§ 74-59.  Bond forfeiture proceedings.

Whenever the Department determines the necessity of a bond  forfeiture under the provisions of G.S. 74-56, or whenever it revokes  an operating permit under the provisions of G.S. 74-58, it shall request the Attorney General to initiate forfeiture proceedings against the bond or other security filed by the operator under G.S. 74-54; provided, however, that no such request shall be made for forfeiture of a bond until the surety has been given written notice of the violation and a reasonable opportunity to take corrective action.  Such proceedings shall be brought in the name of the State of North Carolina. In such proceedings, the face amount of the bond or other security, less any amount released by the Department pursuant to G.S. 74-56, shall be treated as liquidated damages and subject to forfeiture. All funds collected as a result of such proceedings shall be placed in a special fund and used by the Department to carry out, to the extent possible, the reclamation measures which the operator has failed to complete. If the amount of the bond or other security filed pursuant to this section proves to be insufficient to complete the required reclamation pursuant to the approved reclamation plan, the operator shall be liable to the Department for any excess above the amount of the bond or other security which may be required to defray the cost of completing the required reclamation. (1971, c. 545, s. 14.)