(a) Part 762 of this chapter, Criteria for Designating Areas as Unsuitable for Surface Coal Mining Operations, shall apply to surface coal mining and reclamation operations.

(b) In addition to the lands defined as fragile lands in §762.5 of this chapter, the Office in evaluating any petition to designate lands as unsuitable or to terminate such designation will consider lands included on the Tennessee Natural Areas Registry under Tennessee Code Annotated (TCA) section 11-14-112, Natural Areas designated by the Tennessee General Assembly under TCA 11-14-108, areas adjoining Tennessee Scenic Rivers designated under TCA 11-13-101, and Scenic Trails designated under TCA 11-11-101.