(1) (a) An environmental protection plan shall be required for all designated mining operations.

(b) All nondesignated mining operations are exempt from this section.

(2) Once adopted, the provisions of an environmental protection plan shall be enforceable by the board and by the office to the same extent as any other permit provision or condition.

(3) (a) The board shall promulgate rules pursuant to section 34-32-109 (5) to require a holder of an existing permit for a designated mining operation to submit a proposed environmental protection plan for approval by the office or board.

(b) The plan and fees due pursuant to this subsection (3) shall be due by the date established by the board by rule.

(4) (a) If an existing permit contains the necessary elements of an environmental protection plan, the office or board may deem the existing permit to be adequate to comply with the environmental protection plan.

(b) For any environmental protection plan submitted for an existing operation, the office shall determine whether the proposed environmental protection plan shall be considered a technical revision or an amendment, as defined by rule, or that no modification to the existing permit is necessary.

(5) The board shall promulgate rules governing the form, content, and requirements of an environmental protection plan for any designated mining operation. In promulgating such rules, the board shall consider the economic reasonableness, the technical feasibility, and the level or degree of environmental concerns, as applicable.

(6) All applicants for new permits shall contact the division of parks and wildlife for appropriate wildlife protection recommendations which shall be reviewed as part of the application process. If protecting wildlife is determined to be necessary by the board, the office may incorporate such wildlife protection recommendations into the new permit as a condition for such permit.