Amends existing law to revise certain required reclamation activities; to revise bond amount provisions and to provide for written notice by the State Board of Land Commissioners to an operator of rejection of a request for bond release upon the board's determination that the requirements of a reclamation plan or permanent closure plan have not been met.

A performance bond is required to assure proper reclamation of a surface mine. If the Department ofLandsproposesabondthatexceeds$2,500peracre,anoperatorisentitledtoahearingbeforethe Land Board to contest the proposed bond amount. This legislation increases that threshold amount to $15,000 per acre. An operator may request the release of a reclamation bond when reclamation is completed. If the Department of Lands denies the request for bond release, this legislation requires it notify the operator in writing why the request was denied. A performance bond is required to assure proper closure of a facility that uses cyanide. An operator may request the release of a closure bond when such a facility is closed. If the Department of Lands denies the request for bond release, this legislation requires it notify the operator in writing why the request was denied.