Title 9

(a) Each reclamation plan submitted as part of a permit application pursuant to the provisions of this article shall include, in the degree of detail necessary to demonstrate that reclamation required can be accomplished, a statement of: (1) The identification of the lands subjec…

(a) Upon the basis of a complete mining application and reclamation plan or a revision or renewal thereof, as required by this article, following public notification and opportunity for a public hearing as required by Section 9-16-88, the regulatory authority shall grant, require…

(a)(1) During the term of the permit the permittee may submit an application for a revision of the permit, together with a revised reclamation plan, to the regulatory authority. (2) An application for a revision of a permit shall not be approved unless the regulatory authority fi…

(a) Coal exploration operations including the removal of coal samples for testing, assaying or other associated non-commercial purposes which substantially disturb the natural land surface may be conducted after filing a notice of intention to explore, including a description of …

(a) At the time of submission of an application for a surface coal mining and reclamation permit, or revision of an existing permit, pursuant to the provisions of this article, the applicant shall submit to the regulatory authority a copy of his advertisement of the ownership, pr…

(a) After a surface coal mining and reclamation permit application has been approved but before such a permit is issued, the applicant shall file with the regulatory authority, on a form prescribed and furnished by the regulatory authority, a bond for performance payable to the s…

(a) Any permit issued pursuant to this article to conduct surface mining operations shall require that such surface coal mining operations will meet all applicable performance standards of this article, and such other requirements as the regulatory authority shall promulgate. (b)…

(a) The regulatory authority shall promulgate rules and regulations directed toward the surface effects of underground coal mining operations, and embodying the following requirements. In adopting any rules and regulations, the regulatory authority shall consider all distinct dif…

(a) For the purpose of developing or assisting in the development, administration, and enforcement of this article or in the administration and enforcement of any permit under this article, or of determining whether any person is in violation of any requirement of this article: (…

(a) Whenever, on the basis of any information available to it, including receipt of information from any person, the regulatory authority has reason to believe that any person is in violation of any requirement of this article or any permit condition required by this article, the…

(a) Any permittee or operator who violates any permit condition or who violates any other provision of this article, may be assessed a civil penalty by the regulatory authority, except that if such violation leads to the issuance of a cessation order under Section 9-16-93, the ci…

(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, any person having an interest which is or may be adversely affected, (or any citizen of this state having knowledge that any of the provisions of this article are willfully or deliberately not being enforced and who files …

(a)(1) The regulatory authority shall establish a planning process enabling objective decisions based upon competent and scientifically sound data and information as to which, if any, land areas of the state are unsuitable for all or certain types of surface coal mining operation…

(a) Nothing in this article shall be construed as affecting in any way the right of any person to enforce or protect, under applicable law, his interest in water resources affected by a surface coal mining operation. (b) The operator of a surface coal mine shall replace the water…

In order to encourage advances in mining and reclamation practices or to allow post-mining land use for industrial, commercial, residential, or public use (including recreational facilities), the regulatory authority with approval by the Secretary of Interior may authorize depart…

The provisions of this article shall not apply to any of the following activities: (1) The extraction of coal by a landowner for his own noncommercial use from land owned or leased by him; (2) For surface mining operations affecting two acres or less, the regulatory authority may…

It is the express intent of this Legislature by the provisions of this article to provide for and implement a state program for abandoned mine reclamation which complies with the provisions of Title IV, Public Law 95-87 of the 95th U. S. Congress, known as the “Surface Mining Con…

For the purpose of this article the following terms shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: (1) ABANDONED MINE LANDS. Lands affected by the mining of coal prior to November 5, 1990, and left in either an unreclaimed or inadequately reclai…

(a) There is hereby created in the State Treasury a special fund to be called the State Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund which shall receive all state and federal appropriations, grants and donations, and all other moneys available for the purposes of this article, and such funds …

Expenditures of moneys from the fund on eligible lands and water shall reflect the following priorities in the order stated: (1) The protection of public health, safety, general welfare, and property from extreme danger of adverse effects of coal mining practices; (2) The protect…

For purposes of this article, lands and water eligible for reclamation or drainage abatement expenditures are those which were mined for coal or which were affected by the mining, wastebanks, coal processing, or other coal mining processes, and abandoned or left in an inadequate …

(a) The Department of Labor, State Programs Division, shall establish and maintain a state reclamation program for abandoned mines which complies with Title IV of Public Law 95-87. The state reclamation program plan shall generally identify the areas to be reclaimed, the purposes…

(a) If the director makes a finding in writing with supporting facts that: (1) Land or water resources have been adversely affected by past coal mining practices; and (2) The adverse effects are at a stage where, in the public interest, action to restore, reclaim, abate, control,…

