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Applying for an amendment or change to a final operating plan for mining

  • Bauen und Immobilien

If your company explores, extracts or processes mineral resources in a certain area and wishes to cease work, you must draw up a final operating plan. If you wish to amend or supplement the approved final operating plan, you must apply for approval from the mining authority.

  • Basic information

    You need an approved final operating plan in order to be able to carry out the measures to cease operations. An operating plan is an instrument used in German mining law to monitor operations.

    If you wish to supplement or amend the measures described in the operating plan, you must apply for this. In the application, you refer to the original application and explain what you wish to add or amend. Depending on the significance of the amendment or addition, extensive explanations and planning documents may be required for the planned mining measures, for example with regard to

    • Location and extent,
    • technical implementation
    • time planning,
    • possible effects on humans and the environment,
    • measures to avoid and minimize negative effects on the environment
    • operational and occupational safety.

    Once the work has been carried out and the official acceptance has been granted, the mining supervision for the operation or sub-area is terminated. This amendment or modification of the final operating plan must be approved by the mining authority of the federal state in which your mining project is located.

    All effects resulting from the amendment or modification must be described, for example

    • Exact description of the scope (which areas are affected and which measures are to be implemented)
    • Precise description of the technical measures,
    • Duration of the measures,
    • Further information on:
      • Protection of employees and third parties even after cessation of operations
      • Impairment of mineral resources worthy of protection
      • Protection of the surface
      • Proper waste disposal
      • Reutilization of the operational area including removal of operational facilities and equipment or their alternative use
      • Measures to ensure that another operation is not jeopardized by the closure
      • Prevention of harmful effects on the public
    • If applicable, operating history

    Requirements

    In order for you to obtain approval for your amended or supplemented final operating plan, certain requirements must be met and evidence must be provided if you have not already provided this in the final operating plan:

    • You must prove that you are taking all necessary safety measures to prevent risks to life, health and to protect property, employees and third parties - even if you have stopped your work.
    • Your work must not impair other mineral resources whose protection is in the public interest.
    • The surface of the ground must be protected in the interests of personal safety and public traffic.
    • The waste produced must be properly reused or disposed of.
    • You must ensure that:
      • the surfaces are subsequently made usable again to the extent required by the circumstances,
      • the safety of other mining operations is not jeopardized,
      • the cessation of operations does not have any harmful consequences for the general public and
      • in the case of mining operations in the area of the continental shelf or coastal waters: the removal of the operational facilities down to the seabed is ensured.
    • You may have to provide the competent authority with proof of a security deposit with an appropriate sum insured to cover the above-mentioned risks.

  • Procedure

    You can apply for approval to amend or supplement your final operating plan online via the "BergPass" platform or in writing to your competent mining authority.

    Apply for approval online via the "BergPass" platform:

    • Call up the "BergPass" online platform and log in.
      • To apply, you will need a bundID and an identity card or residence permit with an active online ID function.
    • Upload the required documents as a file.

    Apply directly to the responsible mining authority for approval:

    • You must prepare your supplement or amendment to the final operating plan in such a way that both the approval requirements and other concerns such as groundwater and nature conservation are comprehensively described. For complex projects, it is advisable to contact your responsible mining authority and coordinate the required application documents.
    • Submit all the necessary documents to your competent mining authority.

    Further procedural steps:

    • The competent authority will review your application and the documents submitted. If any documents are missing, the authority will contact you.
    • Although the mining authority alone decides on the approval, it usually involves the public authorities: If your final or partial final operating plan contains measures that affect the remit of other authorities or the municipalities as planning authorities, the mining authority will include these in the approval procedure, especially as your operation will be transferred to a different legal regime after the termination of mining supervision.
    • You will receive a notification electronically and by post informing you of the decision on your application.
    • The approval may contain ancillary provisions (requirements, conditions, time limits), which you must comply with accordingly and whose implementation and compliance will be checked by the mining authority.
    • You will also receive a notification of costs. Pay the fees.

    More information

    Legal remedy:

    • Objection, which is processed by the competent mining authority
    • If necessary, subsequent appeal to the administrative court

  • Necessary Documents
    • You should clarify with your competent mining authority which additional documents are required in your case.

      You only need to describe the amendments or additions and their consequences.

      The following documents are generally required:

      • Precise description of the scope (which areas are affected and which measures are to be implemented)
      • Precise description of the technical measures,
      • Duration of the measures,
      • If necessary, further details:
        • Protection of employees and third parties, even after cessation of operations
        • Impairment of mineral resources worthy of protection
        • Protection of the surface
        • Proper waste disposal
        • Reutilization of the operational area including removal of operational facilities and equipment or their alternative use
        • Measures to ensure that another operation is not jeopardized by the closure
        • Prevention of harmful effects on the public
      • If applicable, operating history

  • Competent Department

  • Online Services

  • Fees / Costs

    172,50 EUR bis 1.725,00 EUR Several factors are included in the calculation of the actual costs, such as the economic value, the time required, expert opinions and expenses for official business outside the office or advice to the contractor plus the costs for the involvement of other authorities.

  • Deadlines & processing time

    What deadlines must be paid attention to?

    You may only start your planned mining work once you have received approval of your amended final operating plan.

    How long does it take to process

    2 weeks bis 6 months The processing time varies greatly depending on the scope and complexity of the planned measures. As a guide, you can expect processing times of a few weeks to several months.

  • Legal Bases

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This page has been automatically translated by DeepL. We cannot guarantee that the translation is correct.

The official information in German is complete and correct. 24.02.2026

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