Okla. Stat. tit. 45, § 45-782: Petition to designate area as unsuitable for surface coal

mining operations - Hearing - Decision - Impact statement.

A. Any person having an interest which is or may be adversely

affected shall have the right to petition the Department to have an

area designated as unsuitable for surface coal mining operations or

to have such a designation terminated. Such a petition shall

contain allegations of facts with supporting evidence which would

tend to establish the allegations. Within ten (10) months after

receipt of the petition the Department shall hold a public hearing

in the locality of the affected area, after appropriate notice and

publication of the date, time and location of such hearing. After a

person having an interest which is or may be adversely affected has

filed a petition and before the hearing, as required by this

section, any person may intervene by filing allegations of facts

with supporting evidence which would tend to establish the

allegations. Within sixty (60) days after such hearing, the

Department shall issue and furnish to the petitioner and any other

party to the hearing, a written decision regarding the petition, and

the reasons therefor. In the event that all the petitioners

stipulate agreement prior to the requested hearing, and withdraw

their request, such hearing need not be held.

B. Prior to designating any land areas as unsuitable for

surface coal mining operations, the Department shall prepare a

detailed statement on the potential coal resources of the area, the

demand for coal resources, and the impact of such designation on the

environment, the economy and the supply of coal.