A surface coal mining operator may petition the board of county commissioners to temporarily close or relocate a section line road or other road if the road interferes with the operator's conduct of surface coal mining operations. The board of county commissioners, if so petitioned, may, after notice and public hearing, temporarily close or relocate the section line road or other road, providing the road is not required due to readily accessible alternate routes of travel and the closing or relocation does not deprive adjacent landowners access to their property. If a road is closed as provided for in this section, the board of county commissioners may require that after completion of surface coal mining operations the operator restore the road to as good a condition as existed prior to the closing of the road.
N.D.C.C. § 38-01-07.1