Purposes

A. It is hereby declared to be the purpose of this Chapter to avoid the adverse effects to society and the environment resulting from unregulated surface mining operations, as defined herein; to assure that surface mining operations are not conducted where reclamation as required by this Chapter is not possible; to assure that surface mining operations are so conducted as to prevent unreasonable degradation to land and water resources; to assure that reclamation of all surface mined lands is accomplished as contemporaneously as practicable with the surface mining, recognizing that the extraction of lignite and other forms of coal by responsible mining operations is an essential and beneficial economic activity; to protect, conserve, and replenish the natural resources of the state; to prohibit and prevent the waste, wasteful use, and wasteful utilization of lignite and other forms of coal; and to prevent the use of lignite and other forms of coal in such a manner and in such quantities as to threaten the premature exhaustion, extinction, and destruction of the supply of lignite and other forms of coal in the state. B. It is further declared to be the purpose of this Chapter to promote the reclamation of mined areas that were left without adequate reclamation prior to the enactment of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977, 30 U.S.C. 1201, et seq., and that continue, in their unreclaimed condition, to substantially degrade the quality of the environment, to prevent or damage the beneficial use of land or water resources, or to endanger the health or safety of the public.