South Carolina Code 48-20-170. Bond or security forfeiture proceedings
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Terms Used In South Carolina Code 48-20-170
- Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
- Department: means the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control. See South Carolina Code 48-20-40
- Explorer: means a person engaged in exploration activities, as defined in this section, whether individually, jointly, or through subsidiaries, agents, employees, or contractors. See South Carolina Code 48-20-40
- Operating permit: means a permit for mining activity that is issued to an operator by the department. See South Carolina Code 48-20-40
- Operator: means a person engaged in mining operations, whether individually, jointly, or through subsidiaries, agents, employees, or contractors. See South Carolina Code 48-20-40
- Reclamation: means the reasonable rehabilitation of the affected land for useful purposes and the protection of the natural resources of the surrounding area. See South Carolina Code 48-20-40
- Reclamation plan: means the operator's written proposal as required and approved by the department for reclamation of the affected land, which includes but is not limited to:
(a) proposed practices to protect adjacent surface resources;
(b) specifications for surface gradient restoration, including sketches delineating slope angle, to a surface suitable for the proposed subsequent use of the land after reclamation is completed, and the proposed method of accomplishment;
(c) manner and type of revegetation or other surface treatment of the affected areas;
(d) method of prevention or elimination of conditions that are hazardous to animal or fish life in or adjacent to the area;
(e) method of compliance with state air and water pollution laws;
(f) proposed methods to limit significant adverse effects on adjacent surface water and groundwater resources;
(g) proposed methods to limit significant adverse effects on significant cultural or historic sites;
(h) method of rehabilitation of settling ponds;
(i) method of control of contaminants and disposal of mining refuse;
(j) method of restoration or establishment of stream channels and stream banks to a condition minimizing erosion, siltation, and other pollution;
(k) maps and other supporting documents reasonably required by the department; and
(l) a time schedule, including the anticipated years for completion of reclamation by segments, that meets the requirements of § 48-20-90. See South Carolina Code 48-20-40
Whenever the department determines the necessity of a bond forfeiture under the provisions of § 48-20-130, or whenever it revokes an operating permit under the provisions of § 48-20-160, it shall request the Attorney General to initiate forfeiture proceedings against the bond or other security filed by the operator or explorer under § 48-20-110, but no such request may be made for forfeiture of a bond until the surety has been given written notice of the violation and a reasonable opportunity of at least sixty days to take corrective action. The proceedings must be brought in the name of the State of South Carolina. In the proceedings, the face amount of the bond or other security, less any amount released by the department pursuant to § 48-20-130, must be treated as liquidated damages and subject to forfeiture. All funds collected as a result of the proceedings must be placed in a special fund and used by the department to carry out, to the extent possible, and in a cost-effective manner, the reclamation measures which the operator or explorer has failed to complete. Funds remaining after the reclamation plan has been completed must be refunded to the surety. If the amount of the bond or other security filed pursuant to this section proves to be insufficient to complete the required reclamation pursuant to the approved reclamation plan, the operator or explorer is liable to the department for any excess above the amount of the bond or other security which may be required to defray the cost of completing the required reclamation.