§1299 Study of Reclamation Standards for Surface Mining of Other Minerals

Summary

The Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality must hire the National Academy of Sciences–National Academy of Engineering, other government agencies, or private groups (as money from Congress allows) to do a detailed study of current and new technology for surface and open pit mining and land reclamation for minerals other than coal. The study must say how well technology can meet the chapter’s rules and at what cost; point out where technology cannot meet the rules; describe what comparable rules could be met, their costs, and how results would differ; and discuss other ways to regulate to get the best postmining land use. The full study and specific legislative recommendations must go to the President and Congress no later than 18 months after August 3, 1977. For sand and gravel mining the study is due in 12 months after August 3, 1977, and a preliminary report on oil shale and tar sands is due in 12 months after August 3, 1977. Up to $500,000 is authorized for this work, but no new budget authority is allowed for fiscal year 1977.