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0 Page 348 <br />Section 4.15. 11 <br />4.16.1 General. <br />120(2)(b) All areas affected by surface coal mining operations shall be restored in a <br />121(2)0) timely manner: <br />(1) To conditions that are capable of supporting the uses which they were <br />capable of supporting before any mining; or <br />(2) To higher or better uses achievable under criteria and procedures of <br />4.16. <br />4.16.2 Determining Postmining Use of Land. <br />The postmining land use shall be determined after consideration for the use(s) <br />before any mining and the appropriateness of such use(s) based on the land's <br />capability. <br />(1) The postmining land use for land that has been previously mined and <br />• not reclaimed shall be determined on the basis of the uses which the <br />land was capable of supporting prior to any mining or of the higher and <br />better uses that can be achieved and are compatible with surrounding <br />areas. <br />(2) The postmining land use for land that has received improper <br />management shall be judged on the basis of the premining use of <br />surrounding lands that have received proper management. If such lands <br />are not available for comparison, the standard by which postmining land <br />use will be set will be determined by the Division. <br />(3) If the premining use of the land was changed within 5 years of the <br />beginning of mining, the Division may require the postmining use to be <br />determined from the historic use of the land instead of its use <br />immediately preceding mining. <br />4.16.3 Alternative Land Uses. <br />Alternative land uses may be approved by the Division after consultation with <br />the landowner or the land - management agency having jurisdiction over the <br />lands, if the following criteria are met: <br />0 <br />