Public Law 95-87 - OSMRE

1 Public Law 95-87 Surface Mining control and Reclamation Act of 1977 This is an unofficial compilation of 95-87 , the Surface Mining control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA), passed August 3, 1977. It includes all revisions to SMCRA through July 6, 2012. Users of this compilation should be aware that there are slight variations between the Public law as enacted and the version codified in the Code. When citing SMCRA, the Code is the only official source. ii iii TABLE OF CONTENTS PREAMBLE .. 1 TITLE I STATEMENT OF FINDINGS AND POLICY Section Page 101 Congressional Findings [30 1201] .. 1 102 Statement of Purpose [30 1202] .. 3 TITLE II OFFICE OF SURFACE MINING RECLAMATION AND ENFORCEMENT Section Page 201 Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement [30 1211].

2 5 TITLE III STATE MINING AND MINERAL RESOURCES AND RESEARCH INSTITUTES Section Page 301 Authorization of State Allotments to Institutes [30 1221] .. 8 302 Research Funds to Institutes [30 1222] .. 9 303 Funding Criteria [30 1223] ..10 304 Duties of Secretary [30 1224] ..11 305 Effect on Colleges and Universities [30 1225] ..12 306 Research [30 1226] ..12 307 Center for Cataloging [30 1227] ..13 308 Interagency Cooperation [30 1228] ..13 309 Committee on Mining and Mineral Resources Research [30 1229] ..14 310 Eligibility Criteria [30 1230] ..15 310a Strategic Resources Generic Mineral Technology Center [30 1230a] ..16 iv TITLE IV ABANDONED MINE RECLAMATION Section Page 401 Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund [30 1231].

3 18 402 Reclamatin Fee [30 1232] ..21 403 Objective of Fund [30 1233] ..30 404 Eligible Lands and Water [30 1234] ..32 405 State Reclamation Program [30 1235]..32 406 Reclamation of Rural Lands [30 1236] ..35 407 Acquisition and Reclamation of Land Adversely Affected by Past Coal Mining Practices [30 1237] ..37 408 Liens [30 1238] ..41 409 Filling Voids and Sealing Tunnels [30 1239] ..42 410 Emergency Powers [30 1240] ..43 411 Certification [30 1240a] ..43 412 [OMITTED] [30 1241] ..47 413 Powers of Secretary or State [30 1242] ..47 414 Interagency Cooperation [30 1243] ..48 415 Remining Incentives [30 1244] ..48 TITLE V control OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF SURFACE COAL MINING Section Page 501 Environmental Protection Standards [30 1251].

4 50 501a Abandoned Coal Refuse Sites [30 1251a] ..51 502 Initial Regulatory Procedures [30 1252] ..51 503 State Programs [30 1253] ..54 504 Federal Programs [30 1254] ..56 505 State Laws [30 1255] ..58 506 Permits [30 1256] ..58 507 Application Requirements [30 1257] ..60 508 Reclamation Plan Requirements [30 1258] ..65 509 Performance Bonds [30 1259] ..67 510 Permit Approval or Denial [30 1259] ..68 511 Revision of Permits [30 1261] ..71 512 Coal Exploration Permits [30 1262] ..72 513 Public Notice and Public Hearings [30 1263] ..73 v 514 Decisions of Regulatory Authority and Appeals [30 1264] ..74 Section Page 515 Environmental Protection Performance Standards [30 1265].

5 76 516 Surface Effects of Underground Coal Mining Operations [30 1266] ..86 517 Inspections and Monitoring [30 1267] ..89 518 Penalties [30 1268] ..91 519 Release of Performance Bonds or Deposits [30 1269] ..94 520 Citizens Suits [30 1270] ..96 521 Enforcement [30 1271] ..98 522 Designating Areas Unsuitable for Surface Coal Mining [30 1272] ..101 523 Federal Lands [30 1273] ..104 524 Public Agencies, Public Utilities, and Public Corporations [30 1274] ..106 525 Review by Secretary [30 1275] ..106 526 Judicial Review [30 1276] ..108 527 Special Bituminous Coal Mines [30 1277] ..109 528 Surface Mining Operations not Subject to 30 USC 1201 et seq [30 1278].

