(1)(a) Except as provided in par. (b), an applicant for a mining permit is not required to pay any application or filing fee for any approval other than a mining permit, notwithstanding any fee required under ch. 23, 29, 30, 31, 169, 281, 283, 285, 289, or 291, or rules promulgated under those chapters.(b) An applicant for a mining permit shall pay any fee required under s. 281.343(3) (c) 1(3)(a) The department shall assess an applicant a fee equal to its costs, other than costs of a contract under par. (d), for evaluating the mining project, including the costs for consultants retained by the department to evaluate the application for the mining permit and the application for any other approval, or $2,000,000, whichever is less.(b) The applicant shall pay the fees under par. (a) as follows: 1. One hundred thousand dollars shall be paid at the time that the bulk sampling plan is filed under s. 295.45 or at the time that the notice of the intention to file a mining permit application is filed, whichever is first.2. Two hundred fifty thousand dollars when the department provides cost information demonstrating that the payment under subd. 1. has been fully allocated against actual costs.3. Two hundred fifty thousand dollars when the department provides cost information demonstrating that the payment under subd. 2. has been fully allocated against actual costs.4. Two hundred fifty thousand dollars when the department provides cost information demonstrating that the payment under subd. 3. has been fully allocated against actual costs.5. Two hundred fifty thousand dollars when the department provides cost information demonstrating that the payment under subd. 4. has been fully allocated against actual costs.6. Two hundred fifty thousand dollars when the department provides cost information demonstrating that the payment under subd. 5. has been fully allocated against actual costs.7. Two hundred fifty thousand dollars when the department provides cost information demonstrating that the payment under subd. 6. has been fully allocated against actual costs.8. Two hundred fifty thousand dollars when the department provides cost information demonstrating that the payment under subd. 7. has been fully allocated against actual costs.9. One hundred fifty thousand dollars when the department provides cost information demonstrating that the payment under subd. 8. has been fully allocated against actual costs.(c) After the department approves or denies the application for a mining permit or, if the applicant withdraws the application for a mining permit, after the applicant withdraws the application, the department shall refund to the applicant any amount paid by the applicant under par. (a) but not fully allocated against the department's actual costs.(d) In addition to the fees under par. (a), if the department contracts under s. 295.53(1) with a consultant to assist in preparation of an environmental impact statement and awards the contract on the basis of competitive bids, the applicant shall pay the full costs as provided in the contract.(e) In addition to the fees under par. (a), the department may assess an applicant a fee equal to the department's costs in providing wetland determinations and wetland boundary delineations under s. 295.60(2).(4) Subchapter VI of ch. 289 does not apply to mining waste disposed of in a mining waste site covered by a mining permit, except that an operator shall pay the fees specified in ss. 289.63(4), 289.64(3), and 289.67(1) (d).Added by Acts 2013 ch, 1,s 96, eff. 3/26/2013.