(1) The abandoned mine reclamation fund is hereby created in the state treasury. The fund consists of money received pursuant to section 34-33-133 (2)(a), money transferred prior to July 1, 2020, from the severance tax operational fund pursuant to section 39-29-109.3 (1)(c), and interest earned on the investment of such money. Revenues in the fund shall not revert to the general fund. The fund shall be expended only for the purposes specified in this section. Appropriations from the fund shall be available for three successive state fiscal years. The state treasurer shall transfer any money in the fund on June 30, 2023, to the severance tax operational fund created in section 39-29-109.3.
(2) The division shall annually submit to the board a list of projects eligible to be reclaimed or safeguarded through expenditures from the fund. Project eligibility and selection shall be determined in accordance with current procedures applicable to the abandoned mine reclamation program established pursuant to section 34-33-133 and the following requirements:
The board shall approve the expenditure of revenues from the fund for the purposespecified in this section after review by the board of county commissioners for the county in which the project is located; and
The project shall be located where pre-law mining operations have occurred, themining operations have been abandoned, and there is a high risk to the environment or public safety.
(3) This article 34 is repealed, effective July 1, 2023.
Source: L. 2005: Entire article added, p. 691, § 1, effective July 1. L. 2008: (1) amended, p. 1872, § 10, effective June 2. L. 2016: (1) amended, (SB 16-189), ch. 210, p. 790, § 97, effective June 6. L. 2020: (1) amended and (3) added, (HB 20-1372), ch. 166, p. 765, § 1, effective July 1.