Section 207.1. Policy.

  1.  It is the policy of this state to provide for the rehabilitation and conservation of land affected by coal mining and preserve natural resources, protect and perpetuate the taxable value of property, and protect and promote the health and safety of the people of this state.

  2.  The general assembly finds and declares that because the federal Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977, Pub. L. No. 95-87, codified at 30 U.S.C. ch. 25, subch. IV, provides for a permit system to regulate the mining of coal and reclamation of the mining sites and provides that permits may be issued by states which are authorized to implement the provisions of that Act, it is in the interest of the people of Iowa to enact the provisions of this chapter in order to authorize the state to implement the provisions of the federal Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 and federal regulations and guidelines issued pursuant to that Act.

[C79, §83A.12(2); C81, §83.1]

2006 Acts, ch 1010, §61

; 2011 Acts, ch 34, §40

; 2015 Acts, ch 103, §17

Subsection 1 amended