The operator shall insure that all reclamation efforts proceed in an environmentally sound manner and as contemporaneously as practicable with the surface coal mining operations. Where the applicant proposes to combine surface mining operations with underground mining operations to assure maximum practical recovery of the coal and other mineral resources, the Department may grant a variance for specific areas within the reclamation plan from the requirement that reclamation efforts proceed as contemporaneously as practicable to permit underground mining operations prior to reclamation:
1. If the Department finds in writing that:
a. the applicant has presented, as part of the permit application, specific, feasible plans for the proposed underground mining operations,
b. the proposed underground mining operations are necessary or desirable to assure maximum practical recovery of the coal and other mineral resources and will avoid multiple disturbance of the surface,
c. the applicant has satisfactorily demonstrated that the plan for the underground mining operations conforms to requirements for underground mining in the jurisdiction and that permits necessary for the underground mining operations have been issued,
d. the areas proposed for the variance have been shown by the applicant to be necessary for the implementing of the proposed underground mining operations,
e. no substantial adverse environmental damage, either on-site or off-site, will result from the delay in completion of reclamation as required by this act, and
f. provisions for the off-site storage of spoil will comply with the requirements of this act;
2. If the United States Secretary of the Interior has promulgated specific regulations to govern the granting of such variances in accordance with the provisions of federal law, and has imposed such additional requirements as he deems necessary;
3. If variances granted under the provisions of this section are to be reviewed by the Department not more than three (3) years from the date of issuance of the permit; and
4. If liability under the bond filed by the applicant with the Department shall be for the duration of the underground mining operations and until the requirements of this act have been fully complied with.
Laws 1979, c. 249, § 25, emerg. eff. June 1, 1979.
Structure Oklahoma Statutes
§45-1.2. Violation of Board order - Notice - Hearing - Misdemeanor - Injunction - Action.
§45-1.3. Hearings - Hearing officer - Judicial review.
§45-1.4. Inspection of mines - Mining records.
§45-1.5. Rules and regulations.
§45-1a. Powers and duties of Commission.
§45-1b. Chief Mine Inspector - Director.
§45-1c. Powers and duties of Director.
§45-1d. Additional powers and duties of Director.
§45-1f. Oklahoma Miner Training Institute - Duties.
§45-1g. Department of Environmental Quality - Regulation of certain mining activities.
§45-2. Certificates of competency - Violations - Examinations - Qualification.
§45-3. Chief Mine Inspector - Assistant Mine Inpectors.
§45-3.1. Director of Department of Mines.
§45-5. Certificates - Contents - Fees.
§45-31. Chief Mine Inspector - Annual report to Governor.
§45-32. Examinations of mines.
§45-33. Journal of inspections - Official communications - Equipment and material.
§45-34. Office - Property of state.
§45-37. Withdrawal of person's from dangerous mine - Violations - Penalties.
§45-40. Obstruction of inspectors - Penalty.
§45-41. Disputes between operators and miners.
§45-44. Special counsel in certain proceedings involving Attorney General.
§45-45. Study of mining laws - Recommendations and proposed legislation.
§45-46. Market study and sulfur emissions standards study - Recommendations.
§45-47. Funding of activities.
§45-48. Borrow pits - Jurisdiction.
§45-412. Mine inspectors - Duties.
§45-413. Mine inspector to require compliance with act.
§45-414. Examination and inspection of mines - Time and manner.
§45-415. Dangerous conditions - Additional shafts.
§45-416. Health of employees - Underground excavations - Ventilation.
§45-417. Dust - Water lines - Sprinkling attachments.
§45-418. Loss of life or injury - Duty of operator and inspector.
§45-419. Shaft hoisting engineers - Age and experience - Duties - Loading and unloading.
§45-421. Shaft collars - Cribbing and timbering - Pipes and air lines.
§45-424. Explosives - Storage, transportation, handling and use.
§45-434. Orders of Mining Inspector - Review.
§45-435. Neglect or failure to perform requirements - Penalty.
§45-436. Open mine shafts - Covering - Approval - Penalties.
§45-437. Interference with protective covering devices - Penalties.
§45-442. Use of engines not meeting standards prohibited.
§45-477. May stop mining, when.
§45-478. Penalty for obstruction.
§45-502. Maps to be corrected every six months.
§45-503. Mine inspectors to be furnished copies of maps.
§45-504. Penalty for failure to furnish map copies.
§45-505. Conduct of developments.
§45-506. Ventilation - Construction of air and hoisting shafts.
§45-507. Openings to be separated by natural strata.
§45-508. Shaft not more than seventy-five feet deep.
§45-509. Hoisting machinery in shaft over seventy-five feet deep.
§45-510. Angle of traveled slope.
§45-511. Inspection of hoisting equipment and stairs.
§45-512. Safety equipment for shafts.
§45-513. Quality and testing of chains.
§45-514. Number of persons lowered or hoisted at one time.
§45-515. Inspection - Guard railings.
§45-518. Ventilating fans and doors.
§45-519. Mines to be kept free from gas.
§45-522. Electric wires to be insulated.
§45-523. Machines to be shielded - Electric pumps.
§45-524. Use of oil and grease.
§45-525. Precautions in dangerous workings.
§45-527. Precautions against dust or explosive matter.
§45-528.1. Water on cutter bars and rock drills - Use required.
§45-528.2. Violations by mine owners, operators, etc.
