§ 27-1232 — Coordination with other governmental agencies

A. The state mine inspector shall coordinate the review and approval of reclamation plans with the state land department, the United States bureau of land management, the United States forest service and other agencies that own and manage public lands on which exploration operations or aggregate mining facilities are located, within the respective jurisdictions, through memoranda of agreement or cooperative agreements that designate a lead agency for reclamation plan review and action. This coordination is intended to avoid duplication of efforts to inspect exploration operations and aggregate mining facilities and review and enforce reclamation plans. The memoranda of agreement shall also provide that no financial assurance may be required under this article that will duplicate financial assurances required under any other law or agreement.

B. If an exploration operation or an aggregate mining unit is located on land administered by a federal agency, an approved federal reclamation plan and a financial assurance mechanism for the federal land that are consistent with the requirements of this chapter supersede the requirements for a reclamation plan and financial assurance mechanism otherwise required by this chapter.