The Program covers all aspects of the regulation of active coal mines, including permitting, performance bonds, reclamation plans, and provides for public participation in the permitting, bonding and release of performance bonds.

The Program also performs inspections of surface coal mining operations for compliance with environmental protection performance standards, issues Notices of Violation and Cessation Orders when necessary, assesses Civil Penalties, and makes follow-up inspections to ensure compliance with the Louisiana Surface Mining and Reclamation Act and the Louisiana Surface Mining Regulations.

Solid mineral (including sand and gravel) mines do not require a mining permit from the Department of Energy and Natural Resources, but may require several permits from other agencies.   Please refer to the Non-Coal Mining Information page for important contact information. 

• Permitting coal mining operations
• Inspecting coal mines
• Review of designs and proposals for new and existing coal mines

• Public Participaton
  Public Participation Procedures for Applications Associated with Permitted Surface Coal Mining and Reclamation Operations (09/05/1986)
• Confidentiality
  Procedures for Insuring Confidentiality of Information: Surface Coal Mining Application (06/01/1990)
• Policy Statement No. PS-1
  Blaster Certification Requirements, Surface Coal Mining and Reclamation Operations (06/01/1990)
• Policy Statement No. PS-2
  Violations Review Criteria: Improvidently Issued Permits (06/01/1990)
• Policy Statement No. PS-3
  Clean Water Act, Water Quality Standards (08/31/1990)
• Policy Statement No. PS-4
  Probable Hydrologic Consequences (PHC) Determinations (10/31/1991)
• Policy Statement No. PS-5
  Revegetation Success Standards for Tree and Shrub Stocking on Lands with a Post-Mining Use of Forestry (08/24/1994)
• Policy Statement No. PS-6
  Negative Prime-Farmland Determinations (08/10/1996)

• Surface Mining Permit Applicaiton (Form SMD-4) and Guidance Document
  Form SMD-4 and the Technical Guidelines for Surface Mining Permit Applications (04/1996)
• Probable Hydrologic Consequences Guidance
  Handbook of Geologic and Hydrologic Data Requirements for Preparation of the Probable Hydrologic Consequences (04/1991)
• Technical Guidelines
  Revegetation Success Standards for Post Mining Land Use of Forestry (08/2019)

LSM-1-A 2020-2025 Permit Renewal:

• LSM-1-A 2020-2025 Permit Renewal Full Text
  
• LSM-1-A 2020-2025 Permit Renewal Section 1 Exhibits
  
• LSM-1-A 2020-2025 Permit Renewal Section 8 Exhibits
  
• LSM-1-A 2020-2025 Permit Renewal Section 9 Exhibits
  

LSM-5 2020 Permit Revision:

• LSM-5 2020 Permit Revision