Title 30 — Mineral Lands and MiningRelease 119-73not60
§1301 Experimental Practices
Title 30 › Chapter 25— SURFACE MINING CONTROL AND RECLAMATION › Subchapter VII— ADMINISTRATIVE AND MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS › § 1301
Summary
The agency in charge, with the Secretary’s approval, may allow one-time experimental changes to the environmental rules for mining and cleanup to test new methods or to enable post-mining uses like industry, stores, homes, or parks. The experiments must be at least as protective during and after mining, be no bigger or more numerous than needed to test them, and must not lower public health or safety protections below the rules.
Full Legal Text
Title 30, §1301
Mineral Lands and Mining — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
In order to encourage advances in mining and reclamation practices or to allow post-mining land use for industrial, commercial, residential, or public use (including recreational facilities), the regulatory authority with approval by the Secretary may authorize departures in individual cases on an experimental basis from the environmental protection performance standards promulgated under section 1265 and 1266 of this title. Such departures may be authorized if (i) the experimental practices are potentially more or at least as environmentally protective, during and after mining operations, as those required by promulgated standards; (ii) the mining operations approved for particular land-use or other purposes are not larger or more numerous than necessary to determine the effectiveness and economic feasibility of the experimental practices; and (iii) the experimental practices do not reduce the protection afforded public health and safety below that provided by promulgated standards.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
30 U.S.C. § 1301
Title 30 — Mineral Lands and Mining
Last Updated
Apr 5, 2026
Release point: 119-73not60