment from parties not affiliated with the person requesting and taking the credit;

(iv) the reasonable costs of owning, maintaining, and operating equipment;

(v) insurance and bond premiums associated with the activities set out in subsections (1)(a)(i) through (1)(a)(vii);

(vi) payments to consultants and independent contractors; or

(vii) the general expense of operating the person's business, including the costs of materials and supplies, if those expenses and costs are directly attributable to the work described in 15-32-503.

(b) The term does not include return on investment, insurance or bond premiums not covered under subsection (1)(a)(v), or any other expense that the person has not incurred to complete work described in 15-32-503.

(2) "Credit" means the exploration incentive credit for activities involving mineral and coal deposits authorized by this part.

(3) "Exploration activity data list" means, as applicable, a summary of work completed during the year that includes but is not limited to:

(a) the number of core or rotary drilling holes completed;

(b) chemical analytical data available; or

(c) aerial photographs or a topographic or geologic map showing the location of the drill holes, sample locations, or the other exploration activities undertaken.

(4) "Geochemical methods" means geochemical data gathering methods, including the collection of soil, rock, water, air, vegetation, and similar samples and their chemical analyses.

(5) "Geophysical methods" means all geophysical data gathering methods used in mineral or coal exploration, including seismic, gravity, magnetic, radiometric, radar, and electromagnetic and other remote sensing measurements.

(6) "Mineral" means those substances defined as minerals by 82-4-303 and coal as defined by 82-1-111.

(7) (a) "Mining operation" includes all operating and nonoperating activities related to a mineral deposit interest and may be composed of one or more mining properties.

(b) In determining whether mining properties are part of the same mining operation, the department may consider whether the operation, in conducting mining activities on several mining properties, uses common personnel, supply and maintenance facilities, mining-related treatment processes, storage facilities, roads, pipelines, transportation equipment, and mining techniques and technology and may also consider the extent to which the mineral deposit interest comprises a common mining property.

(8) "Person" means a sole proprietorship, corporation, partnership, small business corporation as defined in 15-30-3301, or limited liability company as defined in 35-8-102.

(9) "Tax year" means the calendar year.