Section 9June 27, 1991, Sec./Art. 9

Award of People's Small-scale Mining Contracts. – A people's small-scale mining contract may be awarded by the Board to small-scale miners who have voluntarily organized and have duly registered with the appropriate government agency as an individual miner or cooperative; Provided, that only one (1) people's small-scale mining contract may be awarded at any one time to a small-scale mining operations within one (1) year from the date of award: provided, further, that priority shall be given or city where the small-scale mining area is located.

Applications for a contract shall be subject to a reasonable fee to be paid to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources regional office having jurisdiction over the area.