Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 391-3-3-.01 - Authority and Administration
(1)
Authority. Rules and
regulations regarding surface mining and reclamation of affected lands are
adopted pursuant to the Georgia Surface Mining Act of 1968, as
amended.
(2)
Definitions. All terms used in the rules and regulations shall be
interpreted in accordance with the definitions as set forth in the Georgia
Surface Mining Act of 1968, as amended, unless otherwise defined in the rules
and regulations:
(a) "Act" means the Georgia
Surface Mining Act of 1968, as amended;
(b) "Director" means the Director of the
Division of Environmental Protection of the Department of Natural Resources,
State of Georgia;
(c) "Division"
means the Division of Environmental Protection of the Department of natural
Resources, State of Georgia.
(3)
Enforcement. The
administration and enforcement of any rules and regulations shall be in
accordance with the Georgia Surface Mining Act of 1968, as amended, the
Executive Reorganization Act of 1972, as amended, and the Georgia
Administrative Procedure Act, as amended.
(4)
Powers and Duties of the
Director. Powers and duties vested in the Director pursuant to Act
include, but are not limited to, the following:
(a) To administer and enforce the provisions
of the Act and all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder;
(b) To issue such orders as may be necessary
to enforce compliance with the Act all rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder;
(c) To examine and pass
upon permit applications and Mining Land Use Plans;
(d) To revoke permits of mining operators who
refuse to carry out their Mining Land Use Plans;
(e) To deny a new permit to a mining operator
whose permit has been revoked, until the mining operator gives assurance
satisfactory to the Director of his ability and intent to fully comply with the
Act with respect to affected land under the revoked permit.
(f) To forfeit bonds or cash of mining
operators who refuse to carry out their Mining Land User Plans;
(g) To carry out land use projects on lands
where bonds or cash have been forfeited, using funds available for such
purposes;
(h) To institute and
prosecute all such court actions as may be necessary to obtain the enforcement
of any order issued by the Director in carrying out the provisions of the
Act;
(i) To seek civil penalties in
accordance with the Act;
(j) To
decline to assert jurisdiction under the Act over any class or category of
mines when the effect of the operation of such mines is not sufficiently
substantial to warrant the exercise of jurisdiction;
(k) To exercise all incidental powers
necessary to carry out the purposes of the Act.
Notes
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