Sec. 131.131.  PERMIT REQUIRED FOR OPERATION.  (a)  No person shall conduct a surface mining operation unless he first obtains a surface mining permit issued by the commission under this subchapter;  provided, any operator conducting a surface mining operation in this state before September 20, 1976, who has filed a permit application pursuant to this chapter, may continue to conduct that surface mining operation until the commission approves or denies his application.
(b)  An operator who was conducting a surface mining operation in this state after the expiration of 180 days following the promulgation of the initial rules under Section 131.026 of this code and who has filed a permit application in accordance with the provisions of this subchapter may continue to conduct the surface mining operation until the commission approves or denies his application.
Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2619, ch. 871, art. I, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1977.  Amended by Acts 1979, 66th Leg., p. 1990, ch. 784, Sec. 3, eff. Aug. 27, 1979.