The Director is authorized to enter into agreements with owners or lessees of orphaned lands when the owners agree to the reclamation of such lands by the Division to the extent and in the manner deemed appropriate or reasonable by the Director. In no event shall the Director return orphaned land to other than the minimum potential use thereof which obtained prior to the initiation of mining operations unless the landowner or owners, lessee or lessees, agree to bind himself or themselves to the payment of the additional cost upon such terms as the Director deems reasonable. In entering into such agreements, the Director shall be guided by the priorities for reclamation established by him, but in no event shall the Director enter into such agreement unless funds are immediately available for the performance of the agreement by the Director as hereinafter provided.

History

1978, c. 634.