§74-52. Permits - Modification, renewal

(a)        Any operator engaged in mining under an operating permit may apply at any time for modification of the permit. A permittee may apply for renewal of the permit at any time during the two years prior to the expiration of the permit. The application shall be in writing upon forms furnished by the Department and shall fully state the information called for. The applicant must provide the Department with any additional information necessary to satisfy application requirements. The applicant is not required to resubmit information that remains unchanged since the time of the prior application. In addition, the applicant may be required to furnish any other information as may be deemed necessary by the Department in order adequately to enforce the Article.

(b)        The procedure to be followed and standards to be applied in renewing a permit shall be the same as those for issuing a permit; provided, however, that in the absence of any changes in legal requirements for issuance of a permit since the date on which the prior permit was issued, the only basis for denying a renewal permit shall be an uncorrected violation of the type listed in G.S. 74-51(7), or failure to submit an adequate reclamation plan in light of conditions then existing.

(c)        A modification under this section may affect the land area covered by the permit, the approved reclamation plan coupled with the permit, or other terms and conditions of the permit. A permit may be modified to include land neighboring the affected land, but not other lands. The reclamation plan may be modified in any manner, so long as the Department determines that the modified plan fully meets the standards set forth in G.S. 74-53 and that the modifications would be generally consistent with the bases for issuance of the original permit. Other terms and conditions may be modified only where the Department determines that the permit as modified would meet all requirements of G.S. 74-50 and [G.S.] 74-51. No modification shall extend the expiration date of any permit issued under this Article.

(d)       No modification or renewal of a permit shall become effective until any required changes have been made in the performance bond or other security posted under the provisions of G.S. 74-54, so as to assure the performance of obligations assumed by the operator under the permit and reclamation plan.

(1971, c. 545, s. 7; 1993 (Reg. Sess., 1994), c. 568, s. 4.)