Section 1513.29. Council on unreclaimed strip mined lands

There is hereby created the council on unreclaimed strip mined lands. Its members are the chief of the division of mineral resources management, four persons appointed by the director of natural resources, two members of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, one member of the house of representatives appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives, two members of the senate appointed by the president of the senate, and one member of the senate appointed by the minority leader of the senate.

Members who are members of the general assembly shall serve terms of four years or until their legislative terms end, whichever is sooner. Members appointed by the director shall serve terms of four years, except that the terms of the first four members shall be for two and four years, as designated by the director. Any vacancy in the office of a member of the council shall be filled by the appointing authority for the unexpired term of the member whose office will be vacant. The appointing authority may at any time remove a member of the council for misfeasance, nonfeasance, malfeasance, or conflict of interest in office.

The council shall hold meetings as necessary at the call of the chairperson or a majority of the members. The council shall annually elect from among its members a chairperson, a vice-chairperson, and a secretary to keep a record of its proceedings.

The council shall gather information, study, and make recommendations concerning the number of acres, location, ownership, condition, environmental damage resulting from the condition, cost of acquiring, reclaiming, and possible future uses and value of eroded lands within the state, including land affected by strip mining for which no cash is held in the reclamation forfeiture fund created in section 1513.18 of the Revised Code.

The council may employ such staff and hire such consultants as necessary to perform its duties. Members appointed by the director and, notwithstanding section 101.26 of the Revised Code, members who are members of the general assembly, when engaged in their official duties as members of the council, shall be compensated on a per diem basis in accordance with division (J) of section 124.15 of the Revised Code. Members shall be reimbursed for their necessary expenses. Expenses incurred by the council and compensation provided under this section shall be paid by the chief from the unreclaimed lands fund created in section 1513.30 of the Revised Code.

The council shall report its findings and recommendations to the governor and the general assembly not later than January 1, 1974, and biennially thereafter.

Effective Date: 06-14-2000; 04-06-2007