(a) All bituminous coal mines or mining operations coming within the provisions of this act shall be under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Department of Environmental Resources and shall be conducted in accordance with this act, the act of July 17, 1961 (P.L. 659, No. 339), known as the “Pennsylvania Bituminous Coal Mine Act,”¹ the act of November 10, 1965 (P.L. 721, No. 346), known as the “Pennsylvania Anthracite Coal Mine Act,”² the act of July 9, 1976 (P.L. 931, No. 178), entitled “An act providing for emergency medical personnel; employment of emergency medical personnel and emergency communications in coal mines,”³ and with such reasonable rules and regulations as may be deemed necessary by the department for the health and safety of those persons engaged in the work. The department shall have the power to enforce the provisions of this act and the rules and regulations promulgated hereunder by it.

(b) The department shall have the authority to adopt such rules, regulations, standards and procedures as shall be necessary to protect the air, water and land resources of the Commonwealth and the public health and safety from subsidence, prevent public nuisances, and to enable it to carry out the purposes and provisions of this act, including additional requirements for providing maps, plans and public hearings.