Rule 11-8-1.1.1 - Purpose and Scope of RegulationsA. The purpose of these Regulations is to provide an orderly and efficient system of procedure by which the Mississippi Commission on Environmental Quality, through the Mississippi Environmental Permit Board and the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, shall administer the Mississippi Surface Mining and Reclamation Act as set forth in Miss. Code Ann. §§ 53-7-1, et seq. The Legislature, recognizing its duty and obligation to foster the economic well-being of the state and nation, to encourage the development of its natural resources, and to preserve the beauty of its lands, declares that the purpose of the Mississippi Surface Mining and Reclamation Act is to: (1) Provide for the regulation and control of surface mining so as to minimize its injurious effects by requiring proper reclamation of surface-mined lands;(2) Establish a regulatory system of permits and reclamation standards, supplemented by the knowledge, expertise and concerns of mining operators, landowners and the general public which is designed to achieve an acceptable, workable balance between the economic necessities of developing our natural resources and the public interest in protecting our birthright of natural beauty and a pristine environment; and(3) Establish a regulatory system of uniform standards and procedures to govern the mining and reclamation of land, accepting the proposition that varied types of mining, varied types of materials being mined and varied geographical and ecological areas of this state may require variations in methods of surface mining and reclamation, but any variation shall be designed to restore the affected area to a useful, productive, and beneficial purpose.B. Unless otherwise provided for by law, these Regulations shall govern the procedure for all notification, filing, permitting, hearing, and other procedures pertaining to the requirements of implementing the Mississippi Surface Mining and Reclamation Act.11 Miss. Code. R. 8-1.1.1
Miss. Code Ann. §§ 53-7-1, et seq., 49-2-1, et seq., and 49-17-1, et seq.