Michigan Compiled Laws, Chapter 324. Natural Resources and Environmental Protection § 324.63515

Sec. 63515. (1) Permits issued pursuant to this part are for a term not to exceed 3 years, except that if the applicant demonstrates that a specified longer term is reasonably needed to allow the applicant to obtain necessary financing for equipment and to open the operation, and if the application is full and complete for the specified longer term, the department may grant a permit for that longer term. A successor in interest to a permittee who applies for a new permit within 30 days of succeeding to that interest and who is able to obtain the same bond coverage pursuant to subpart 5  1 as the original permittee may continue the surface coal mining and reclamation plan of the original permittee until the successor's application is granted or denied.

(2) A permit shall terminate if the permittee has not commenced the surface coal mining operation covered by the permit within 2 years after commencement of the period for which the permit is issued. However, upon application by the permittee, the department may grant reasonable extensions of time, not to exceed 6 months each, to commence a surface coal mining operation if the permittee demonstrates either of the following: