Counties, cities and towns may establish standards and adopt regulations dealing with the same subject, provided, however, such standards and regulations shall not be below those adopted by the Director.

This chapter shall not be construed to repeal any local ordinance or regulation or charter provision now in effect in any county, city or town where the provisions are not less than the standards adopted by the Director. The Director may waive the application of this chapter if, in his opinion, a county, city or town in which mining operations are being conducted has enacted and is enforcing zoning ordinances dealing with the subject matter, prescribing standards and regulations not below those set forth in this chapter. If the Director waives the provisions hereof, the operator shall comply strictly with all the provisions of the ordinances of such counties, cities and towns in which his operations are located.

The Director may also waive the application of this chapter as to any mining or borrow pit operation which is conducted solely and exclusively for a state project and which is subject by contract to the control and supervision of a state agency, provided regulations satisfactory to the Director have been promulgated and are incorporated in any contract for such removal.

The county, city, town or state agency shall assure strict compliance with all the provisions of the ordinances, regulations or contracts and the Director shall from time to time review the ordinances, regulations or contracts and the enforcement programs to assure compliance with this chapter. If the Director determines that there is not strict compliance with this chapter, then he may rescind his waiver of the application of this chapter.

1968, c. 734; 1974, c. 312; 1977, c. 312.