Surface coal mining operations in operation pursuant to a permit issued by this state before August 3, 1977, issued to a person in existence prior to May 2, 1977, and operated by a person whose total annual production of coal from surface and underground coal mining operations does not exceed one hundred thousand (100,000) tons shall not be subject to the provisions of this section except with reference to the provisions relating to steep slope mining in Section 15 of this act until January 1, 1979.
Okla. Stat. tit. 45, § 745