---
kind: "section"
citation: "30 U.S.C. § 1237"
title: "30"
title_heading: "Mineral Lands and Mining"
number: "1237"
heading: "Acquisition and reclamation of land adversely affected by past coal mining practices"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/30/1237"
units:
  - "Chapter 25 — Surface Mining Control and Reclamation"
  - "Subchapter IV — Abandoned Mine Reclamations"
---

# §1237. Acquisition and reclamation of land adversely affected by past coal mining practices

- (a) **Findings of fact; notice; right of entry—** If the [Secretary](/usc/30/1291.md?p=23) or the [State](/usc/30/1291.md?p=24) pursuant to an approved [State program](/usc/30/1291.md?p=25), makes a finding of fact that—
  - (1) land or water resources have been adversely affected by past coal mining practices; and
  - (2) the adverse effects are at a stage where, in the public interest, action to restore, reclaim, abate, control, or prevent should be taken; and
  - (3) the owners of the land or water resources where entry must be made to restore, reclaim, abate, control, or prevent the adverse effects of past coal mining practices are not known, or readily available; or
  - (4) the owners will not give permission for the United States, the [States](/usc/30/1291.md?p=24), political subdivisions, their agents, employees, or contractors to enter upon such property to restore, reclaim, abate, control, or prevent the adverse effects of past coal mining practices;

  then, upon giving notice by mail to the owners if known or if not known by posting notice upon the premises and advertising once in a newspaper of general circulation in the municipality in which the land lies, the [Secretary](/usc/30/1291.md?p=23), his agents, employees, or contractors, or the [State](/usc/30/1291.md?p=24) pursuant to an approved [State program](/usc/30/1291.md?p=25), shall have the right to enter upon the property adversely affected by past coal mining practices and any other property to have access to such property to do all things necessary or expedient to restore, reclaim, abate, control, or prevent the adverse effects. Such entry shall be construed as an exercise of the police power for the protection of public health, safety, and general welfare and shall not be construed as an act of condemnation of property nor of trespass thereon. The moneys expended for such work and the benefits accruing to any such premises so entered upon shall be chargeable against such land and shall mitigate or offset any claim in or any action brought by any owner of any interest in such premises for any alleged damages by virtue of such entry: Provided, however, That this provision is not intended to create new rights of action or eliminate existing immunities.

