(a) The authority shall be vested in the Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission to establish policies and guidelines and take such other actions as are necessary to ensure the development, administration, and enforcement of a state program which meets the requirements of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977, Pub. L. No. 95-87, and, in doing so, shall have the following duties and powers:

(1) To adopt, amend, and issue rules and regulations in accordance with the procedures set forth herein pertaining to surface coal mining and reclamation operations in accordance with but no more restrictive than the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977, Pub. L. No. 95-87, consistent with the general intent and purposes of this chapter and consistent with but no more restrictive than the regulations issued by the Secretary of the Interior pursuant to the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977, Pub. L. No. 95-87, as required for the state to develop an approved state program and to assume and retain exclusive jurisdiction over the regulation of surface coal mining and reclamation operations pursuant to section 503 of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977, Pub. L. No. 95-87;

(2) To adopt, amend, and issue rules and regulations in accordance with the procedures set forth in this subchapter pertaining to the reclamation of abandoned mines in this state in accordance with the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977, Pub. L. No. 95-87, as required for the state to develop an approved state abandoned mine reclamation program and to assume and retain exclusive jurisdiction over the regulation of abandoned mine reclamation in this state pursuant to Title IV of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977, Pub. L. No. 95-87;

(3) To conduct administrative hearings and to perform all necessary functions pursuant thereto and exercise discretionary review pursuant to the provisions of this chapter over all aspects of surface coal mining and reclamation operations performed within this state;

(4) To designate lands unsuitable for all or certain types of surface coal mining in accordance with provisions of this chapter and the regulations issued pursuant to this chapter; and

(5) To perform other duties and acts required by and provided for in this chapter or reasonably necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter or the regulations issued pursuant to this chapter.

(b) The commission shall have the authority to promulgate regulations to amend the provisions of this chapter when such amendments are permitted by an amendment to the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977, Pub. L. No. 95-87, subsequent to the enactment of this chapter.