Section 444.540 - Annual strip mining permit required, fee, renewal1. No person shall engage in strip mining unless such person possesses a valid permit issued by the commission designating the area of land affected by the operation. The permit shall authorize the operator to engage in strip mining upon the area of land described in the permit under conditions specified by sections 444.500 to 444.755, and regulations promulgated pursuant to sections 444.500 to 444.755. The permit shall be valid for a period of one year from the date of its issuance unless sooner revoked as provided in sections 444.500 to 444.755; except that, any permit which becomes effective on a date later than January first of any year shall be valid only until December thirty-first of that year. A separate permit shall be required for each separate mine and all permits shall be on a calendar year basis.2. A basic fee of three hundred fifty dollars, plus an acreage fee of thirty-five dollars for each acre or fraction thereof of the area of land to be affected by strip mining, shall be paid to the commission before the permit shall be issued.3. Where mining or reclamation operations on acreage for which a permit has been issued have not been completed during the permit year, the permit as to such acreage shall be renewed by applying on a permit renewal form furnished by the commission for an additional permit year and payment of a fee of three hundred fifty dollars and filing of a bond as provided in section 444.570. Upon receipt of the permit renewal application, fee, and filing of the bond from the operator, the commission shall issue a renewal permit, if the operator meets the requirements of sections 444.500 to 444.755 and the rules and regulations of the commission.L. 1971 S.B. 1 §§ 4, 7, 11, A.L. 1976 S.B. 646, A.L. 1984 H.B. 1162, A.L. 1990 H.B. 1584