Ramona Monroe

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Ramona Monroe focuses her practice on federal, state and local permitting processes particularly for energy projects. Her experience includes hydroelectric facility relicensing and decommissioning, aggregate mining and processing, and oil and gas development.

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Alaska Proposes New Surface Coal Mining Regulations

By Ramona Monroe and Nick Redmond on Posted in Alaska, Mining, Regulation
The Alaska Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has issued a notice of proposed amendments to the regulations regarding surface coal mining in Title 11 of the Alaska Administrative Code (AAC). The DNR proposes to implement program amendments from the federal Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement required to maintain the state’s primacy over the … Continue Reading

Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities Proposes Regulation Changes

By Shannon Bleicher and Ramona Monroe on Posted in Alaska
The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOTPF) issued notice of proposed regulation amendments to Title 17 of the Alaska Administrative Code dealing with rural airport rental and fees. The existing rental rate regulation applicable to rural airports in Alaska, 17 AAC 45.127, includes a schedule which provides an annual 10% increase to the … Continue Reading

Changes to Alaska’s Mining Laws – Qualification Statutes

By Ramona Monroe and Shannon Bleicher on Posted in Alaska, Mining
Senate Bill 155, amending Alaska’s mineral tenure statutes, took effect April 30, but also addresses certain historical events affecting state mining claims. As previously reported, the amendments clarify who can hold state mining rights. But maybe more importantly, the law now addresses the effect of past qualification issues on the validity of the mineral interests. … Continue Reading

Draft North Slope Area Plan Available for Public Review and Comment

By Ramona Monroe and Ryan Steen on Posted in Alaska, Oil & Gas
Stoel Rives is actively monitoring developments in the North Slope Area Plan (NSAP).  This week, the Public Review Draft of the NSAP was issued for public review and comment. Comments must be received by mail, email, fax, or through the online public comment portal by not later than July 15, 2020. Comments may also be hand delivered to … Continue Reading

Alaska’s Mineral Tenure Statutes Amended

By Ramona Monroe and Shannon Bleicher on Posted in Alaska, Mining
Governor Mike Dunleavy signed Senate Bill (“SB”) 155 amending Alaska’s mineral tenure statutes, effective April 30, 2020. The legislation addresses issues regarding qualification to hold state mining claims, location of claims, statements of annual labor, and automatic abandonment of mining claims. The amendments and additions to the statutes clarify a number of issues and assure … Continue Reading

Alaska DNR Issues Guidance for Placer Mining Operations During COVID-19

By Ramona Monroe and Shannon Bleicher on Posted in Alaska, COVID-19, Mining
The Department of Natural Resources (“DNR”) Division of Mining, Land and Water has issued guidance for placer mining operations to comply with the state’s COVID-19 health mandates. Mining is identified as “critical infrastructure” in the Alaska Essential Services and Critical Workforce Infrastructure Order. Before traveling to their placer operation, and while at their operation, miners … Continue Reading

Alaska Suspends Fees for Easements, Rights-of-Way, and Mining Leases

By Ramona Monroe and Shannon Bleicher on Posted in Alaska, COVID-19, Mining, Regulation
State of Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy has issued COVID-19 Disaster Order of Suspension No 2, suspending a long list of statutory and regulatory provisions. The list of suspended statutes includes AS 38.05.850 which authorizes the state to grant easements and rights-of-way for roads, pipelines, and other facilities associated with the extraction of minerals. Under such authorizations, … Continue Reading

Alaska DNR Issues Notice of Public Scoping for Possible Appeal Regulations Revisions

By Shannon Bleicher and Ramona Monroe on Posted in Alaska, Regulation
The Alaska Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is soliciting public comment regarding potential regulation revisions involving the process for filing and handling appeals and requests for reconsideration under 11 AAC 02. No specific regulations are being proposed at this time. Rather, DNR is seeking public input and suggestions before the department begins drafting proposed regulations. DNR is … Continue Reading

Rental Rate Increases Go into Effect for State of Alaska Mining Claims, Leasehold Locations, Prospecting Sites, and Mining Leases

By Joe Perkins and Ramona Monroe on Posted in Alaska, Mining
New rental rates are now in effect for state mining claims, leasehold locations, prospecting sites, and mining leases in Alaska. The new rental rates became effective on August 30, 2019, and thus are applicable to the rental year that commenced on September 1, 2019. These increases were made by the State of Alaska Department of Natural Resources … Continue Reading

National Park Service Regulations Do Not Apply to Inholdings in Alaska

By Ramona Monroe, Joe Perkins and Veronica Keithley on Posted in Alaska, Mining
Alaska is different—it has moose hunters on hovercrafts, many large national parks, and certain unique federal laws. Last week the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously held that National Park Service laws and regulations of general applicability do not apply to inholdings within Alaska’s national parks. Sturgeon v. Frost, 587 U.S. ___ (2019). While on a moose … Continue Reading

Alaska Department of Natural Resources Seeks Input on Mining Regulations – Comments Due 4/29/16

By Veronica Keithley and Ramona Monroe on Posted in Alaska, Mining, Regulation
The Alaska DNR is requesting public comments on its mining regulations for establishing and maintaining mining claims – 11 AAC Chapter 86. These regulations (as well as related regulations at 11 AAC 82 and 11 AAC 88) establish or address many of the requirements for locating claims on state lands, performing assessment work, paying rent, filing production … Continue Reading

Services Propose New Regulations For Incidental Take Under the Endangered Species Act

By Ramona Monroe on Posted in Legislation
On September 4, 2013, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) jointly proposed new regulations governing the issuance of “incidental take statements” (ITSs) under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The purpose of these proposed regulations is to codify existing agency practices regarding the identification of take … Continue Reading

Supreme Court Rejects Logging Road Permit Requirement – Will Oil and Gas Benefit?

By Ramona Monroe on Posted in Oil & Gas
On March 20, 2013, the Supreme Court ruled in Decker v. Northwest Environmental Defense Center 586 U.S. (2013) that storm water discharges from logging roads do not require an NPDES permit under the CWA. The decision turns largely on deference to EPA’s interpretation of its own regulations. Whether this holding will be extended to mining or … Continue Reading

Alaska Gets Into the Fracking Regulation Game

By Ramona Monroe on Posted in Alaska, California, Fracking
On December 20, the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (AOGCC) released proposed regulations governing hydraulic fracturing. The regulations would require AOGCC approval to conduct fracking activities. For comparison, California recently released a “discussion draft” of potential regulations which would impose certain requirements on fracking operations but would not require additional approval (see California Environmental … Continue Reading

Now Is The Time For Increased Due Diligence Scrutiny – Focus on Permits

By Ramona Monroe on Posted in Mining, Permitting
As the economy continues to struggle, we see more consolidation in the aggregate industry.  Deals that seems like a bargain, may include significant problems and liabilities.  It is more important than ever to know what you are getting when acquiring existing operations.  An acquiring company should not assume that all permits are in order simply … Continue Reading
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