Sec. 63511.

(1) The department may, in the manner provided in this section, enter on private property for the purposes of conducting an investigation, inspection, study, or exploratory work to determine the existence of adverse effects of past coal mining practices and to determine the feasibility of restoration, reclamation, abatement, control, or prevention of those adverse effects.

(2) The department may enter on property as provided in subsection (3) if all of the following conditions exist:

(a) The land or water resources on the property have been adversely affected by past coal mining practices.

(b) The adverse effects to land or water resources on the property are at a stage where, in the public interest, action should be taken to restore, reclaim, abate, control, or prevent the adverse effects of past coal mining practices.

(c) The department gives notice by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the record owner or owners of the property requesting permission to enter on the property.

(d) The owners of the land or water resources where entry must be made to restore, reclaim, abate, control, or prevent the adverse effects of past coal mining practices are not known, or readily identifiable; or the owners of the property will not give permission, after receiving notice under subdivision (c), for the state or local unit of government to enter on the property to restore, reclaim, abate, control, or prevent the adverse effects of past coal mining practices.

(3) After giving notice by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the record owner or owners of the property; posting notice on the property; and advertising for 4 consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the property is located, the department may enter on property adversely affected by the past coal mining practices and any other property necessary to have access to the property to take those actions necessary or expedient to restore, reclaim, abate, control, or prevent the adverse effects. The money expended to restore, reclaim, abate, control, or prevent the adverse effects and the benefits accruing to the property entered on is chargeable against the land and shall mitigate or offset any claim in an action brought by the owner of any interest in the property for damages by virtue of the entry. This subsection is not intended to create new rights of action or eliminate existing immunities.

(4) The department may acquire land by purchase, donation, or condemnation that is adversely affected by past coal mining practices if the department determines that acquisition of the land is in the public interest, is necessary to successful reclamation, and either subdivision (a) or (b) applies:

(a) The acquired land, after restoration, reclamation, abatement, control, or prevention of the adverse effects of past coal mining practices, will serve recreation and historic purposes, conservation and reclamation purposes, or provide open space benefits; and permanent facilities such as a treatment plant or a relocated stream channel will be constructed on the land for the restoration, reclamation, abatement, control, or prevention of the adverse effects of past coal mining practices.

(b) Acquisition of coal refuse disposal sites and all coal refuse on the acquired land will serve the purposes of this section or is desirable to meet emergency situations and prevent recurrences of the adverse effects of past coal mining practices.

(5) The price paid for land acquired pursuant to this section shall reflect the market value of the land taking into consideration its current use and its condition as adversely affected by past coal mining practices.

(6) If land acquired pursuant to this section is considered suitable for agricultural, industrial, commercial, residential, or recreational development, the state may sell or transfer the land pursuant to rules promulgated by the department and procedures provided by law to ensure that the land is put to proper use consistent with the land use plans of local units of government. If a grant accepted pursuant to section 63506(k) is involved in the acquisition of the land to be sold, the land may be sold only when authorized by the secretary of the United States department of the interior. The department shall hold a public hearing in compliance with the open meetings act, Act No. 267 of the Public Acts of 1976, being sections 15.261 to 15.275 of the Michigan Compiled Laws, in the county or counties of the state in which land acquired pursuant to this section is located. The hearings shall afford local citizens and local units of government an opportunity to participate in the decision concerning the use or disposition of the land after restoration, reclamation, abatement, control, or prevention of the adverse effects of past coal mining practices.

History: Add. 1995, Act 57, Imd. Eff. May 24, 1995 Popular Name: Act 451Popular Name: NREPA