The North Dakota State Soil Conservation Committee was designated by the Legislature to administer the Surface Mining Reports Law, which requires any person conducting surface mining operations for minerals other than coal, to comply with the reporting requirements of Chapter 38-16 (North Dakota Century Code).

The Law requires any person conducting surface mining operations for minerals, other than coal, who, within one calendar year, removes 10,000 cubic yards or more of earthen material or products, including overburden, or affects one-half acre or more, in combined mining operations to report. Minerals included are: cement rock, clay, fines, gravel, limestone, manganese, molybdenum, peat, potash, pumicite, salt, sand, scoria, sodium sulfate, stone, zeolite, or other minerals, but does not include coal.

The Surface Mining Reports Law also requires the State Soil Conservation Committee to prepare and transmit to local soil conservation districts a report giving information about surface mining operations and reclamation activities conducted during the preceding calendar year.