Title 30—Mineral Resources--Volume 1
PART 847—ALTERNATIVE ENFORCEMENT
§ 847.1   Scope.
This part governs the use of measures provided in sections 518(e), 518(g) and 521(c) of the Act for criminal penalties and civil actions to compel compliance with provisions of the Act.
§ 847.2   General provisions.
(a) Whenever a court of competent jurisdiction enters a judgment against or convicts a person under these provisions, we must update AVS to reflect the judgment or conviction.
(b) The existence of a performance bond or bond forfeiture cannot be used as the sole basis for determining that an alternative enforcement action is unwarranted.
(c) Each State regulatory program must include provisions for civil actions and criminal penalties that are no less stringent than those in this part and include the same or similar procedural requirements.
(d) Nothing in this part eliminates or limits any additional enforcement rights or procedures available under Federal or State law.
§ 847.11   Criminal penalties.
Under sections 518(e) and (g) of the Act, we, the regulatory authority, may request the Attorney General to pursue criminal penalties against any person who—
(a) Willfully and knowingly violates a condition of the permit;
(b) Willfully and knowingly fails or refuses to comply with—
(1) Any order issued under section 521 or 526 of the Act; or
(2) Any order incorporated into a final decision issued by the Secretary under the Act (except for those orders specifically excluded under section 518(e) of the Act); or
(c) Knowingly makes any false statement, representation, or certification, or knowingly fails to make any statement, representation, or certification in any application, record, report, plan, or other document filed or required to be maintained under the regulatory program or any order or decision issued by the Secretary under the Act.
§ 847.16   Civil actions for relief.
(a) Under section 521(c) of the Act, we, the regulatory authority, may request the Attorney General to institute a civil action for relief whenever you, the permittee, or your agent—
(1) Violate or fail or refuse to comply with any order or decision that we issue under the Act or regulatory program;
(2) Interfere with, hinder, or delay us in carrying out the provisions of the Act or its implementing regulations;
(3) Refuse to admit our authorized representatives onto the site of a surface coal mining and reclamation operation;
(4) Refuse to allow our authorized representatives to inspect a surface coal mining and reclamation operation;
(5) Refuse to furnish any information or report that we request under the Act or regulatory program; or
(6) Refuse to allow access to, or copying of, those records that we determine necessary to carry out the provisions of the Act and its implementing regulations.
(b) A civil action for relief includes a permanent or temporary injunction, restraining order, or any other appropriate order by a district court of the United States for the district in which the surface coal mining and reclamation operation is located or in which you have your principal office.
(c) Temporary restraining orders will be issued in accordance with Rule 65 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, as amended.
(d) Any relief the court grants to enforce an order under paragraph (b) of this section will continue in effect until completion or final termination of all proceedings for review of that order under the Act or its implementing regulations unless, beforehand, the district court granting the relief sets aside or modifies the order.