The Board of Minerals and Environment shall grant a permit to an operator if the application complies with the requirements of this chapter and all applicable local, state, and federal laws. The board may not deny a permit, except for one or more of the following reasons:

(1) The application is incomplete or the surety has not been posted;

(2) The applicant has not paid the required fee;

(3) The adverse effects of the proposed uranium exploration operation on the historic, archaeologic, geologic, scientific, or recreational aspects of affected or surrounding land outweigh the benefits of the proposed uranium exploration operation;

(4) The proposed uranium exploration operation will result in the loss or reduction of long–range productivity of watershed lands, public and domestic water wells, aquifer recharge areas, or significant agricultural areas; or

(5) The proposed uranium exploration operation will adversely affect threatened or endangered wildlife indigenous to the area.

Source: SL 1982, ch 307, § 29.