Title 30 — Mineral Lands and MiningRelease 119-73
§1307 Water rights and replacement
Title 30 › Chapter CHAPTER 25— - SURFACE MINING CONTROL AND RECLAMATION › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER VII— - ADMINISTRATIVE AND MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS › § 1307
Summary
Surface coal mine operators must replace a property owner's water from underground or surface sources when the mine directly contaminates it, reduces its flow, or interrupts the supply used for homes, farms, industry, or other lawful purposes. Other legal rights to protect or enforce water interests remain in place.
Full Legal Text
Title 30, §1307
Mineral Lands and Mining — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as affecting in any way the right of any person to enforce or protect, under applicable law, his interest in water resources affected by a surface coal mining operation.
(b)The operator of a surface coal mine shall replace the water supply of an owner of interest in real property who obtains all or part of his supply of water for domestic, agricultural, industrial, or other legitimate use from an underground or surface source where such supply has been affected by contamination, diminution, or interruption proximately resulting from such surface coal mine operation.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
30 U.S.C. § 1307
Title 30 — Mineral Lands and Mining
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73