Fees which are due and unpaid shall be a first and perpetual lien upon all of the property of the operator against whom the fees are assessed, subject to any tax liens imposed by the state. The liens shall be perfected by the filing and recording of a notice of lien with the county clerk in the county in which the operator resides or has property and shall thereafter constitute constructive notice to purchasers of the existence and superiority of the lien. Said notice of lien shall contain the name of the operator, the amount of fees claimed to be due, and a description of the property against which the lien is claimed. The county clerk of any county in which such lien is filed shall index the lien in the same form and manner and in the same book as provided for the indexing of income tax liens, except that the said entry in the said index shall show that the lien is a coal or mineral fee lien. Upon payment of the fee the Chief Mine Inspector shall release the lien.

Laws 1979, HB 1471, c. 74, § 4, emerg. eff. July 1, 1979; Amended by Laws 1983, HB 1320, c. 69, § 3, emerg. eff. June 30, 1983.