§1239 Filling Voids and Sealing Tunnels

Summary

Lets the Secretary fill in old mine holes, seal abandoned tunnels, shafts, and entryways, and fix surface damage from past mining when a State governor or an Indian tribe asks and the Secretary decides the sites could threaten life, property, public health or safety, or harm the environment. State mining authorities can do the work if they have an approved abandoned mine cleanup program. The money used must come only from the funds that must be allocated to each State or tribe under paragraphs (1) and (5) of section 1232(g). The Secretary can spend money only for projects requested by a governor or tribal governing body that meet the priorities in section 1233(a)(1), except the part about coal does not apply here. The rules in section 1234 apply too, but the land does not have to have been mined for coal. The Secretary must not spend money in States that made the certification in section 1240a(a). If mine waste piles are being reworked for conservation, the extra cost to dispose of that waste by filling voids and sealing tunnels can be funded if it fits the goals above. The Secretary can buy or otherwise acquire land interests (by purchase, donation, easement, or other means) when needed to do the work.