The provisions of this chapter do not apply to those activities of the Department of Transportation, nor of a person acting under contract with the department, on highway rights-of-way or borrow pits maintained solely in connection with the construction, repair, and maintenance of the public road systems of the State. This exemption does not become effective until the department has adopted reclamation standards applying to those activities and the standards have been approved by the council. At the discretion of the department, the provisions of this chapter may apply to mining on federal lands.

HISTORY: 1990 Act No. 454, Section 2; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 1225.