A. After December 31, 1994, a person shall not engage in exploration operations in New Mexico without first obtaining a permit to conduct exploration from the director. In order to be approved by December 31, 1994, the application for a permit to conduct exploration shall be submitted by September 1, 1994. A permit to conduct exploration shall not be issued for a period of more than one year from the date of issue and is renewable from year to year upon application. An application for renewal of a permit to conduct exploration shall be filed within thirty days preceding the expiration of the current permit. A permit to conduct exploration shall not be renewed if the applicant for renewal is in violation of any provision of the New Mexico Mining Act.

B. A person shall not be issued a permit to conduct exploration if that person’s failure to comply with the provisions of the New Mexico Mining Act, the regulations adopted pursuant to that act or a permit issued under that act has resulted in the forfeiture of financial assurance.

C. An applicant for a permit to conduct exploration shall not be issued a permit to conduct exploration until he:

(1)     pays a permit fee for exploration;

(2)     agrees to reclaim any surface area damaged by the applicant during exploration operations in accordance with a reclamation plan submitted to and approved by the director; and

(3)     certifies that he is not in violation of any other obligation under the New Mexico Mining Act or the regulations adopted pursuant to that act.

D. The application for a permit to conduct exploration shall include an exploration map in sufficient detail to locate the area to be explored and to determine whether environmental problems would be encountered. The commission shall establish regulations to determine the precise nature of and requirements for the exploration map. The application shall state what type of exploration and excavation techniques will be employed in disturbing the land during exploration operations.

E. Prior to the issuance of a permit to conduct exploration, the applicant shall provide to the division financial assurance in a form and amount as determined by the director pursuant to Section 7 [69-36-7 N.M. Stat. Ann.] of the New Mexico Mining Act. The financial assurance shall be released only in accordance with the provisions of that act.

F. In the event that the holder of a permit to conduct exploration desires to mine the permit area to conduct exploration and he has fulfilled all of the requirements for a permit for new mining operations, the director shall allow postponement of the reclamation of the acreage explored if that acreage is incorporated into the complete reclamation plan submitted with the application for a permit for a new mining operation.

Land affected by exploration or excavation under a permit for exploration and not covered by the reclamation plan shall be reclaimed in a manner acceptable to the director within two years after the completion of exploration or abandonment of the site.