Arkansas Surface Coal Mining and Reclamation Act
Arkansas · Natural Resources and Economic Development · §§ 15-58-101 to 15-58-510 · 46 sections
Overview
This act regulates surface coal mining and reclamation, placing those operations — along with related exploration activity and the surface effects of underground mining — under the oversight of a state commission empowered to adopt rules, issue permits, and enforce compliance. Operators must obtain a permit before mining, submitting reclamation and blasting plans, proof of liability insurance, and application fees, subject to public inspection of the application and notice requirements, with limited exemptions for small operations and certain other activities. It also creates a petition-and-hearing process for designating land as unsuitable for surface coal mining, protects prime farmland, water rights, and aquifers, and provides for blaster certification, ongoing monitoring and inspection, and cooperative agreements with the federal government.
Editorial summary generated from the text of this act. It is not part of the statute — read the sections below for the operative language.
In the courts
Sections of this act have been cited in 1 court decision.
Most-cited authority: 182 W. Va. 506 - Russell v. Island Creek Coal Co.
Sections covered
- Ark. Code Ann. § 15-58-101Title
- Ark. Code Ann. § 15-58-102Legislative findings
- Ark. Code Ann. § 15-58-103Declaration of policy
- Ark. Code Ann. § 15-58-104Definitions
- Ark. Code Ann. § 15-58-105Public agencies, utilities, and corporations
- Ark. Code Ann. § 15-58-106Exempt activities
- Ark. Code Ann. § 15-58-107Water rights and replacement1 cite
- Ark. Code Ann. § 15-58-201Division — Jurisdiction, powers, and duties
- Ark. Code Ann. § 15-58-202Commission — Powers and duties
- Ark. Code Ann. § 15-58-203Director — Powers and duties
- Ark. Code Ann. § 15-58-204Adoption of rules
- Ark. Code Ann. § 15-58-205Inspections
- Ark. Code Ann. § 15-58-206Prohibition on enforcement personnel having financial interest
- Ark. Code Ann. § 15-58-207Public hearing — Procedures
- Ark. Code Ann. § 15-58-208Public hearing — Examiners
- Ark. Code Ann. § 15-58-209Adjudicatory hearing — Application for review
- Ark. Code Ann. § 15-58-210Adjudicatory hearing — Presiding officers
- Ark. Code Ann. § 15-58-211Adjudicatory hearing — Procedures generally
- Ark. Code Ann. § 15-58-212Judicial review
- Ark. Code Ann. § 15-58-213Administrative and judicial review — Costs
- Ark. Code Ann. § 15-58-301Violations not causing imminent danger or harm — Cessation order
- Ark. Code Ann. § 15-58-302Conditions, practices, and violations causing imminent danger or harm — Cessation order
- Ark. Code Ann. § 15-58-303Pattern violations — Order to show cause
- Ark. Code Ann. § 15-58-304Violating a condition of a permit or order — Criminal penalties
- Ark. Code Ann. § 15-58-305Interfering with the director or his or her agents — Criminal penalties
- Ark. Code Ann. § 15-58-306False statement, representation, or certification — Criminal penalties
- Ark. Code Ann. § 15-58-307Civil penalties generally
- Ark. Code Ann. § 15-58-308Civil actions — Injunctions, etc
- Ark. Code Ann. § 15-58-309Right of private action
- Ark. Code Ann. § 15-58-401Lands eligible
- Ark. Code Ann. § 15-58-402State priorities
- Ark. Code Ann. § 15-58-403Costs of projects
- Ark. Code Ann. § 15-58-404Abatement of adverse effects — Lien
- Ark. Code Ann. § 15-58-405Right of entry
- Ark. Code Ann. § 15-58-406Condemnation
- Ark. Code Ann. § 15-58-407Use of acquired lands — Public hearing
- Ark. Code Ann. § 15-58-501Designation of land as unsuitable
- Ark. Code Ann. § 15-58-502Necessity of permit — Application
- Ark. Code Ann. § 15-58-503Rules generally
- Ark. Code Ann. § 15-58-504Exploration operations
- Ark. Code Ann. § 15-58-505Filing objections to permits
- Ark. Code Ann. § 15-58-506Permit renewal
- Ark. Code Ann. § 15-58-507Termination of permit
- Ark. Code Ann. § 15-58-508Fees — Surface Coal Mining Operation Fund
- Ark. Code Ann. § 15-58-509Performance bonds
- Ark. Code Ann. § 15-58-510Environmental protection performance standards
Enacted in other states
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