Reclamation projects shall meet one or more of the objectives stated in this section. The objectives are stated in the order of priority with the highest priority first. Preference among those projects competing for available resources shall be given to projects meeting higher priority objectives.
- (1) Protection of public health, safety, general welfare and property from extreme danger resulting from the adverse effects of past coal mining practices.
- (2) Protection of public health, safety, and general welfare from adverse effects of past coal mining practices which do not constitute and extreme danger.
- (3) Restoration of eligible land and water and the environment previously degraded by adverse effects of past coal mining practices, including measures for the conservation and development of soil, water (excluding channelization), woodland, fish and wildlife, recreation resources, and agricultural productivity.
- (4) Research and demonstration projects relating to the development of surface coal mining reclamation and water-quality-control program methods and techniques.
- (5) Protection, repair, replacement, construction, or enhancement of public facilities such as utilities, roads, recreation, and conservation facilities adversely affected by past coal mining practices.
- (6) Development of publicly owned land adversely affected by past coal mining practices, including land acquired under this program for recreation and historic purposes, conservation, and reclamation purposes and open space benefits.
- (7) Protection of the public from hazards endangering life and property resulting from the adverse effects of past noncoal mining practices.
- (8) Protection of the public from hazards to health and safety from the adverse effects of past noncoal mining practices.
- (9) Restoration of the environment degraded by the adverse effects of past noncoal mining.
- (10) Construction of public facilities in communities impacted by coal development if the Governor certifies that all other objectives of the fund have been met and the available impact funds are inadequate for such construction consistent with the Texas Abandoned Mine Plan.
Source Note:The provisions of this §12.804 adopted to be effective April 7, 1997, 22 TexReg 3093.