35-11-1203. Abandoned mine reclamation account; subsidence mitigation account.

(a) Upon approval of the state reclamation plan, the state treasurer shall create an abandoned mine reclamation account for the purpose of accounting for monies received by the state from the secretary of the interior and any other monies authorized to be deposited in the account. The account shall be administered in compliance with the approved plan.

(b) Revenue to the account shall include amounts granted by the secretary of the interior under Title IV of P.L. 95-87, monies received by the state for the use or sale of lands acquired with monies from the account and such other monies which may be deposited in the account for use in carrying out the state reclamation program.

(c) There is created a coal mine subsidence mitigation account. Revenue to the account shall be ten percent (10%) of the amount granted by the secretary of the interior under title IV of P.L. 95-87 as provided by P.L. 100-34. Revenue shall be deposited in an interest bearing account and all interest shall be credited to the program. No monies from the account shall be expended prior to September 30, 1995. After September 30, 1995 the money may be expended as provided in this subsection. The legislature shall authorize expenditure by appropriation from the account as necessary to defray the administrative expenses of the program. The remaining funds in the account shall only be used to address the reclamation activities described in W.S. 35-11-1202(a)(i)(A) and (B) where mine reclamation is necessary for the protection of the public health or safety, with a priority given to pay for contractual services to mitigate and control mine subsidence that threatens structures. If authorized by the United States congress, funds from the account may be used for the repair or enhancement of structures defined in W.S. 35-11-1301(a)(iii), provided that no funds from the account may be used for any structure where construction is commenced after the effective date of this act unless an engineering assessment documenting the minimal risk of loss from mine subsidence precedes commencement of construction. The liability of the state to fulfill the requirements of this subsection is limited to the amount of funds available in the account established in this subsection. The state has no obligations under this subsection except to the extent of federal funds deposited in the coal mine mitigation account and the interest thereon to operate the program.