§1273 Federal lands

Summary

Within one year after August 3, 1977, the Secretary must create and run a federal lands program for all surface coal mining on federal lands. The program must include the rules in this law and must account for different land types, climates, and other special conditions. The law’s rules generally do not apply to Indian lands except as section 1300 says. If a State already has an approved program, the federal program must at least meet that State’s rules. The Secretary still keeps the duties in sections 201(a), (2)(B), and 201(a)(3) and must keep deciding which federal lands are unsuitable under section 1272(b). Any federal mineral lease, permit, or contract that could involve surface coal mining must include these rules. States with approved programs may make cooperative agreements with the Secretary to regulate mining on federal lands if the Secretary finds they have enough staff and money. Cooperative agreements in place on August 3, 1977 may continue but must be changed to meet the initial rules in section 1252. The Secretary cannot give States his duty to approve mining plans on federal lands, to declare lands unsuitable under section 1272, or to regulate other federal-land activities. The Secretary must also set up a program so that, when the United States sells coal under permits, leases, or contracts, no class of buyers is unreasonably denied the chance to buy it.