82-4-310. Exemption -- scale and type of activity. (1) A person is exempt from this part when the person is engaging in a mining activity that does not:

(a) use motorized excavating equipment;

(b) use blasting agents;

(c) disturb more than 100 square feet or 50 cubic yards of material at any site;

(d) leave unreclaimed sites that are less than 1 mile apart;

(e) use mercury in any operations except in a contained facility that prevents the escape of any mercury into the environment; or

(f) use a cyanide ore-processing reagent or other metal leaching solvents or reagents in any operations.

(2) A person is exempt from this part when the person is engaging in a mining activity using a suction dredge if:

(a) the dredge in use has an intake of 4 inches in diameter or less;

(b) the person does not operate the dredge beyond the area of the streambed that is naturally under water at the time of operation; and

(c) the person has obtained for the activity:

(i) project approval pursuant to Title 75, chapter 7, part 1; and

(ii) a discharge permit issued pursuant to 75-5-402 and has paid the applicable fee provided in 75-5-516(12).

(3) This part does not apply to a person who, on land owned or controlled by that person, allows other persons to engage in mining activities if those activities cumulatively meet the requirements of subsection (1).