(1) The Permit Board, based upon the provisions of this chapter, may issue, reissue, deny, modify, revoke, cancel, rescind, suspend or transfer a permit for a surface mining operation. The head of the Office of Geology and Energy Resources shall abstain in any action taken by the Permit Board under this chapter.

(2) The Permit Board shall issue a permit if the Permit Board determines that the applicant and completed application comply with the requirements of this chapter.

(3) The Permit Board may deny a permit if:

(a) The Permit Board finds that the reclamation as required by this chapter cannot be accomplished by means of the proposed reclamation plan;

(b) Any part of the proposed operation lies within an area designated as unsuitable for surface mining as designated by Section 53-7-49 or 53-7-51;

(c) The Permit Board finds that the proposed mining operation will cause pollution of any water of the state or of the ambient air of the state in violation of applicable state and federal laws and regulations;

(d) The applicant has had any other permit issued under this chapter revoked, or any bond or deposit posted to comply with this chapter forfeited, and the conditions causing the permit to be revoked or the bond or deposit to be forfeited have not been corrected to the satisfaction of the Permit Board;

(e) The Permit Board determines that the proposed operation will endanger the health and safety of the public or will create imminent environmental harm;

(f) The operation will likely adversely affect any public highway or road unless the operation is intended to stabilize or repair the public road or highway; or

(g) The applicant is unable to meet the public liability insurance or performance bonding requirements of this chapter.

(4) The Permit Board shall deny a permit if the Permit Board finds by clear and convincing evidence on the basis of the information contained in the permit application or obtained by on-site inspection that the proposed operation cannot comply with this chapter or rules and regulations adopted under this chapter or that the proposed method of operation, road system construction, shaping or revegetation of the affected area cannot be carried out in a manner consistent with this chapter and applicable state and federal laws, rules and regulations.

(5) The Permit Board may hold a public hearing to obtain comments from the public on its proposed action. If the Permit Board holds a public hearing, the Permit Board shall publish notice and conduct the hearing as provided in Section 49-17-29.

(6) The Permit Board may authorize the executive director, under any conditions the Permit Board may prescribe, to make decisions on permit issuance, reissuance, modification, rescission or cancellation under this chapter. A decision by the executive director is a decision of the Permit Board and shall be subject to formal hearing and appeal as provided in Section 49-17-29. The executive director shall report all permit decisions to the Permit Board at its next regularly scheduled meeting and those decisions shall be deemed as recorded in the minutes of the Permit Board at that time.

(7) The Permit Board may cancel a permit at the request of the operator, if the operator does not commence operations under the permit by stripping, grubbing or mining any part of the permit area. The Permit Board may rescind a permit, if, because of a change in post-mining use of the land by the landowner, the completion of the approved reclamation plan by the operator is no longer feasible. If a permit is canceled or rescinded, the remaining portion of the bond or deposit required under Section 53-7-37 shall be returned to the operator as soon as possible.