Okla. Stat. tit. 45, § 45-745.3: Termination of permit - Extension

A permit shall terminate if the permittee has not commenced the

surface coal mining operations covered by such permit within three

(3) years of the issuance of the permit. The Department may grant

reasonable extensions of time upon a showing and a finding by the

Department that such extensions are necessary by reason of

litigation precluding such commencement or threatening substantial

economic loss to the permittee, or by reason of conditions beyond

the control and without the fault or negligence of the permittee;

provided, further that with respect to coal to be mined for use in a

synthetic fuel facility or specific major electric generating

facility, the permittee shall be deemed to have commenced surface

mining operations at such time as the construction of the synthetic

fuel or generating facility is initiated.