Limits on excavation of certain land; civil remedies for violations

(a) From and after the effective date of this act, land which is located outside the limits of any incorporated city and which is not zoned or is zoned for agricultural use shall not be excavated for limestone mining or quarrying purposes unless there is, for each foot of depth excavated, at least one foot of unexcavated land between the excavation and the property line of the person who owns the land being excavated. The requirement for maintenance of unexcavated land along a property line shall not be required if adjoining lands upon both sides of such property line are being excavated for such purpose. (b) The commission of any act in violation of subsection (a) shall render the violator liable to the adjoining landowner for the payment of a civil penalty of $1,000 plus actual damages and reasonable attorney fees, recoverable in an action brought by the adjoining landowner.