Us Code § 1278 - Surface mining operations not subject to this chapter

Full text of Us Code United States Code § 1278 — Surface mining operations not subject to this chapter, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.

§ 1278. Surface mining operations not subject to this chapter

The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to any of the following activities:

(1) the extraction of coal by a landowner for his own noncommercial use from land owned or leased by him; and

(2) the extraction of coal as an incidental part of Federal, State or local government-financed highway or other construction under regulations established by the regulatory authority.

(Pub. L. 95–87, title V, §528, Aug. 3, 1977, 91 Stat. 514; Pub. L. 100–34, title II, §201(a), May 7, 1987, 101 Stat. 300.)


Editorial Notes

Amendments

1987—Pub. L. 100–34 inserted "and" after "him;" in par. (1), redesignated par. (3) as (2), and struck out former par. (2) which read as follows: "the extraction of coal for commercial purposes where the surface mining operation affects two acres or less; and".


Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1987 Amendment

Pub. L. 100–34, title II, §201(b)–(e), May 7, 1987, 101 Stat. 300, provided that:

"(b) Effective Date for New Operations.—The amendments made by this section [amending this section] shall take effect on the date 30 days after the enactment of this Act [May 7, 1987] with respect to each operator commencing surface coal mining operations on or after such date.

"(c) Effective Date for Existing Operations.—The amendments made by this section shall take effect on the date 6 months after the enactment of this Act with respect to each operator commencing surface coal mining operations pursuant to an authorization under State law before the date 30 days after the enactment of this Act. Nothing in this Act [amending this section and section 1232 of this title] shall preclude reclamation activities pursuant to State law or regulations at the site of any surface coal mine which was exempt from the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 [30 U.S.C. 1201 et seq.] under section 528(2) of that Act [30 U.S.C. 1278(2)], as in effect before the enactment of this Act.

"(d) Effect on State Law.—To the extent that any provision of a State law, or of a State regulation, adopted pursuant to the exception under section 528(2) of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 as in effect before the enactment of this Act, is inconsistent with the amendments made by this section, such provision shall be of no further force and effect after the effective date of such amendments.

"(e) Definition.—For purposes of this section, the term 'surface coal mining operations' has the meaning provided by section 701(28) of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 [30 U.S.C. 1291(28)]."

About This Section

30 U.S.C. § 1278 is part of Title 30 of the United States Code. The United States Code is the official codification of federal statutes maintained by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives. Congress amends the Code through new public laws, which are eventually incorporated into the relevant title.

This section may be cited in legal writing as 30 U.S.C. § 1278. For the most current official text, including any recent amendments, use the official source links below. Do not rely on this page as the sole authority for legal citation or litigation.

How to Read This Statute

Statutes are organized by title, chapter, section, and subsection. Pay attention to words like "shall," "may," "and," and "or," because they determine whether a requirement is mandatory or permissive and whether multiple conditions must all be met. Historical notes and amendments often appear at the end of a section.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Us Code § 1278

What does United States Code § 1278 cover?

Section 1278 ("Surface mining operations not subject to this chapter") is part of the United States Code, the codified statutory law of Us Code. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.

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Sources & Verification

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