Title 30Mineral Lands and MiningRelease 119-73

§571 Declaration of policy

Title 30 › Chapter CHAPTER 14— - ANTHRACITE MINE DRAINAGE AND FLOOD CONTROL › § 571

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Congress requires controlling and draining water in anthracite coal areas to save coal, protect public health and safety, and support national security. It also requires sealing and filling abandoned coal mines when doing so is needed for public health or safety.

Full Legal Text

Title 30, §571

Mineral Lands and Mining — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

It is hereby recognized that the presence of large volumes of water in anthracite coal formations involves serious wastage of the fuel resources of the Nation, and constitutes a menace to health and safety and national security. It is therefore declared to be the policy of the Congress to provide for the control and drainage of water in the anthracite coal formations and thereby conserve natural resources, promote national security, prevent injuries and loss of life, and preserve public and private property, and to seal abandoned coal mines and to fill voids in abandoned coal mines, in those instances where such work is in the interest of the public health or safety.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1962—Pub. L. 87–818 declared it to be the policy of the Congress “to seal abandoned coal mines and to fill voids in abandoned coal mines, in those instances where such work is in the interest of the public health or safety”.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

30 U.S.C. § 571

Title 30Mineral Lands and Mining

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73