Editing Mine reclamation (section)

==United States==
[[File:Northeast from Providence Quaker Chapel.jpg|thumb|right|Reclaimed strip mines in southwestern Pennsylvania]]

Prior to 1977, there were no federal laws regulating the surface mining aspect of the coal [[mining industry]]. Although many states with mining activity had passed laws to regulate operations, the laws varied from state to state and enforcement was inconsistent. Even as states began to enact more stringent regulatory legislation after World War II, they often lacked the funding to administer and enforce the legislation. Guidelines for post-mining reclamation were generally less stringent than they are today. For example, [[Colorado]] began a voluntary reclamation program in 1965, in which the mine operators were expected to act on their own to restore mined lands.<ref>Colorado Division of Minerals and Geography, Mine Reclamation in Colorado: An Overview (http://mining.state.co.us/pdfFiles/reg.pdf)</ref>

=== Under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 ===

The [[Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act]] of 1977 (SMCRA) is the primary federal law that regulates the environmental effects of coal mining in the United States.  It established permitting guidelines for existing and future coal mines as well as a trust fund to finance the reclamation of [[abandoned mine]]s. SMCRA balances the need to protect the environment from the effects of surface coal mining with the Nation's need for coal as an essential energy source. It ensures that coal mining operations are conducted in an environmentally responsible manner and that the land is adequately reclaimed during and following the mining process. Most coal-mining states now have the primary responsibility to regulate surface coal mining on lands within their jurisdiction, with the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) performing an oversight role.<ref>Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, Regulating Coal Mines (http://www.osmre.gov/rcm/rcm.shtm)</ref>

Under SMCRA, prior to receiving a mining permit, operators must present a detailed and comprehensive plan for reclaiming the land after mining has been completed. The reclamation plan must include, among other criteria, the pre-mining condition and use of the land to be mined; the proposed use of the land after reclamation; an estimated time table for the reclamation; and the steps that will be taken to comply with the relevant [[air quality|air]] and [[water quality]] laws. In addition to providing the reclamation plan, operators must also post a performance bond to ensure that monies will be available to complete the reclamation if the operator goes out of business prior to finishing the reclamation or is otherwise unable to complete the reclamation. The amount of the bond must equal the amount of the proposed reclamation plan.<ref>U.S. Code, Title 30 – Mineral Lands and Mining, Subchapter 1258. Reclamation Plan Requirements (http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/search/pagedetails.action;jsessionid=JpQ3T3CRlm3vc0Vn2ynLGRMN9nj1VkTTvhs9K8GdKM6mbGcXdQWh!1067014512!-1849986691?browsePath=Title+30%2FChapter+25%2FSubchapter+V%2FSec.+1258&granuleId=USCODE-2010-title30-chap25-subchapV-sec1258&packageId=USCODE-2010-title30&collapse=true&fromBrowse=true)</ref> The bond is not released to the operator until after the state or federal regulatory office has concluded that the reclamation is successful, which could be over 10 years after the reclamation process has been completed.

===Abandoned Mine Lands Program===
Funding for the reclamation of abandoned mines is accomplished through a coal production tax. Mine operators must pay a tax of $0.12 per ton for underground mined coal and $0.28 per ton for surfaced mined coal; the proceeds from this tax are put into the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund (created by SMCRA) to pay for the reclamation of abandoned mines. A percentage of the fund is distributed to states with approved reclamation programs for their projects, and the remaining monies are used by the federal government through the OSMRE to reclaim abandoned mines in states without active programs. As of December 15, 2011, OSMRE has provided more than $7.2 billion to reclaim more than 295,000 acres of hazardous high-priority abandoned mine sites and for other purposes of abandoned mine lands have been reclaimed through the OSMRE fund since 1977.<ref>Department of the Interior: December 15, 2011 News Release (http://www.doi.gov/news/pressreleases/Secretary-Salazar-and-Director-Pizarchik-Announce-485-Million-in-Grants-to-States-and-Tribes-to-Clean-Up-Abandoned-Coal-Mines.cfm)</ref>