Sec. 2. (a) A permittee may not transfer, assign, or sell the rights granted under a permit without the written approval of the director.
(b) A successor in interest to a permittee who:
(1) applies for a new permit within thirty (30) days of succeeding to the interest; and
(2) obtains the bond coverage of the original permittee;
may continue the surface coal mining and reclamation operations according to the approved mining and reclamation plan of the original permittee until the successor's application is granted or denied.