Arkansas Code Title 15. Natural Resources and Economic Development § 15-58-508. Surface Coal Mining Operation Fund

(a) Each application for a surface coal mining permit or renewal of that permit shall be accompanied by an initial application fee as determined by the Director of the Division of Environmental Quality in accordance with a fee schedule which the Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission shall develop and issue by rules.

(b) The initial application fee shall be based as nearly as possible on the actual or anticipated cost of reviewing the application.

(c) After approval but before issuance of the surface coal mining permit or renewal permit, the applicant shall pay a final application fee which shall not exceed the actual or anticipated cost of administering and enforcing the permit.  However, this final application fee may be paid in annual installments apportioned over the term of the permit.

(d) The Division of Environmental Quality shall maintain a separate Surface Coal Mining Operation Fund for the fees which may only be used for the administration and enforcement of this chapter and as the state's matching percentage share for any grants available to the state for the administration and enforcement of the state program.