Sales of tax liens on severed mineral interests

Sales of tax liens for delinquent taxes due on severed mineral interests must take place at the same place and time and under the same circumstances as in this article 11, but, where the surface estate ownership is coterminous with the severed mineral interest, the owner of the surface estate has the right of first refusal to purchase the tax lien on the severed mineral interest, and the surface owner must be allowed to pay all delinquent taxes due and owing for the severed mineral interest in lieu of the proceeds that would be collected from a sale of a tax lien on the severed mineral interest. The treasurer shall notify the surface owner, by mail, at the owner's last-known mailing address, of the right of refusal at least ten days prior to the sale of a tax lien on the severed mineral interest. The surface owner has until two business days prior to the tax lien sale to exercise the right of first refusal. If the surface owner does not exercise the right of first refusal, the tax lien on such severed mineral interest is sold. No action for the recovery of a severed mineral interest for which a certificate of purchase was issued under the provisions of this article 11 lies unless brought within the same time period as that limiting actions for the recovery of property pursuant to section 39-12-101.