Legislative findings

The Legislature finds the following: (1) It is necessary for the state to protect the public welfare of South Dakota which is largely dependent on agriculture, and to protect the economic well - being of individuals engaged in agricultural production; (2) Exploration for and development of mineral and oil and gas reserves in this state may interfere with the use, agricultural or otherwise, of the surface of certain land; (3) Surface owners should be justly compensated for injury to their persons or property and interference with the use of their property occasioned by mineral and oil and gas development. Source: SL 1982, ch 304 , § 1.