The Board of Environmental Protection on Thursday morning will hold a hearing on the state’s latest mining rules. Legislators in 2011 passed a law streamlining the mining permitting process, but lawmakers have since twice refused to accept the Department of Environmental Protection’s proposed rules making the law effective.

GOP Gov. Paul LePage has criticized the lawmakers for failing to follow the democratic process.

J.D. Irving mining subsidiary Aroostook Resources says that Maine’s mining regulations are so mismatched they’ve effectively shut down an industry that could employ thousands of people.

The latest rules would let companies conduct small exploration activities without a permit and sets up permitting processes for bigger mining operations.