To amend the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to clarify that uncertified States and Indian tribes have the authority to use certain payments for certain noncoal reclamation projects.

Bill: 113-hr-488
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Pearce, Stevan [R-NM-2]
Introduced: 2013-02-04
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Indian lands and resources rights

Land use and conservation

Mining

User charges and fees
Latest action: action_date: 2013-02-08
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.

Summaries:
action_date: 2013-02-04
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p> Amends the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977, with respect to the allocation of surface mining reclamation funds to states and Indian tribes, to authorize uncertified states and Indian tribes to use certain unexpended and unappropriated balance amounts for: (1) acid mine drainage abatement and treatment, and (2) noncoal abandoned mine land reclamation. </p> <p> Modifies limitations placed upon the allocation of such surface mining reclamation funds to provide for payments for filling voids and sealing tunnels and entryways of noncoal mines as well as coal mines.</p> <p> (&quot;Uncertified states and Indian tribes&quot; are those which have not certified to the Secretary of the Interior completion of their abandoned coal mine reclamation work.)</p>

tv_txt: I 113th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 488 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 4, 2013 Mr. Pearce (for himself and Mr. Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources A BILL To amend the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to clarify that uncertified States and Indian tribes have the authority to use certain payments for certain noncoal reclamation projects.

1. Abandoned mine reclamation (a) Reclamation fee Section 402(g)(6)(A) of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 ( 30 U.S.C. 1232(g)(6)(A) ) is amended by inserting and section 411(h)(1) after paragraphs (1) and (5) . (b) Filling voids and sealing tunnels Section 409(b) of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 ( 30 U.S.C. 1239(b) ) is amended by inserting and section 411(h)(1) after section 402(g) . (c) Use of funds Section 411(h)(1)(D)(ii) of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 ( 30 U.S.C. 1240a(h)(1)(D)(ii) ) is amended by striking section 403 and inserting section 402(g)(6), 403, or 409 .