PURPOSES

It is declared to be the purpose of this chapter: (1) to prevent the adverse effects to society and the environment resulting from unregulated surface mining operations as defined in this chapter; (2) to assure that the rights of surface landowners and other persons with a legal interest in the land or appurtenances to the land are protected from unregulated surface mining operations; (3) to assure that surface mining operations are not conducted where reclamation as required by this chapter is not possible; (4) to assure that exploration and surface mining operations are conducted in a manner that will prevent unreasonable degradation of land and water resources; and (5) to assure that reclamation of all explored land and surface-mined land is accomplished as contemporaneously as practicable with the exploration or surface mining, recognizing that the exploration for and extraction of minerals by responsible operations is an essential and beneficial economic activity.