§9-16-105. Constitutionality and validity of article.

(a) If Public Law 95-87, or any rule or regulation promulgated thereunder or any part of such Public Law 95-87, is adjudged unconstitutional or invalid for any reason, then such provisions of this article, or such rules or regulations as were adopted in order to comply with the provisions of Public Law 95-87 which correspond to such constitutional or invalid provisions shall become void and be of no further force and effect, and any regulations adopted by the commission implementing such provisions, or corresponding to any federal rules or regulations which are declared unconstitutional or invalid shall become void and be of no further force or effect. In the event Public Law 95-87 or any part thereof or any rule or regulation promulgated thereunder is enjoined, suspended or the enforcement thereof is stayed pending litigation, then the commission shall immediately suspend the enforcement of the corresponding section or sections of this article, or any rules and regulations promulgated hereunder; such suspension to exist for a period of time coextensive with the suspension and enforcement of such provisions of Public Law 95-87 or the rules or regulations adopted thereunder. In the event the Congress of the United States repeals any provision of Public Law 95-87 then any corresponding provision of this article shall upon such repeal be of no further force and effect; in the event the Congress of the United States amends Public Law 95-87 or the Secretary of the Interior amends any regulation adopted thereunder by lessening or in any way making the requirements of such act or regulations less restrictive on the state or on those engaged in the surface mining industry then such amendment shall be deemed to have amended this article in like manner, or, in the case of regulations, such modified regulation shall be adopted by the regulatory authority.

(b) The State of Alabama, by any provision, part or all of this article, does not waive any rights and powers reserved to it by the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, and this article shall not be interpreted so as to prevent the State of Alabama from protecting any and all of its rights and governmental powers through any legal action as might be determined by duly constituted officials of the State of Alabama.

(Acts 1981, No. 81-435, p. 682, §37; Acts 1983, No. 83-774, p. 1415, §12.)