§ 1262. — Coal exploration permits.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 30USC1262]
TITLE 30--MINERAL LANDS AND MINING
CHAPTER 25--SURFACE MINING CONTROL AND RECLAMATION
SUBCHAPTER V--CONTROL OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF SURFACE COAL
MINING
Sec. 1262. Coal exploration permits
(a) Regulations; contents
Each State or Federal program shall include a requirement that coal
exploration operations which substantially disturb the natural land
surface be conducted in accordance with exploration regulations issued
by the regulatory authority. Such regulations shall include, at a
minimum (1) the requirement that prior to conducting any exploration
under this section, any person must file with the regulatory authority
notice of intention to explore and such notice shall include a
description of the exploration area and the period of supposed
exploration and (2) provisions for reclamation in accordance with the
performance standards in section 1265 of this title of all lands
disturbed in exploration, including excavations, roads, drill holes, and
the removal of necessary facilities and equipment.
(b) Confidential information
Information submitted to the regulatory authority pursuant to this
subsection as confidential concerning trade secrets or privileged
commercial or financial information which relates to the competitive
rights of the person or entity intended to explore the described area
shall not be available for public examination.
(c) Penalties
Any person who conducts any coal exploration activities which
substantially disturb the natural land surface in violation of this
section or regulations issued pursuant thereto shall be subject to the
provisions of section 1268 of this title.
(d) Limitation on removal of coal
No operator shall remove more than two hundred and fifty tons of
coal pursuant to an exploration permit without the specific written
approval of the regulatory authority.
(e) Law governing exploration of Federal lands
Coal exploration on Federal lands shall be governed by section 4 of
the Federal Coal Leasing Amendments Act of 1975 (90 Stat. 1085).
(Pub. L. 95-87, title V, Sec. 512, Aug. 3, 1977, 91 Stat. 483.)
References in Text
Section 4 of the Federal Coal Leasing Amendments Act of 1975 (90
Stat. 1085), referred to in subsec. (e), is section 4 of Pub. L. 94-377,
Aug. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1085, redesignated the Federal Coal Leasing
Amendments Act of 1976, which amended section 201(b) of this title.
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in section 1291 of this title.
