A mine license is required to mine sand, gravel, rock to be crushed and used in construction, pegmatite minerals; and limestone, iron ore, sand, gypsum, or shale used to make cement or lime; or dredging for commercial resale. Mining of all other minerals requires a mining permit.
For information on mine licenses for sand, gravel, rock to be crushed and used in construction, pegmatite minerals, and limestone, iron ore, sand, gypsum, or shale used to make cement or lime, please email Thomas Cline or Bret Graves, or contact them at (605) 773-4201.
Landowners that mine sand and gravel for their own personal use and do not sell it are exempt from mine licensing requirements.
Prior to the commencement of mining, an operator must submit a reclamation bond in the amount of $500 per acre of affected land. In lieu of submitting a reclamation bond for each operation, an operator may submit a $20,000 statewide reclamation surety to cover all operations throughout the state. Units of state and local government are exempt from bonding requirements.
The law that applies to Sand, Gravel, and Construction Aggregate Mining is (SDCL 45-6)
To download mine license application and other forms, please go to the DANR Applications & Forms web page. If you cannot download the forms, please e-mail your name and address to Thomas Cline or Bret Graves and the forms will be sent to you.
To learn more about other permits that may be required for mine license operations, please go to the one stop permitting page. Also, the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has additional requirements for mining operations in South Dakota. Please contact their district field office at (605) 348-2076 or check the MSHA web page at MSHA.GOV for more information.