Sec. 53.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1) "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of the General Land Office.

(2) "Land office" means the General Land Office.

(3) "Board" means the School Land Board.

(4) "Surface mining" means the mining of minerals by removing the overburden lying above the natural deposit of minerals and mining directly from the natural deposits that are exposed. The term does not include in situ mining activities.

Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2469, ch. 871, art. I, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1977. Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 897, Sec. 45, eff. Sept. 1, 1993; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1483, Sec. 3, eff. Aug. 30, 1999.