North Dakota Allows Land as Collateral for Coal Mining Bonds Now
Published Date: 2/13/2026
Rule
Summary
North Dakota updated its rules for surface coal mining to include new ways to use real property as collateral bonds. These changes, approved by the federal government, affect mining companies and landowners by adding clearer rules on pledging property for mining guarantees. The new rules kick in on March 16, 2026, helping keep mining safe and responsible without extra costs.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Rules and conditions for pledged property
North Dakota added three conditions for real property pledged as collateral under NDAC 69-05.2-12-04(3)(a)-(c): (1) the applicant must grant the commission a first mortgage, first deed of trust, or perfected first-lien security interest with the right to sell or dispose of the property on foreclosure; (2) the applicant must submit a schedule listing the property description, fair market value determined by an independent appraisal by a certified appraiser, and proof of possession and title; and (3) land within a permit area may be pledged but may not be disturbed under any permit while serving as security. These conditions take effect March 16, 2026.
Real property can serve as collateral
North Dakota now allows a perfected, first-lien security interest in real property to be used as a form of collateral bond (added to NDAC 69-05.2-01-02). This change was approved by the Office of Surface Mining and takes effect on March 16, 2026.
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this federal register document and every other regulation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2025-21443 — Rescission of Fee Rates
The Office of Surface Mining is officially wiping away old coal fee rates that covered 2012 to 2021 because they’re outdated. New fee rates have been in place since October 1, 2021, and this rule makes it official starting January 27, 2026—unless folks speak up by December 29, 2025. This change mainly affects coal producers and keeps the fee system fresh and fair for years to come.
2026-06197 — Backfilling and Grading
The Office of Surface Mining is officially removing an old rule about how quickly mining sites must be backfilled and graded, a rule that’s been on the books but never really used since 1992. After checking public feedback, they found no big issues and confirmed the rule change will take effect on March 30, 2026. This update affects mining companies by giving them clearer, simpler guidelines without extra deadlines or costs.
2025-21791 — West Virginia Regulatory Program
The Office of Surface Mining has approved some updates to West Virginia’s rules for coal mining permits, focusing on bonding, topsoil care, and land cleanup. These changes affect mining companies renewing permits or managing inactive sites and start on January 2, 2026. The updates aim to keep mining safer and cleaner without adding big costs or delays.
2025-21782 — West Virginia Regulatory Program
The Office of Surface Mining gave West Virginia’s coal mining rules a thumbs-up with some tweaks! They approved most changes, gave a cautious nod to a few, and said no to one. These updates kick in January 2, 2026, affecting coal miners and regulators, keeping mining safer and cleaner without extra costs.
2025-14720 — Montana Regulatory Program
Montana wants to update its mining rules to let companies use smart predictions and monitoring data when asking for bond releases, and to keep some bond money if certain pollution issues pop up. These changes come after a new state law passed in 2025 and could affect mining companies and the environment. The public can comment or ask for a hearing before the updates take effect.
2025-11907 — Pennsylvania Regulatory Program
The Office of Surface Mining is updating Pennsylvania’s coal mining rules to fix past issues and meet new federal requirements. These changes affect coal miners and regulators by tightening water pollution limits, clarifying mining activity rules, and adjusting penalties. The updates aim to keep mining safe and fair, with no big cost surprises, and they’re rolling out soon.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-02981 — Montana Regulatory Program
Montana’s surface mining rules just got a fresh update! The state fixed and added new rules about who owns and controls mining operations, following a 2009 federal request and a 2013 state law. These changes kick in on March 16, 2026, affecting mining companies and regulators, but won’t cost anyone extra.
Next: 2026-03002 — Section 3 Project Threshold Updates for Creating Economic Opportunities for Low- and Very Low-Income Persons and Eligible Businesses
Starting March 16, 2026, HUD is updating the money limits for projects that help low-income people and businesses get jobs and contracts. These new thresholds reflect rising construction costs and make sure more opportunities go to those who need them most. If you work in housing or community development, these changes could affect your projects and funding.
Take It Personal
Get Your Personalized Policy View
Start a Free Government Policy Watch to see how policy affects your household, then upgrade to PRIA Full Coverage for year-round monitoring.
Already have an account? Sign in