Title 30, Mineral Lands and MiningRelease 119-110

§555 Conditions Precedent for Aid to Non-federal Lands

Title 30 › CHAPTER 13 — CONTROL OF COAL-MINE FIRES › § 555

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Before giving federal help to fight coal-mine fires on land the United States does not own or control, the Secretary of the Interior can require two things unless the work is needed to protect federal land or property. The state or local government may have to pass laws to control and put out coal mine fires and help with the work. The Secretary can also require written agreements about who will do the work and who will keep it up. For projects on non-federal land, the state or landowner must pay half (50%) of the cost to plan and do the work. If they can’t pay, they must give the government 50% later if the Secretary agrees. Each year, at least 75% of the money spent from these program funds for non-federal mine-fire projects must go to projects where the state or landowner pays their half.

Full Legal Text

Title 30, §555

Mineral Lands and Mining, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Enactment of local laws; agreements

As a condition to the extending of any benefits under section 553(b) of this title to any lands not owned or controlled by the United States or any of its agencies, except where such action is necessary for the protection of lands or other property owned or controlled by the United States or any of its agencies, the Secretary of the Interior may require—

(1)the enactment of State or local laws providing for the control and extinguishment of outcrop and underground fires in coal formations on State or privately owned land and the cooperation of State or local authorities in the work; and

(2)agreements or covenants as to the performance and maintenance of the work required to control or extinguish such fires.

(b)Contributions

The Secretary of the Interior shall require in connection with any project for the control or extinguishment of fires in any inactive coal mine on any lands not owned or controlled by the United States or any of its agencies, except where such project is necessary for the protection of lands or other property owned or controlled by the United States or any of its agencies, (1) that the State or person owning or controlling such lands contribute on a matching basis 50 per centum of the cost of planning and executing such project, or (2), if such State or person furnishes evidence satisfactory to the Secretary of the Interior of an inability to make the matching contribution herein provided for, that such State or person pay to the Government, within such period of time as the Secretary of the Interior shall determine, an amount equal to 50 per centum of the cost of planning and executing such project. At least 75 per centum of the funds expended in any fiscal year, from any appropriation available to carry out the purposes of this chapter, in connection with projects for the control or extinguishment of fires in inactive coal mines where such action is not necessary for the protection of lands or other property owned or controlled by the United States or any of its agencies, shall be expended in conformity with clause (1) of this subsection.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

30 U.S.C. § 555

Title 30, Mineral Lands and Mining

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110