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Texas Statutes (Last Updated: January 4, 2014) |
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NATURAL RESOURCES CODE |
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Title 4. MINES AND MINING |
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Chapter 134. TEXAS SURFACE COAL MINING AND RECLAMATION ACT |
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Subchapter B. POWERS AND DUTIES OF COMMISSION |
Sec. 134.024. EXPERIMENTAL PRACTICES
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(a) The commission, with approval by the secretary of agriculture, may authorize experimental departures, in individual cases, from the environmental protection performance standards of this chapter to:
(1) encourage advances in mining and reclamation practices; and
(2) allow postmining land use for industrial, commercial, residential, or public use, including recreational facilities.
(b) The commission may authorize departures if:
(1) the experimental practices are potentially at least as environmentally protective, during and after mining operations, as those required by this chapter;
(2) the mining operations approved for particular land-use or other purposes are not larger or more numerous than necessary to determine the effectiveness and economic feasibility of the experimental practices; and
(3) the experimental practices do not reduce the protection afforded public health and safety below that provided by adopted standards.