(1) There is hereby created the division of reclamation, mining, and safety in the department of natural resources. Pursuant to section 13 of article XII of the state constitution, the executive director of the department of natural resources shall appoint the director of the division of reclamation, mining, and safety, and the director shall appoint such employees as are necessary to carry out the duties and exercise the powers conferred by law upon the division and the director. Appointing authority for such employees may be delegated by the director to the heads of the offices in the division as appropriate.

(2) The division shall consist of the office of active and inactive mines, created in article 21 of this title, the coal mine board of examiners, created in article 22 of this title, and the office of mined land reclamation and the mined land reclamation board, created in article 32 of this title.

(3) The division of reclamation, mining, and safety shall be responsible for the administration of articles 20 to 25, 32, and 33 of this title through the office of active and inactive mines and the office of mined land reclamation.

(4) to (6) (Deleted by amendment, L. 2006, p. 214, § 8, effective August 7, 2006.)

(7) The director of the division of reclamation, mining, and safety shall prepare and submit to the executive director of the department of natural resources a plan for encouraging the development of minerals in the state. The plan must be formulated based upon the recommendations of the other divisions in the department.

(8) The director of the division of reclamation, mining, and safety shall:

(a) Conceive and develop long range and strategic plans and policies;

(b) Compile and disseminate information on Colorado's mineral opportunities, analyze and identify constraints which may affect development, resolve problems, and promote resource utilization;

(c) Work with other state economic development planners to help establish a consistent state minerals and energy development policy and long range plans for economic mineral development;

(d) Coordinate with federal agencies on proposed land uses, policies, legislation, and regulation;

(e) Provide or support Colorado government liaison with federal agencies and alert the department to developments or opportunities; and

(f) Consult with local governments, public interest groups, environmental groups, and constituency groups where necessary to promote a sound and balanced approach to minerals development.

(9) Repealed.