Mississippi Code 1972 (2023) › Title 53 - OIL, GAS, AND OTHER MINERALS (§§ 53-1-1 — 53-11-33) › Chapter 7 - SURFACE MINING AND RECLAMATION OF LAND (§§ 53-7-1 — 53-7-77) › Section 53-7-35 - Reclamation standards and methods; alternative methods; concurrent reclamation; continuing right of entry; action on bond

(1)
Any permit issued under this chapter shall require operations to comply with all applicable reclamation standards of this chapter. Reclamation standards shall apply to all operations, exploration activities and reclamation operations covered by this chapter and shall require the operator at a minimum to:
(a)
Conduct operations in a manner consistent with prudent mining practice, so as to maximize the utilization and conservation of the resource being recovered; and, in keeping with the intent of maximizing the value of mined land, stockpiles of commercially valuable material may remain, if they are ecologically stable. Stockpiling shall be subject to rules and regulations adopted by the commission;
(b)
Restore the affected area so that it may be used for a useful, productive and beneficial purpose, including an agricultural, grazing, commercial, residential or recreational purpose, including lakes, ponds, wetlands, wildlife habitat, or other natural or forested areas;
(c)
Conduct water drainage and silt control for the affected area to strictly control soil erosion, damage to adjacent lands and pollution of waters of the state, both during and following the mining operations. Before, during and for a reasonable period after mining, all drainways for the affected area shall be protected with silt traps or dams of approved design as directed by the regulations. The operator may impound water to provide wetlands, lakes or ponds of approved design for wildlife, recreational or water supply purposes, if it is a part of the approved reclamation plan;
(d)
Remove or cover all metal, lumber and other refuse, except vegetation, resulting from the operation;
(e)
Regrade the area to the nearest approximate original contour or rolling topography, and eliminate all highwalls and spoil piles, except as provided in an approved reclamation plan. Lakes, ponds or wetlands may be constructed, if part of an approved reclamation plan;
(f)
Stabilize and protect all affected areas sufficiently to control erosion and attendant air and water pollution;
(g)
Remove the topsoil, if any, from the affected area in a separate layer, and place it on any authorized lieu lands to be reclaimed or replace it on the backfill area. If not utilized immediately, the topsoil shall be segregated in a separate pile from other spoil. If the topsoil is not replaced on a backfill area of authorized lieu lands within a time short enough to avoid deterioration, the topsoil shall be protected by a successful cover of plants or by other means approved by the Permit Board. If topsoil is of insufficient quantity or of poor quality for sustaining vegetation and if other strata can be shown to be as suitable for vegetation requirements, then the operator may petition the Permit Board for permission to be exempt from the requirement s for the removal, segregation and preservation of topsoil and to remove, segregate and preserve in a like manner other strata which is best able to support vegetation or to mix strata, if that mixing can be shown to be equally suitable for revegetation requirements;
(h)
Replace, if required, available topsoil or the best available subsoil on top of the land to be reclaimed or on top of authorized lieu lands being reclaimed;
(i)
Minimize the disturbances to the prevailing hydrologic balance at the mine site and in associated off-site areas and to the quality and quantity of water in surface and groundwater systems both during and after surface mining operations and during reclamation by:
(i)
Avoiding acid or other toxic mine drainage by using measures such as, but not limited to:
1.
Preventing or removing water from contact with toxic-material producing deposits;
2.
Treating drainage to reduce toxic material content; and
3.
Casing, sealing or otherwise managing boreholes, shafts and wells to keep acid or other toxic material drainage from entering ground and surface waters;
(ii)
Conducting operations to prevent unreasonable additional levels of suspended solids to streamflow or runoff outside the permit area above natural levels under seasonal flow conditions;
(iii)
Removing temporary or large siltation structures from drainways, consistent with good water conservation practices, after disturbed areas are revegetated and stabilized;
(iv)
Performing any other actions as the commission may prescribe under rules and regulations adopted under this chapter;
(j)
Stabilize any waste piles;
(k)
Incorporate current engineering practices for the design and construction of water retention structures for the disposal of mine wastes, processing wastes or other liquid or solid wastes which, at a minimum, shall be compatible with the requirements of applicable state and federal laws and regulations, insure that leachate will not pollute surface or ground water, and locate water retention structures so as not to endanger public health and safety should failure occur;
(l)
Insure that all debris, acid-forming materials, toxic materials or materials constituting a fire hazard are treated or disposed of in a manner designed to prevent contamination of ground or surface waters or combustion;
(m)
Insure that construction, maintenance and postmining conditions of access roads into and across the permit area will minimize erosion and siltation, pollution of air and water, damage to fish or wildlife or their habitat, or public or private property. The Permit Board may authorize the retention after mining of certain access roads if compatible with the approved reclamation plan;
(n)
Refrain from the construction of roads or other access ways up a stream bed or drainage channel or in proximity to a channel where the construction would seriously alter the normal flow of water;
(o)
Revegetate the affected area with plants, approved by the department, to attain a useful, productive and beneficial purpose, including an agricultural, grazing, industrial, commercial, residential or recreational purpose, including lakes, ponds, wetlands, wildlife habitat or other natural or forested areas;
(p)
Assume responsibility for successful revegetation for a period of two (2) years beyond the date of initial bond release on any bond or deposit held by the department as provided by Section
53-7-67
;
(q)
Assure with respect to permanent impoundments of water as part of the approved reclamation plan that:
(i)
The size of the impoundment and the availability of water are adequate for its intended purpose;
(ii)
The impoundment dam construction will meet the requirements of applicable state and federal laws;
(iii)
The quality of impounded water will be suitable on a permanent basis for its intended use and the discharges from the impoundment will not degrade the water quality in the receiving stream;
(iv)
Final grading will provide adequate safety and access for anticipated water users;
(v)
Water impoundments will not result in the diminution of the quality or quantity of water utilized by adjacent or surrounding landowners; and
(r)
Protect off-site areas from slides or damage occurring during the surface mining and reclamation operations, and not deposit spoil material or locate any part of the operations or waste accumulations outside the permit area.
