Sec. 131.039.  PETITION AND HEARING ON DESIGNATION.  (a)  Any person is entitled to petition the commission to have an area designated as unsuitable for surface mining operations or to have the designation terminated.
(b)  The petition shall include allegations of facts with supporting evidence that in the opinion of the commission would tend to establish the allegations.
(c)  The commission shall make a determination of the validity of the petition, and if the petition is found to be valid, it shall be kept on file by the commission and made available for public inspection.
(d)  On application for a surface mining permit for which a valid petition has been filed, the commission shall hold a public hearing as provided in Section 131.163 of this code in the locality of the proposed mining operation.
(e)  Any person affected may intervene before the public hearing by filing allegations of facts with supporting evidence that would tend to establish the allegations.
(f)  If all the petitioners and the applicant stipulate agreement before the requested hearing, the hearing does not have to be held.
Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2614, ch. 871, art. I, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1977.  Amended by Acts 1979, 66th Leg., p. 1989, ch. 784, Sec. 2, eff. Aug. 27, 1979.