(a) Whenever underground mining operations conducted under this act cause damage to any of the following surface buildings overlying or in the proximity of the mine:

the operator of such coal mine shall repair such damage or compensate the owner of such building for the reasonable cost of its repair or the reasonable cost of its replacement where the damage is irreparable.

(b) For any irreparably damaged agricultural structure identified in subsection (a)(4) which, at the time of damage, the operator can affirmatively prove was being used for a different purpose than the purpose for which such structure was originally constructed, the operator may provide for the reasonable cost to replace the damaged structure with a structure satisfying the functions and purposes served by the damaged structure before such damage occurred.

(c) A mine operator shall not be liable to repair or compensate for subsidence damage if the mine operator, upon request, is denied access to the property upon which the building is located to conduct premining and postmining surveys of the building and surrounding property and thereafter serves notice upon the landowner by certified mail or personal service, which notice identifies the rights established by sections 5.5 and 5.6 and this section,¹ the mine operator was denied access and the landowner failed to provide or authorize access within ten days after receipt thereof.