§1273 Federal Lands

Summary

The Secretary must create and run a Federal lands program within one year after August 3, 1977, for all surface coal mining and reclamation on Federal lands. It does not apply to Indian lands except as noted in section 1300. The program must include the chapter’s rules and account for the special physical and climate features of each Federal area. If a State has an approved program, the Federal program must at least include that State’s requirements. The Secretary keeps certain duties and must still decide which Federal lands are unsuitable for mining under section 1272(b). All Federal leases, permits, or contracts that might involve surface coal mining must include these requirements. The Secretary can make new rules or change the Federal program later. States with approved programs may agree to regulate mining on Federal lands if the Secretary finds they have enough staff and money. Cooperative agreements in place on August 3, 1977, can keep working but must be updated to meet the initial procedures in section 1252. The Secretary cannot give away his duty to approve mining plans on Federal lands, to designate lands as unsuitable under section 1272, or to regulate other activities. The Secretary must also create a program to make sure no class of buyers is unreasonably denied the chance to buy coal owned by the United States.