12. It provides that all excavations below the seasonal high water table require a variance from the department by removing limiting language under the quarry law.

13. It amends the standard of the quarry law standard addressing roads, rights-of-way and natural buffer strips to provide that a natural buffer at least 50 feet wide must be maintained between the working edge of an excavation and any public easement that does not contain a road. It also provides that when a variance is allowed from the public road standard, it may not result in a natural buffer strip of less than 50 feet between the working edge of the excavation and any road or right- of-way, whichever is farther from the excavation. The buffer along a public road other than a scenic highway may be reduced if there is a public entity or entities with authority to grant permission and the applicant receives permission in writing from each authority.

14. It provides that any written permission to reduce a buffer from a property line under the laws governing quarries must remain in effect until mining ceases and must be recorded in the registry of deeds.

15. It amends the erosion and sedimentation standard in the quarry law to provide that areas that are not naturally internally drained must meet the standards of the laws governing erosion and sedimentation control in Title 38, section 420-C.

16. It repeals and replaces the existing surface water protection and storm water standard in the quarry law to clarify when the standards of storm water management must be met in regard to externally drained areas and when a discharge must meet standards and obtain authorization pursuant to the laws governing waste discharge if required.

17. It adds a numeric standard for fugitive dust emissions in the laws governing quarries.

18. It changes the range for a preblast survey from 2000 feet to 1/2 mile, consistent with federal requirements.

19. It authorizes the department to grant a release from requirements of the quarry law after reclamation of the affected area. The department would be required to inspect the site before the release, and the release would terminate if any further excavation was proposed on the parcel.