30 U.S.C. § 1202 : US Code - Section 1202: Statement of purpose

Search 30 U.S.C. § 1202 : US Code - Section 1202: Statement of purpose

It is the purpose of this chapter to -
(a) establish a nationwide program to protect society and the
environment from the adverse effects of surface coal mining
operations;
(b) assure that the rights of surface landowners and other
persons with a legal interest in the land or appurtenances
thereto are fully protected from such operations;
(c) assure that surface mining operations are not conducted
where reclamation as required by this chapter is not feasible;
(d) assure that surface coal mining operations are so conducted
as to protect the environment;
(e) assure that adequate procedures are undertaken to reclaim
surface areas as contemporaneously as possible with the surface
coal mining operations;
(f) assure that the coal supply essential to the Nation's
energy requirements, and to its economic and social well-being is
provided and strike a balance between protection of the
environment and agricultural productivity and the Nation's need
for coal as an essential source of energy;
(g) assist the States in developing and implementing a program
to achieve the purposes of this chapter;
(h) promote the reclamation of mined areas left without
adequate reclamation prior to August 3, 1977, and which continue,
in their unreclaimed condition, to substantially degrade the
quality of the environment, prevent or damage the beneficial use
of land or water resources, or endanger the health or safety of
the public;
(i) assure that appropriate procedures are provided for the
public participation in the development, revision, and
enforcement of regulations, standards, reclamation plans, or
programs established by the Secretary or any State under this
chapter;
(j) provide a means for development of the data and analyses
necessary to establish effective and reasonable regulation of
surface mining operations for other minerals;
(k) encourage the full utilization of coal resources through
the development and application of underground extraction
technologies;
(l) stimulate, sponsor, provide for and/or supplement present
programs for the conduct of research investigations, experiments,
and demonstrations, in the exploration, extraction, processing,
development, and production of minerals and the training of
mineral engineers and scientists in the field of mining, minerals
resources, and technology, and the establishment of an
appropriate research and training center in various States; and
(m) wherever necessary, exercise the full reach of Federal
constitutional powers to insure the protection of the public
interest through effective control of surface coal mining
operations.