A permit shall terminate if the permittee has not commenced the surface coal mining operations covered by such permit within three (3) years of the issuance of the permit. The Department may grant reasonable extensions of time upon a showing and a finding by the Department that such extensions are necessary by reason of litigation precluding such commencement or threatening substantial economic loss to the permittee, or by reason of conditions beyond the control and without the fault or negligence of the permittee; provided, further that with respect to coal to be mined for use in a synthetic fuel facility or specific major electric generating facility, the permittee shall be deemed to have commenced surface mining operations at such time as the construction of the synthetic fuel or generating facility is initiated.
Laws 1979, c. 249, § 6, emerg. eff. June 1, 1979.