(a) The director, with the approval of the Secretary of Interior, may acquire title in the name of the state to any land or interest therein by purchase, donation, or condemnation if such land or interest is adversely affected by past coal mining practices and upon a determinatio…

(a) Any landowner adversely affected by the action of the director under Section 9-16-127 of this article may institute proceedings to have the action reviewed in the circuit court in the county where the property or a part thereof affected by the action is located, provided that…

(a) Within six months after the completion of projects to restore, reclaim, abate, control or prevent adverse effects of past coal mining practices on privately owned land, the director shall itemize the moneys so expended and may file a statement thereof in the probate judge’s o…

(a) The Governor may request the Secretary of Interior to authorize the director to fill voids, seal open or abandoned tunnels, shafts, and entryways, and reclaim surface impacts of underground or surface mining of minerals other than coal which the secretary determines could end…

All departments, boards, commissions and agencies of this state shall cooperate with the director by providing such available technical expertise, personnel, equipment, materials and supplies as may be required to implement and administer the provisions of this article. (Acts 198…

(a) The director may request the Attorney General, who is hereby authorized to initiate, in addition to any other remedies provided for in this article, in any court of competent jurisdiction, an action in equity for an injunction to restrain any interference with the exercise of…

It shall be the duty of the director to administer the provisions of this article and he shall have the power and authority to: (1) Engage in all activities and to do all things necessary and expedient to the implementation and administration thereof; (2) Engage in cooperative ag…

The department shall have workers’ compensation on all employees operating under this article in the amount prescribed by the workers’ compensation laws of Alabama and shall carry general liability insurance in an amount to assure adequate protection for lawful acts by the direct…

There is hereby created in the State Treasury a Special Abandoned Mine Reclamation Trust Fund to receive and retain up to 30 percent of the appropriated funds granted annually by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Interior for the reclamation of abandoned mine lands in Alaba…

Unless the context otherwise requires, the following terms shall have the following meanings: (1) BOARD. The State Oil and Gas Board created by this article. (2) DEVELOPED AREA or DEVELOPED UNIT. A drainage unit having a well completed thereon which is capable of producing oil or…

(a) The Oil and Gas Supervisor, with the concurrence of the board, shall have the authority and it shall be his duty to employ all personnel necessary to carry out the provisions of this article. Such personnel shall be employed under and shall be subject to the provisions of the…

Waste of oil or gas as defined in this article is hereby prohibited. (Acts 1945, No. 1, p. 1, §8.)

(a) Whether or not the total production from a pool is limited or prorated, no rule, regulation, or order of the board shall be such in terms or effect that it will do the following: (1) That it shall be necessary at any time for the producer from or the owner of, a tract of land…

(a) When any mineral or other related interests deriving from two or more separately owned tracts of land are embraced within an established or a proposed drilling or production unit, or when there are separately owned interests in all or a part of an established or proposed dril…

(a) Whenever the board limits the total amount of oil or gas which may be produced in this state, the limit so fixed shall not be less than the aggregate of the allowables fixed for each separate pool in this state for the prevention of waste in accordance with the foregoing defi…

Any interested person aggrieved by any rule, regulation or order made or promulgated by the board under this article and who may be dissatisfied therewith shall, within 30 days from the date said order, rule or regulation was promulgated, have the right, regardless of the amount …

(a) No temporary restraining order or injunction of any kind shall be granted against the board or the members thereof or against the Attorney General or any district attorney or against any agent, employee or representative of the board restraining the board or any of its member…

Whenever it shall appear that any person is violating or threatening to violate any provision of this article or any rule, regulation or order made under this article and unless the board without litigation can effectively prevent further violation or threat of violation, then th…

In any civil action where the board, in the name of the state, seeks enforcement of this article or of any rule, regulation or order issued under this article, as provided in Section 9-17-17 or in any civil action where an interested party seeks to test the validity of or enjoin …

(a) Nothing contained or authorized in this article and no civil action by or against the board and no penalties imposed or claimed against any person for violating any provision of this article or any rule, regulation or order issued under this article and no forfeiture shall im…

The prevention of waste of oil and gas and the protection of correlative rights are declared to be in the public interest. The purpose of this article is to prevent such waste and to protect correlative rights. (Acts 1945, No. 1, p. 1, §1; Acts 1969, No. 1033, p. 1916, §1.)

(a) The sale, purchase or acquisition or the transportation, refining, processing or handling in any other way of illegal oil, illegal gas or illegal product is hereby prohibited. (b) Unless and until the board provides for certificates of clearance or tenders or some other metho…

Apart from and in addition to any other remedy or procedure which may be available to the board or any penalty which may be sought against or imposed upon any person with respect to violations relating to illegal oil, illegal gas or illegal product, all illegal oil, illegal gas a…