6 110 529 Anthracite Coal Mines [30 1279] ..111 TITLE VI DESIGNATION OF LANDS UNSUITABLE FOR NONCOAL MINING Section Page 601 Designation Procedures [30 1281] .. 112 TITLE VII ADMINISTRATIVE AND MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS Section Page 701 Definitions [30 1291] ..114 702 Other Federal Laws [30 1292] ..117 703 Employee Protection [30 1293] ..118 704 Penalty [30 1294] ..119 vi 705 Grant To The States [30 1295] ..119 706 Annual Report to President and Congress [30 1296] ..120 Section Page 707 Severability of Provisions [30 1297] ..121 708 Alaskan Surface Coal Mine Study [30 1298] ..121 709 Study of Reclamation Standards for Surface Mining of Other Minerals [30 1299].

7 122 710 Indian Lands [30 1300] ..123 711 Experimental Practices [30 1301] ..126 712 Authorization of Appropriations [30 1302] ..126 713 Coordination of Regulatory and Inspection Activities [30 1303]..127 714 Surface Owner Protection [30 1304] ..127 715 Federal Lessee Protection [30 1305] ..129 716 Effect on Rights of Owner of Coal In Alaska to Conduct Surface Mining Operations [30 1306] ..129 717 Water Rights and Replacement [30 1307] ..129 718 Advance Appropriations [30 1308] ..130 719 Certification and Training of Blasters [30 1309] ..130 720 Subsidence 30 1309a] ..130 721 Research [30 1309b] ..131 TITLE VIII UNIVERSITY COAL RESEARCH LABORATORIES Section Page 801 Establishment of University Coal Research Laboratories [30 1311].

8 132 802 Financial Assistance [30 1312] ..133 803 Limitation on Payments [30 1313] ..134 804 Payments: Federal Share of Operating Expenses [30 1314] ..134 805 Advisory Council on Coal Research [30 1315] ..134 806 Authorization of Appropriations [30 1316] ..136 vii TITLE IX ENERGY RESOURCE GRADUATE FELLOWSHIPS Section Page 901 Fellowship Awards [30 1321] ..137 902 Fellowship Recipients [30 1322] ..137 903 Distribution Of Fellowships[30 1323] ..138 904 Stipends And Institutions of Higher Education Allowances [30 1324] ..138 905 Limitation on Fellowships [30 1325] ..138 906 Fellowship Conditions [30 1326] ..139 907 Authorization Of Appropriations [30 1327].

9 139 908 Research and Demonstration Projects of Alternative Coal Mining Technologies [30 1328] ..139 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ viii ix HISTORY & SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION TITLE I STATEMENT OF FINDINGS AND POLICY Section Page 101 Congressional Findings [30 1201] ..141 102 Statement Of Purpose [30 1202] ..141 TITLE II OFFICE OF SURFACE MINING RECLAMATION AND ENFORCEMENT Section Page 201 Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement [30 1211] ..142 TITLE III STATE MINING AND MINERAL RESOURCES AND RESEARCH INSTITUTES Section Page 301 Authorization of State Allotments to Institutes [30 1221] ..144 302 Research Funds to Institutes [30 1222].

10 145 303 Funding Criteria [30 1223] ..145 304 Duties Of Secretary 30 1224] ..146 305 Effect On Colleges And Universities [30 1225] ..146 306 Research [30 1226] ..147 307 Center for Cataloging [30 1227] ..147 308 Interagency Cooperation [30 1228] ..148 309 Committee on Mining and Mineral Resources Research [30 1229] ..148 310 Eligibility Criteria [30 1230] ..149 310a Strategic Resources Generic Mineral Technology Center [30 1230a] ..150 x TITLE IV ABANDONED MINE RECLAMATION Section Page 401 Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund [30 1231] ..150 402 Reclamation Fee [30 1232] ..152 403 Objectives of Fund [30 1233] ..156 404 Eligible Lands and Water [30 1234].