- (b) **Studies or exploratory work—** The [Secretary](/usc/30/1291.md?p=23), his agents, employees, or contractors or the [State](/usc/30/1291.md?p=24) pursuant to an approved [State program](/usc/30/1291.md?p=25), shall have the right to enter upon any property for the purpose of conducting studies or exploratory work to determine the existence of adverse effects of past coal mining practices and to determine the feasibility of restoration, reclamation, abatement, control, or prevention of such adverse effects. Such entry shall be construed as an exercise of the police power for the protection of public health, safety, and general welfare and shall not be construed as an act of condemnation of property nor trespass thereon.
- (c) **Requirements for acquisition of affected land—** The [Secretary](/usc/30/1291.md?p=23) or the [State](/usc/30/1291.md?p=24) pursuant to an approved [State program](/usc/30/1291.md?p=25), may acquire any land, by purchase, donation, or condemnation, which is adversely affected by past coal mining practices if the [Secretary](/usc/30/1291.md?p=23) determines that acquisition of such land is necessary to successful reclamation and that—
  - (1) the acquired land, after restoration, reclamation, abatement, control, or prevention of the adverse effects of past coal mining practices, will serve recreation and historic purposes, conservation and reclamation purposes or provide open space benefits; and
  - (2) permanent facilities such as a treatment plant or a relocated stream channel will be constructed on the land for the restoration, reclamation, abatement, control, or prevention of the adverse effects of past coal mining practices; or
  - (3) acquisition of coal refuse disposal sites and all coal refuse thereon will serve the purposes of this subchapter or that public ownership is desirable to meet emergency situations and prevent recurrences of the adverse effects of past coal mining practices.
- (d) **Title to affected land; value—** Title to all lands acquired pursuant to this section shall be in the name of the United States or, if acquired by a [State](/usc/30/1291.md?p=24) pursuant to an approved program, title shall be in the name of the [State](/usc/30/1291.md?p=24). The price paid for land acquired under this section shall reflect the market value of the land as adversely affected by past coal mining practices.
- (e) **State participation; grants—** [States](/usc/30/1291.md?p=24) are encouraged as part of their approved [State programs](/usc/30/1291.md?p=25), to reclaim abandoned and unreclaimed mined lands within their boundaries and, if necessary, to acquire or to transfer such lands to the [Secretary](/usc/30/1291.md?p=23) or the appropriate [State regulatory authority](/usc/30/1291.md?p=26) under appropriate Federal regulations. The [Secretary](/usc/30/1291.md?p=23) is authorized to make grants on a matching basis to [States](/usc/30/1291.md?p=24) in such amounts as he deems appropriate for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this subchapter but in no event shall any grant exceed 90 per centum of the cost of acquisition of the lands for which the grant is made. When a [State](/usc/30/1291.md?p=24) has made any such land available to the Federal Government under this subchapter, such [State](/usc/30/1291.md?p=24) shall have a preference right to purchase such lands after reclamation at fair market value less the [State](/usc/30/1291.md?p=24) portion of the original acquisition price. Notwithstanding the provisions of [paragraph (1)](#c-1) of subsection (c), reclaimed land may be sold to the [State](/usc/30/1291.md?p=24) or local government in which it is located at a price less than fair market value, which in no case shall be less than the cost to the United States of the purchase and reclamation of the land, as negotiated by the [Secretary](/usc/30/1291.md?p=23), to be used for a valid public purpose. If any land sold to a [State](/usc/30/1291.md?p=24) or local government under this paragraph is not used for a valid public purpose as specified by the [Secretary](/usc/30/1291.md?p=23) in the terms of the sales agreement then all right, title, and interest in such land shall revert to the United States. Money received from such sale shall be deposited in the [fund](/usc/30/1291.md?p=7).
- (f) **Rules and regulations—** The [Secretary](/usc/30/1291.md?p=23), in formulating regulations for making grants to the [States](/usc/30/1291.md?p=24) to acquire land pursuant to this section, shall specify that acquired land meet the criteria provided for in subsections [(c)](#c) and [(d)](#d) of this section. The [Secretary](/usc/30/1291.md?p=23) may provide by regulation that money derived from the lease, rental, or user charges of such acquired land and facilities thereon will be deposited in the [fund](/usc/30/1291.md?p=7).
- (g) **Public sale; notice and hearing—**
  - (1) Where land acquired pursuant to this section is deemed to be suitable for industrial, commercial, residential, or recreational development, the [Secretary](/usc/30/1291.md?p=23) may sell or authorize the [States](/usc/30/1291.md?p=24) to sell such land by public sale under a system of competitive bidding, at not less than fair market value and under such other regulations promulgated to insure that such lands are put to proper use consistent with local and [State](/usc/30/1291.md?p=24) land use plans, if any, as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/30/1291.md?p=23).
  - (2) The [Secretary](/usc/30/1291.md?p=23) or the [State](/usc/30/1291.md?p=24) pursuant to an approved [State program](/usc/30/1291.md?p=25), when requested after appropriate public notice shall hold a public hearing, with the appropriate notice, in the county or counties or the appropriate subdivisions of the [State](/usc/30/1291.md?p=24) in which lands acquired pursuant to this section are located. The hearings shall be held at a time which shall afford local citizens and governments the maximum opportunity to participate in the decision concerning the use or disposition of the lands after restoration, reclamation, abatement, control, or prevention of the adverse effects of past coal mining practices.
- (h) **Construction or rehabilitation of housing for disabled, displaced, or dislocated persons; grants—** In addition to the authority to acquire land under [subsection (d)](#d) of this section the [Secretary](/usc/30/1291.md?p=23) is authorized to use money in the [fund](/usc/30/1291.md?p=7) to acquire land by purchase, donation, or condemnation, and to reclaim and transfer acquired land to any [State](/usc/30/1291.md?p=24) or to a political subdivision thereof, or to any [person](/usc/30/1291.md?p=19), firm, association, or corporation, if he determines that such is an integral and necessary element of an economically feasible plan for the project to construct or rehabilitate housing for [persons](/usc/30/1291.md?p=19) disabled as the result of employment in the mines or work incidental thereto, [persons](/usc/30/1291.md?p=19) displaced by acquisition of land pursuant to this section, or [persons](/usc/30/1291.md?p=19) dislocated as the result of adverse effects of coal mining practices which constitute an emergency as provided in [section 1240 of this title](/usc/30/1240.md) or [persons](/usc/30/1291.md?p=19) dislocated as the result of natural disasters or catastrophic failures from any cause. Such activities shall be accomplished under such terms and conditions as the [Secretary](/usc/30/1291.md?p=23) shall require, which may include transfers of land with or without monetary consideration: Provided, That, to the extent that the consideration is below the fair market value of the land transferred, no portion of the difference between the fair market value and the consideration shall accrue as a profit to such [persons](/usc/30/1291.md?p=19), firm, association, or corporation. No part of the [funds](/usc/30/1291.md?p=7) provided under this subchapter may be used to pay the actual construction costs of housing. The [Secretary](/usc/30/1291.md?p=23) may carry out the purposes of this subsection directly or he may make grants and commitments for grants, and may advance money under such terms and conditions as he may require to any [State](/usc/30/1291.md?p=24), or any department, agency, or instrumentality of a [State](/usc/30/1291.md?p=24), or any public body or nonprofit organization designated by a [State](/usc/30/1291.md?p=24).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 95–87, title IV, § 407, Aug. 3, 1977, 91 Stat. 462; Pub. L. 101–508, title VI, § 6012(d)(4)–(7), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1388–298.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1990—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 101–508, § 6012(d)(4), (5), substituted a semicolon for the period at end of par. (4) and “then, upon giving notice” for “Then, upon giving notice” in concluding provisions.

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 101–508, § 6012(d)(6), substituted “paragraph (1) of subsection (c)” for “paragraph (1), of this subsection”.

Subsec. (g)(2). Pub. L. 101–508, § 6012(d)(7), substituted “use or” for “use of” before “disposition”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1990 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 101–508 effective Oct. 1, 1991, see section 6014 of Pub. L. 101–508 set out as a note under section 1231 of this title.