SDCL § 45-6C-19: Inspection of area before exploration--Surety for costs of plugging test holes and reclamation.

The department may inspect the area proposed to be explored. Based upon this inspection, the criteria established in § 45-6C-20, and the submitted reclamation plan, the department shall set the level of the surety necessary to guarantee the costs of plugging all the proposed test holes and reclamation of affected public and private lands.

The operator shall file or deposit the surety with the department, in a form required by the department, before commencing the exploration operation.

In lieu of filing or depositing a surety for each exploration operation, the operator may post a surety in the amount of one hundred thousand dollars for statewide exploration. If a statewide surety is posted, the person posting the surety must otherwise comply with the provisions of this chapter for every area to be explored.