(2)
The purpose of this section is to cause the affected area to be restored to a useful, productive and beneficial purpose. A method of reclamation other than that provided in this section may be approved by the Permit Board if the Permit Board determines that the method of reclamation required by this section is not practical and that the alternative method will provide for the affected area to be restored to a useful, productive and beneficial purpose. If an alternative method of reclamation is generally applicable to all operations involving a particular material, the commission may promulgate appropriate rules and regulations for use of the alternative method.
(3)
Each operator, except as authorized by the Permit Board, shall perform reclamation work concurrently with the conduct of the mining operation where practical. The fact that an operator will likely redisturb an area shall be cause for the Permit Board to grant an exception from the requirement of concurrent reclamation.
(4)
The operator and, in case of bond forfeiture, the department or its designee, shall have the continuing right to enter and inspect the affected area in the reclamation plan and to perform any reclamation measures required properly to complete the reclamation plan.
(5)
(a)
If the commission finds that (i) reclamation of the affected area is not proceeding in accordance with the reclamation plan and that the operator has failed within thirty (30) days after notice to commence corrective action or (ii) revegetation has not been properly completed in conformance with the reclamation plan within two (2) years or longer, if required by the commission, after termination of mining operations or upon revocation of the permit, or if the Permit Board revokes a permit, the commission may initiate proceedings against the bond or deposit filed by the operator. The proceedings shall not be commenced with respect to a surety bond until the surety has been given sixty (60) days to commence and a reasonable opportunity to begin and complete corrective action.
(b)
A forfeiture proceeding against any performance bond or deposit shall be commenced and conducted according to Sections
49-17-31
through
49-17-41
.
(c)
If the commission orders forfeiture of any performance bond or deposit, the entire sum of the performance bond or deposit shall be forfeited to the department. The funds from the forfeited performance bond or deposit shall be placed in the appropriate account in the fund and used to pay for reclamation of the permit area and remediation of any off-site damages resulting from the operation. Any surplus performance bond or deposit funds shall be refunded to the operator or corporate surety.
(d)
Forfeiture proceedings shall be before the commission and an order of the commission under this subsection is a final order. If the commission determines that forfeiture of the performance bond or deposit should be ordered, the department shall have the immediate right to all funds of any performance bond or deposit, subject only to review and appeals allowed under Section
49-17-41
.
(e)
If the operator cannot be located for purposes of notice, the department shall send notice of the forfeiture proceeding, certified mail, return receipt requested, to the operator's last known address. The department shall also publish notice of the forfeiture proceeding in a manner as required in regulation by the commission. Any formal hearing on the bond forfeiture shall be set at least thirty (30) days after the last notice publication.
(f)
If the performance bond or deposit is insufficient to cover the costs of reclamation of the permit area in accordance with the approved reclamation plan or remediation of any off-site damages, the commission may initiate a civil action to recover the deficiency amount in the county in which the surface mining operation is located.
(g)
If the commission initiates a civil action under this section, the commission shall be entitled to any sums necessary to complete reclamation of the permit area in accordance with the approved reclamation plan and remediate any off-site damages resulting from that operation.
(6)
If a landowner, upon termination or expiration of a lease, refuses to allow the operator to enter onto the property designated as the affected area to conduct or complete reclamation in accordance with the approved reclamation plan, or if the landowner interferes with or authorizes a third party to disturb or interfere with reclamation in accordance with the approved reclamation plan, the landowner shall assume the permit and shall file a reclamation plan and post a performance bond as required under this chapter.
Laws, 1977, ch. 476, § 11; Laws, 1979, ch. 477, § 47; Laws, 2002, ch. 492, § 15, eff. 7/1/2002.