1. (a) Lands and water eligible for reclamation or drainage abatement expenditures under this chapter are those:

   1. (1) that were:

      1. (A) mined for coal; or
      2. (B) affected by the mining, wastebanks, coal processing, or other coal mining processes;

   2. (2) that were:

      1. (A) abandoned; or

      2. (B) left in an inadequate reclamation status;

         before August 3, 1977; and

   3. (3) for which there is not a continuing reclamation responsibility under state or federal law.

2. (b) Surface coal mining operations on lands eligible for remining do not affect the eligibility of the lands for reclamation and restoration under this chapter after the release of the bond or deposit for the operation under IC 14-34-6 .

   [Pre-1995 Recodification Citation: 13-4.1-15-2.]

As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.27. Amended by P.L.179-1995, SEC.9.