Current through Public Act 149 of the 2024 Legislative Session
Section 324.63513 - Expenditures from state abandoned mine reclamation fund for emergency restoration, reclamation, abatement, control, or prevention of adverse effects; conditions; entry on land where emergency exists as exercise of police power; warrant; action for damages; intent of subsection (2)(1) The department may expend money from the state abandoned mine reclamation fund created by section 63510 for the emergency restoration, reclamation, abatement, control, or prevention of adverse effects of coal mining practices on eligible land, if the department finds that all the following conditions exist: (a) An emergency exists constituting a danger to the public health, safety, or general welfare.(b) No other person, state agency, or local unit of government has commenced actions or operations on the eligible land to restore, reclaim, abate, control, or prevent the adverse effects of past coal mining practices.(2) The department may enter on any land where the emergency exists and any other land necessary to have access to the land where the emergency exists to take those actions necessary or expedient to restore, reclaim, abate, control, or prevent the adverse effects of coal mining practices and to do all things necessary or expedient to protect the public health, safety, or general welfare, if the department has obtained a warrant authorizing that entry. Entry pursuant to this subsection is an exercise of the police power and not an act of condemnation or trespass. If the owner of any interest in the property brings an action for damages because of an entry made pursuant to this subsection, the money expended to restore, reclaim, abate, control, or prevent the adverse effects and the benefits accruing to the property entered on is chargeable against the land and shall mitigate or offset any claim in that action. This subsection does not create new rights of action or eliminate existing immunities.Add. 1995, Act 57, Imd. Eff. 5/24/1995 .