SB 2760

An act to amend section 49-2-7, mississippi code of 1972, to remove the requirement that changes to a consolidation plan adopted by the commission must be approved by the commission; To amend section 53-7-5, mississippi code of 1972, to remove the office of geology and energy resources OR its successor office from the definition of department; To amend section 53-7-41, mississippi code of 1972, to allow the head of the office of geology and energy resources to participate IN certain actions taken by the permit board; To expand the powers of the executive director for certain actions; To amend section 53-9-7, mississippi code of 1972, to remove the definition for state geologist; To amend section 53-9-31, mississippi code of 1972, to stipulate that the amount of bond shall be determined by the permit board after consultation with only the department; To amend section 53-9-32, mississippi code of 1972, to require the staff of the department to prepare a brief upon receipt of a complete application for a surface coal mining and reclamation operation; To amend section 53-9-33, mississippi code of 1972, to require the department to make an assessment of certain conditions prior to issuing a permit OR modification; To amend section 53-9-69, mississippi code of 1972, to grant the executive director OR his OR her designee sole authority to investigate violations; To amend section 53-9-71, mississippi code of 1972, to stipulate that the staff of the department shall be responsible for surface coal mining lands review; To amend section 53-9-83, mississippi code of 1972, to require the staff of the department to consult with surface owners whose land is proposed to be included IN leasing tracts; To amend section 53-9-105, mississippi code of 1972, to require the department to establish and maintain a state reclamation program for abandoned mines; To amend sections 57-21-9 and 7-5-25, mississippi code of 1972, to conform; And for related purposes.