Title 30 — Mineral Lands and Mining
Chapter 25 — Surface Mining Control and Reclamation
§ 1298. Alaskan surface coal mine study
Statutory text
Contract with National Academy of Sciences-National Academy of Engineering
The Secretary is directed to contract to such extent or in such amounts as are provided in advance in appropriation Acts with the National Academy of Sciences-National Academy of Engineering for an in-depth study of surface coal mining conditions in the State of Alaska in order to determine which, if any, of the provisions of this chapter should be modified with respect to surface coal mining operations in Alaska.
Report to President and Congress
The Secretary shall report on the findings of the study to the President and Congress no later than two years after .
Draft of legislation
The Secretary shall include in his report a draft of legislation to implement any changes recommended to this chapter.
Modification of applicability of environmental protection provisions of this chapter to surface coal mining operations in Alaska; publication in Federal Register; hearing
Until one year after the Secretary has made this report to the President and Congress, or three years after , whichever comes first, the Secretary is authorized to modify the applicability of any environmental protection provision of this chapter, or any regulation issued pursuant thereto, to any surface coal mining operation in Alaska from which coal has been mined during the year preceding , if he determines that it is necessary to insure the continued operation of such surface coal mining operation. The Secretary may exercise this authority only after he has (1) published notice of proposed modification in the Federal Register and in a newspaper of general circulation in the area of Alaska in which the affected surface coal mining operation is located, and (2) held a public hearing on the proposed modification in Alaska.
Interim regulations
In order to allow new mines in Alaska to continue orderly development, the Secretary is authorized to issue interim regulations pursuant to section 1251(b) of this title including those modifications to the environmental standards as required based on the special physical, hydrological and climatic conditions in Alaska but with the purpose of protecting the environment to an extent equivalent to those standards for the other coal regions.
Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated for the purpose of this section $250,000: Provided, That no new budget authority is authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 1977.
Legislative history
Reconstructed from this section’s Code source credit and amendment notes, resolved against the local Statutes at Large. Editorial notes are evidence, not the law that made the change.
Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977
Pub. L. 95–87 title VII § 708 · 91 Stat. 445
Enacted · 30 U.S.C. § 1298
(Pub. L. 95–87, title VII, § 708, Aug. 3, 1977, 91 Stat. 521.)
Source evidence
Code source credit
(Pub. L. 95–87, title VII, § 708, Aug. 3, 1977, 91 Stat. 521.)Enacted provision · exact public law section
Sec. 708. alaskan surface coal mine study (a) The Secretary is directed to contract to such extent Contract. 30 USC 1298. or in such amounts as are provided in advance in appropriation Acts with the National Academy of Sciences-National Academy of Engineering for an in-depth study of surface coal mining conditions in the State of Alaska in order to determine which, if any, of the provisions of this Act should be modified with respect to surface coal mining operations in Alaska. (b) The Secretary shall report on the findings of the study to the Report to President and Congress. President and Congress no later than two years after the date of enactment of this Act. (c) The Secretary shall include in his report a draft of legislation Draft legislation. to implement any changes recommended to this Act. (d) Until one year after the Secretary has made this report to the President and Congress, or three years after the date of enactment of this Act, whichever comes first, the Secretary is authorized to modify the applicability of any environmental protection provision of this Act, or any regulation issued pursuant thereto, to any surface coal mining operation in Alaska from which coal has been mined during the year preceding enactment of this Act if he determines that it is necessary to insure the continued operation of such surface coal Publication in Federal Register. Hearing. mining operation. The Secretary may exercise this authority only after he has (1) published notice of proposed modification in the Federal Register and in a newspaper of general circulation in the area of Alaska in which the affected surface coal mining operation is located, and (2) held a public hearing on the proposed modification in Alaska. (e) In order to allow new mines in Alaska to continue orderly development, the Secretary is authorized to issue interim regulations pursuant to section 501(b) including those modifications to the environmental standards as required based on the special physical, hydrological and climatic conditions in Alaska but with the purpose of protecting the environment to an extent equivalent to those standards for the other coal regions. (f) There is hereby authorized to be appropriated for the purpose of this section $250,000: Provided, That no new budget authority is authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 1977.
1 of 1 references resolved to an enrolled provision