40-10-1 - Legislative finding. - Utah Statutes

40-10-1. Legislative finding.
The Utah Legislature finds that:
(1) Coal mining operations presently contribute significantly to the nation's energyrequirements; surface coal mining constitutes one method of extraction of the resource; theoverwhelming percentage of Utah's coal reserves can only be extracted by underground miningmethods; and it is, therefore, essential to the national interest to insure the existence of anexpanding and economically healthy underground coal mining industry.
(2) The expansion of coal mining in Utah to meet the nation's energy needs makes evenmore urgent the establishment of appropriate standards to minimize damage to the environmentand to productivity of the soil and to protect the health and safety of the public.
(3) Surface mining and reclamation technology is now developed so that effective andreasonable regulation of surface coal mining operations is an appropriate and necessary means tominimize so far as practicable the adverse social, economic, and environmental effects of themining operations.
(4) In recognition of the innate differences between coal and other mineral deposits andbetween surface and underground mining methods, the Legislature perceives a need for a separatechapter for effective and reasonable regulation of such operations.

Enacted by Chapter 145, 1979 General Session