§1234 — Title 30 Mineral Lands and Mining | U.S. Code

Summary

Allows spending to reclaim land or fix water damage on places that were mined for coal or affected by coal mining, wastebanks, coal processing, or similar activities, if they were abandoned or left badly reclaimed before August 3, 1977, and no State or Federal law still requires someone else to clean them up. Other related rules are in sections 1240a, 1232(g)(4), 1233(b)(1), and 1239. If new surface coal mining happens on these lands, that does not stop them from getting reclamation money after the bond or deposit for the new mining is released under section 1269. If a bond is forfeited and the money isn’t enough to finish reclamation, funds from this program may be used, and the Secretary must act under section 1240 when needed.

Title 30, §1234

Mineral Lands and Mining — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

Lands and water eligible for reclamation or drainage abatement expenditures under this subchapter are those which were mined for coal or which were affected by such mining, wastebanks, coal processing, or other coal mining processes, except as provided for under section 1240a of this title, and abandoned or left in an inadequate reclamation status prior to August 3, 1977, and for which there is no continuing reclamation responsibility under State or other Federal laws. For other provisions relating to lands and waters eligible for such expenditures, see section 1232(g)(4) of this title, section 1233(b)(1) of this title, and section 1239 of this title. Surface coal mining operations on lands eligible for remining shall not affect the eligibility of such lands for reclamation and restoration under this subchapter after the release of the bond or deposit for any such operation as provided under section 1269 of this title. In the event the bond or deposit for a surface coal mining operation on lands eligible for remining is forfeited, funds available under this subchapter may be used if the amount of such bond or deposit is not sufficient to provide for adequate reclamation or abatement, except that if conditions warrant the Secretary shall immediately exercise his authority under section 1240 of this title.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1992—Pub. L. 102–486 inserted at end “Surface coal mining operations on lands eligible for remining shall not affect the eligibility of such lands for reclamation and restoration under this subchapter after the release of the bond or deposit for any such operation as provided under section 1269 of this title. In the event the bond or deposit for a surface coal mining operation on lands eligible for remining is forfeited, funds available under this subchapter may be used if the amount of such bond or deposit is not sufficient to provide for adequate reclamation or abatement, except that if conditions warrant the Secretary shall immediately exercise his authority under section 1240 of this title.” 1990—Pub. L. 101–508 inserted “, except as provided for under section 1240a of this title” after “processes” and inserted at end “For other provisions relating to lands and waters eligible for such expenditures, see section 1232(g)(4) of this title, section 1233(b)(1) of this title, and section 1239 of this title.”

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1990 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 101–508 effective Oct. 1, 1991, see section 6014 of Pub. L. 101–508 set out as a note under section 1231 of this title.

§1234 Eligible Lands and Water