This collection is a sub-subgroup (Bureau) of the Montana Department of Environmental Quality records, RS 494. The Mining Bureau (formerly named Hard Rock Bureau and Environmental Management Bureau) currently (as of 2024) operates within the Air, Energy, and Mining Division. Please see the primary finding aid for more Montana Department of Environmental Quality records. This collection (1970-1998) is comprised of records documenting the work of the Mining Bureau and includes case files and subject files.

This collection is primarily composed of retired case files, most of which come from the Hard Rock Bureau when it was a part of Department of State Lands. These case files consist of operating permits for larger mines; denied operating permits for larger mines; and the files of small miners that did not disturb the land, successfully completed reclamation, did not complete reclamation, or whose claim was released due to death.

An operating permit file may include application materials, operating permit, maps and drawings, reclamation plans, and correspondence. A denied operating permit file can include the application, maps and drawings, reclamation plans, amendments, deficiencies responses, and correspondence.

A small miner file may include the Small Miner Exclusion Statement, annual reports filed by the miner, field inspection reports, maps and drawings, and correspondence. The small miner files occasionally include information about the death of the miner, such as a note from the spouse or an obituary, indicating that the file should be closed.

Also contained in this collection are subject files that document the application process of larger mines/mining companies, namely Noranda’s Montanore Mining project, Crown Butte Mines Inc.’s New World Mining project, the Montana Gold project (“Seven-Up Pete Joint Venture Gold Mine”), and a Zortman and Landusky mining project. These subject files include draft Environmental Impact Statements, public comment letters regarding proposed mining applications, and technical papers.