All permits issued pursuant to the requirements of this act shall be issued for a term not to exceed five (5) years. A successor in interest to a permittee who applies for a new permit within thirty (30) days of succeeding to such interest and who is able to obtain the bond coverage of the original permittee may, upon payment of a fee of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) to the Department, continue surface coal mining and reclamation operations according to the approved mining and reclamation plan of the original permittee until such successor's application is granted or denied.
Amended by Laws 1983, c. 39, § 1, emerg. eff. April 20, 1983; Laws 1985, c. 339, § 2, emerg. eff. July 30, 1985.