AN ACT relating to natural resources.

SB 286 amends Kentucky law to clarify liability for reclaiming land disturbed after surface mining. It directs the Energy and Environment Cabinet to create rules specifying when mining permittees remain responsible for reclamation damage caused by outside forces (like natural disasters, oil operations, or trespassers) and establishing procedures to transfer reclamation liability to new land users. The bill directly affects surface mining permittees and the cabinet, focusing on technical corrections to existing reclamation rules without creating new requirements. This procedural update ensures clearer accountability for land restoration after mining activities.