SF1291 Summary

• Amends Minnesota Statutes Chapter 180 to modernize and clarify mine inspector appointment, qualifications, and duties provisions.

• Removes outdated salary caps ($7,500 annually) and bond requirements ($5,000) for mine inspectors while maintaining practical experience requirements of at least two years in mining.

• Expands inspector duties to cover all mining operations with permits from the commissioner of natural resources, requires inspections at least every 90 days, and defines "reportable accidents" to include deaths, serious injuries, fires, explosions, and other specific mine incidents.

• Establishes new definitions section (Section 180.015) clarifying terms including "mine inspector," "mine waste," "mining operation," and "reportable accident" with detailed criteria.

• Repeals sections 180.06 and 180.09 and removes the aquaculture exemption from fencing requirements for abandoned mines, while allowing counties to seek reimbursement for costs of erecting required safety barriers.