§1255 State Laws

Summary

Federal rules under this law must not override state laws or rules that were already in effect on August 3, 1977, or that come later, unless a state law actually conflicts with the federal law. If a state law is stricter than the federal rules about land use or environmental controls for surface coal mining and reclamation, it will be allowed and not treated as a conflict. The Secretary must list any state law or rule that does conflict. If a state law covers something the federal law does not, it is also not treated as a conflict.