Stacy Prewitt, 2L
 

The following is a summary of legislation affecting coastal, natural and water resources enacted by the Alabama legislature during the 1999 session.
 

1999 Alabama Laws 203. (SB 251) Enacted May 20, 1999. Effective May 20, 1999.

The act makes corrections to the 1998 Cumulative Supplement of Alabama, § 33-4-48, asserting the pilotage fee for every vessel crossing the outer bar of the Mobile Bay, authorizing set fees for special services rendered by the pilots and omitting pilotage for certain vessels trading between a domestic port on the Gulf of Mexico and the Port of Mobile.
 

1999 Alabama Laws 396. (SB 92) Enacted June 9, 1999. Effective September 1, 1999.

Amends § 9-17-33 to allow an accumulation during one year of $100 in oil and gas proceeds prior to payment to an oil and gas royalty owner or working interest owner. In addition, the Act requires a minimum annual payment and allows owners to be paid more frequently.
 

1999 Alabama Laws 440. (HB 637) Enacted June 11, 1999. Effective September 1, 1999.

Amends § 30-3-170 to include sporting licenses in the category of licenses that can be withheld, suspended, revoked, or restricted if a license holder fails to pay child support. In addition, this Act amends § 30-3-194 to require an agency issuing a recreational or sporting license to include the applicant's social security number on the application and any related agency records. The Act amends § 30-3-193 to remove the restriction that information would be released to the state's Title IV-D agency only "if readily available."
 

1999 Alabama Laws 442. (HB 664) Enacted June 12, 1999. Effective September 1, 1999.

Amends § 9-11-257 to prohibit hunting with certain firearms and ammunition within 50 yards of public roads, highways, or railroads or their rights-of-way, with certain exceptions, and provides penalties for violations.
 

1999 Alabama Laws 446. (SB 378) Enacted June 12, 1999. Effective June 12, 1999.

Creates the Alabama Improvement Districts Act, which establishes improvement districts and provides for the issuance of revenue bonds to finance certain improvements within those districts, such as streets, water systems, sewers, sidewalks, and recreational facilities.
 

1999 Alabama Laws 570. (HB 270) Enacted June 18, 1999. Effective June 18, 1999 and applies retroactively to all open tax years.

Amends §§ 40-23-1 and 40-23-60 regarding sales and use taxes to exempt from the term "gross proceeds of sale" the refinery, residue or fuel gas that has been generated by or is a by-product of a petroleum-refining process and is then utilized in the process to generate heat or is otherwise utilized in the distillation or refining of petroleum products.
 

1999 Alabama Laws 571. (HB 547) Enacted June 18, 1999. Effective September 1, 1999.

Creates the Alabama Onsite Wastewater Board to examine, license, and regulate persons engaged in the manufacture, installation, or servicing of onsite wastewater systems and equipment. The purpose of this Act is to insure the proper functioning of onsite septic tank systems and avoid any damage to the public health or the environment.
 

1999 Alabama Laws 579. (HB 9) Enacted June 18, 1999. Effective September 1, 1999.

Amends §§ 9-16-2, 9-16-5, 9-16-7, 9-16-8 and 9-16-12 to include new definitions. In addition, this Act requires an applicant for a surface mining permit to submit a comprehensive reclamation plan to the Department of Industrial Relations. It specifies the criteria for denial of permits, establishes limits on surface mining operations, and modifies requirements for grading and revegetating lands after mining. The Act authorizes qualified land reclamation inspectors to make inspections for bond releases and allows bond forfeiture proceeds to be used to reclaim other affected lands.
 

1999 Alabama Laws 584. (HB 605) Enacted June 18, 1999. Effective September 1, 1999.

Amends § 9-17-25 and § 40-20-2 to extend reduced rates of taxation to certain oil and gas wells for which an initial permit was issued before July 1, 2002.
 

1999 Alabama Laws 593. (HB 674) Enacted June 18, 1999. Effective June 18, 1999.

Amends § 9-16-91 to clarify and establish an exclusive and consistent remedy designed to fully protect surface owners from actual loss and damage to occupied dwellings and related structures, noncommercial buildings, and land resulting from surface subsidence associated with underground coal mining.
 

1999 Alabama Laws 595. (HB 390) Enacted June 19, 1999. Effective September 1, 1999.

The Alabama Cultural Resources Act provides that certain underwater artifacts, archaeological finds, treasure troves, and other resources are designated "state cultural resources," and are regulated and protected by the Alabama Historical Commission. The Act prohibits the taking, damaging, or other alteration of these resources, intentionally or knowingly, without a contract or permit from the commission. The commission has the authority to make and enforce rules and regulations regarding a management plan for the resources. The commission can restrict commercial fishing in the immediate vicinity of the resources, impose criminal penalties for violations, authorize the seizure of boats and instruments used in violation of this Act, and direct all state and local law enforcement authorities and officers to assist the commission in the enforcement of this Act. In addition, the commission has the power to grant exemptions from permitting requirements for activities that are conducted pursuant to certain federal permits, and to allow the curing of certain violations where the violating activities are stopped and required permits are sought.