§45-528.3. Violations by miners and persons operating drills or machines.
§45-529. Workers' compensation coverage - Penalties - Exceptions.
§45-580. Punishment for offense.
§45-603. Cheating by molesting check numbers on cars.
§45-604. Punishment for offense.
§45-614. Definition of special terms.
§45-615. Violations of statute as misdemeanors - Civil liability.
§45-616. Construction of sewage or drainage facilities into operating or abandoned mine - Penalty.
§45-722. Declaration of policy.
§45-724. Permits - Limited Use Permits - Applications - Bond - Permit or bond release applications.
§45-725. Procedure for reclaiming land.
§45-726. Refuse disposal areas.
§45-729. Violations - Notice - Hearing - Enforcement - Informing of surface owners.
§45-732. Powers and duties of Department.
§45-734. Chief Mine Inspector.
§45-735. Sand and gravel - Inspections - Penalties.
§45-737. Governmental agencies to conform.
§45-740.2. Legislative findings - Purpose.
§45-740.3. Powers and duties of Commission.
§45-740.4. Participation in Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund.
§45-745.2. Term of permit - Fee - Transferability.
§45-745.3. Termination of permit - Extension.
§45-745.4. Renewal of permit - Application - Burden of proof - Term.
§45-745.8. Criteria for approval of permit or revision application.
§45-745.10. Revision of permit.
§45-745.13. Objections to application for permit - Informal conference - Hearings.
§45-745.14. Findings - Notice to applicant - Hearing on findings.
§45-745.16.1. Small operator assistance program.
§45-745.18. Impoundments of water on mining sites.
§45-745.19. Augering operations.
§45-745.20. Disposal of wastes.
§45-745.21. Surface mining near active and abandoned underground mines.
§45-745.22. Reclamation efforts - Variances.
§45-747. Backfilling, compacting, and grading.
§45-748. Conditions where backfilling, compacting, and grading are necessary.
§45-749. Restoring excess overburden, spoils and waste materials.
§45-750. Removal and restoration of topsoil.
§45-751. Disturbances to hydrologic balance.
§45-753. Explosives - Rules and regulations.
§45-754. Reestablishment of native flora - Length of liability.
§45-754.1. Spoil material - Placement.
§45-754.2. Performance standards.
§45-755. Steep slope surface mining - Performance standards - Exemptions.
§45-757. Prime farmland - Soil restoration - Exemptions.
§45-760. Mine operators - Duties.
§45-760.1. Suspension of underground mining in certain areas.
§45-760.2. Application of act to surface operations - Modifications.
§45-761. Licenses and permits - Display - Inspection.
§45-765. Data collection and analysis.
§45-766. Right of entry - Inspections - Signs - Violations - Public inspection of records, etc.
§45-767. Conflicts of interest - Violations.
§45-768. Reports of violations of act - Informal review - Inspection procedure.
§45-770. Release of performance bond or deposit - Application.
§45-771. Release of performance bond or deposit - Inspection and evaluation of reclamation work.
§45-774. Civil actions to compel compliance with act - Exceptions.
§45-775. Inspection of violations.
§45-777. Abatement of violation - Notice - Hearing - Cessation orders.
§45-778. Suspension or revocation of permit.
§45-779. Notices and orders - Requirements.
§45-783. Limitations on surface coal mining operations.
§45-784. Cooperative agreements with federal government.
§45-787. Appeal of order or other action.
§45-788. Enforcement or protection of interest in water resources - Replacement of water supply.
§45-789. Rules and regulations.
§45-790. Unconstitutionality of Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (P.L. 95-87).
§45-791. Federal rules and regulations - Compliance - Reimbursement for costs.
§45-791.1. Alternative reclamation practices.
§45-792. Assistance of state agencies.
§45-793. Federally inspected reclamation activities.
§45-852. Governor as ex officio member.
§45-853. Supplementary agreements - Legislative appropriation.
§45-902. Certificate of competency - Violations - Examinations - First-aid certificates.
§45-903. Certification of applicants - Fees.
§45-904. Records - Rights and duties of certificate holders.
§45-905. Revocation of certificates - Notice.
§45-907. Inspection and examination of active strip and surface mines - Reports - Recommendations.
§45-908. Employment of certified strip pit mine foreman.
§45-909. Foreman - Duties and responsibilities.
§45-910. Proper ground control - Rules and procedures.
§45-911. Explosives - Rules and procedures for storage.
§45-912. Drilling for blasting - Rules and procedures.
§45-913. Loading, hauling or dumping - Rules and procedures.
§45-914. Travelways - Rules and procedures.
§45-915. Electricity - Rules and procedures.
§45-916. Equipment - Rules and procedures.
§45-917. Personal protection - Rules and procedures.
§45-918. Augering - Rules and procedures.
§45-919. General rules and procedures.
§45-931. Operator's fee - Disposition - Production report and forms.
§45-932. Delinquent reports and fees - Penalty - Time extension.
§45-933. Failure to report - Ascertainment of coal mined - Determination of fees - Penalty.
§45-934. Lien for fees - Perfecting - Notice - Indexing - Release
§45-935. Collection of delinquent fees.
§45-938. Department of Mines Revolving Fund.
§45-938.1. Oklahoma Miner Training Institute Revolving Fund.
§45-939. Coal-fired electric generating plants - Burning Oklahoma coal.
§45-939.1. Cost increases to consumers and impairment of certain contracts prohibited.