Sec. 134.131. RELEASE OF BOND OR DEPOSIT. (a) The commission may release part or all of the bond or deposit if the commission is satisfied that the reclamation covered by the bond or deposit or part of the reclamation has been accomplished as required by this chapter according to the schedule provided by this section.

(b) The commission may release 60 percent of the bond or deposit for the applicable permit area if the permit holder completes the backfilling, regrading, and drainage control of a bonded area in accordance with the reclamation plan.

(c) The commission may release part of the bond after successful revegetation has been established on the regraded mined lands in accordance with the reclamation plan. In determining the amount of the bond to be released under this subsection, the commission shall retain, for the period of permit holder responsibility specified under Section 134.092(a)(20), 134.104, or 134.105, a bond amount for the revegetated area that is sufficient for a third party to establish revegetation.

(d) The commission may not release any of the bond or deposit under Subsection (c) if:

(1) the land to which the release would apply is contributing suspended solids to streamflow or runoff outside the permit area in excess of the requirements of Section 134.092(a)(10); or

(2) soil productivity for prime farmland has not returned to levels of yield equivalent to those of nonmined land of the same soil type in the surrounding area under equivalent management practices, as determined from the soil survey performed under Section 134.052(a)(16).

(e) If a silt dam will be retained as a permanent impoundment under Section 134.092(a)(8), the commission may release the part of the bond authorized by Subsection (c) after provisions for sound future maintenance have been made with the commission.

(f) The commission may release the remaining part of the bond if:

(1) the permit holder has successfully completed all surface coal mining and reclamation activities;

(2) the period of permit holder responsibility specified under Section 134.092(a)(20), 134.104, or 134.105 has expired; and

(3) all reclamation requirements of this chapter have been met.

Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 76, Sec. 12.02(a), eff. Sept. 1, 1995.