Effective: June 14, 2000
Latest Legislation: House Bill 601 - 123rd General Assembly
An operator conducting longwall mining shall develop a plan for recovery of chocks and shields or other longwall roof support and shall not initiate recovery until the recovery plan is approved by the chief of the division of mineral resources management. An operator shall also submit all revisions of an approved recovery plan for approval to the chief.
Approval of a plan or revision, or portion thereof, under comparable provisions of the "Federal Coal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1969," 83 Stat. 742, 30 U.S.C.A. 801, as amended or reenacted, or regulations adopted thereunder, shall be a sufficient basis for approval of the plan or revision, or portion thereof, by the chief unless the chief makes a specific written explanation and findings as to why the federally approved plan or revision, or portion thereof, does not meet the requirements of the mining laws of this state and as to why a variance from the federally approved plan, revision, or portion thereof is reasonably necessary to meet the requirements of this state's mining laws.
The chief shall make a final decision on a plan or revision, including review of any additional information that the chief requests, no later than fourteen days after the operator's initial submission of the plan or revision. The chief shall not unreasonably withhold approvals of completed plans or revisions.