(A) If the department believes a violation of this chapter, a regulation promulgated by it, or the terms and conditions of a permit, including the approved reclamation plan, has taken place, it shall serve written notice of that fact upon the operator, specifying the facts constituting the apparent violation and informing the operator of his right to a hearing at a stated time and place. The date for the hearing may not be less than thirty nor more than sixty days after the date of the notice, unless the department and the operator mutually agree on another date. The operator may appear at the hearing, either personally or through counsel, and present evidence he desires in order to prove that no violation has taken place or exists. If the operator or his representative does not appear at the hearing, or if the department following the hearing finds that there has been a violation, the department may suspend the permit until the violation is corrected or may revoke the permit where the violation appears to be wilful.

(B) The effective date of a suspension or revocation is sixty days following the date of the decision. An appeal to the council pursuant to Section 48-20-190 stays the effective date until the council's decision. A further appeal to the Administrative Law Court pursuant to Section 48-20-200 stays the effective date until the date of the administrative law judge's final decision. If the department finds at the time of its initial decision that a delay in correcting a violation may result in imminent peril to life or danger to property or to the environment, it shall initiate promptly a proceeding for injunctive relief pursuant to Section 48-20-230. The pendency of an appeal from a suspension or revocation of a permit has no effect upon the action.

(C) An operator whose operating permit is suspended or revoked shall be denied a new permit or a reinstatement of the suspended permit to engage in mining until he gives evidence satisfactory to the department of his ability and intent to comply fully with the provisions of this chapter, regulations promulgated by it, and the terms and conditions of his permit, including the approved reclamation plan, and that he has corrected satisfactorily all deficiencies or previous violations.

(D) A general permit, as provided for in Section 48-20-55, may be revoked or suspended if the operator is cited for violations of this chapter, a regulation promulgated by it, or the terms and conditions of that general permit. If this authority is suspended or revoked and mining is ordered to be stopped pursuant to Section 48-20-220, the operator whose eligibility to mine under a general permit that has been suspended or revoked shall be denied further eligibility under that or other general permits or an individual operation permit until satisfactory evidence is presented to the department that the operation intends to comply fully with the provisions of this chapter, regulations promulgated under it, and the terms and conditions of his permit, including satisfactorily correcting all deficiencies or previous violations.

HISTORY: 1990 Act No. 454, Section 2; 1997 Act No. 8, Section 2; 2006 Act No. 387, Section 28.