The operator shall refrain from surface coal mining within five hundred (500) feet from active and abandoned underground mines in order to prevent breakthroughs and to protect health or safety of miners. The Department shall permit an operator to mine near, through or partially through an abandoned underground mine or closer to an active underground mine if the nature, timing and sequencing of the approximate coincidence of specific surface mine activities with specific underground mine activities will result in improved resource recovery, improved land use category abatement of water pollution, or elimination of hazards to the health and safety of underground miners and the public.