Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977

By: Luke Lu

Period 4

The act• The Law passed on 1977.• The purpose of this law is to regulates the environmental effects of

surface mining (coal mining) in the United States.• This act has two parts: one is to regulates and manages active and

producing coal mines. Two is fund the program of rebuild the used land, and making it recovers from the heavy mining.

• This act makes company must attain permits in order to start mining.• In areas such as public areas, and national parks, mining is illegal and

the land is protected by this act.• This act make mining companies responds for their used and

abandoned mines.• The recovery fund comes from tax of the coal mine, which is 35 cents

per tone mined..• The act also inspects mines, to see if it is illegal and within the laws.

Regulation and Enforcement

• Federal government can pass a program, which gives the state the power to control and regulate mining operations.

• The state can issue their own mining permits, but the operations will still be check and inspect by the law.