[3-7-2023(1)]
Mineral exploration to determine the nature or extent of mineral resources accomplished by hand sampling, test boring, or other methods which create minimal disturbance of less than 100 square feet of ground surface can occur without a permit. A permit from the Code Enforcement Officer shall be required for any mineral exploration which exceeds this limitation. All excavations, including test pits and holes, shall be immediately capped, filled or secured by other equally effective measures, so as to restore disturbed areas and to protect the public health and safety.
[3-7-2023(1)]
Mineral and gravel extraction may be permitted under the following conditions:
(1) 
Reclamation plan. A reclamation plan shall be filed with and approved by the Planning Board before a permit is granted. Such plan shall describe in detail procedures to be undertaken to fulfill the requirements of Subsection (3) of this Section.
(2) 
Setbacks. Unless authorized pursuant to the Natural Resources Protection Act, 38 M.R.S.A. § 480-C, and City regulations, no part of any extraction operation, including drainage and runoff control features, shall be permitted within 100 feet of the normal high-water line of Upper Mason Pond and the portion of the Goose River that flows into this Pond, and within 75 feet of the normal high-water line of any other water body, tributary stream, or the upland edge of a wetland. Extraction operations shall not be permitted or occur within 75 feet of any property line without written permission of the owner of such adjacent property.
(3) 
Restoration of site. Within a maximum of 12 months following the completion of extraction operations at any extraction site, which operations shall be deemed complete when less than 100 cubic yards of materials are removed in any consecutive 12-month period, ground levels and grades shall be established in accordance with the following standards. Notwithstanding the 12-month time period identified above, the Planning Board shall have the authority to impose a permit condition that requires the start and completion of restorative work in a lesser period of time. The Board shall consider site conditions, potential adverse impacts to adjacent properties associated with the extraction activities and the timing of restorative work, the time of the year (season) when extraction work ceases, and past extraction activities conducted by the applicant (person/firm conducting the extraction activities) and the quality and timeliness of restorative work at other mining and gravel extraction sites in Belfast or on a project in another community that received a State permit.
a. 
All debris, stumps, and similar material shall be removed for disposal in an approved location, or shall be buried on-site. Only materials generated on-site may be buried or covered on-site. The State Solid Waste Law, 38 M.R.S.A. § 1310, and Chapter 404 of the regulations of the State Department of Environmental Protection, may contain other applicable provisions regarding disposal of such materials.
b. 
The final graded slope shall be a two-to-one slope or flatter.
c. 
Topsoil or loam shall be retained to cover all disturbed land areas, which shall be reseeded and stabilized with vegetation native to the area. Additional topsoil or loam shall be obtained from off-site sources if necessary to complete the stabilization project.
(4) 
Authority to impose additional conditions. In keeping with the purposes of this Chapter, the Planning Board may impose such conditions as are necessary to minimize the adverse impacts associated with mineral and gravel extraction operations on surrounding uses and resources.