---
kind: "section"
citation: "30 U.S.C. § 1252"
title: "30"
title_heading: "Mineral Lands and Mining"
number: "1252"
heading: "Initial regulatory procedures"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/30/1252"
units:
  - "Chapter 25 — Surface Mining Control and Reclamation"
  - "Subchapter V — Control of the Environmental Impacts of Surface Coal Mining"
---

# §1252. Initial regulatory procedures

- (a) **State regulation—** No [person](/usc/30/1291.md?p=19) shall open or develop any new or previously mined or abandoned site for [surface coal mining operations](/usc/30/1291.md?p=28) on lands on which such operations are regulated by a [State](/usc/30/1291.md?p=24) unless such [person](/usc/30/1291.md?p=19) has obtained a [permit](/usc/30/1291.md?p=15) from the [State](/usc/30/1291.md?p=24)’s [regulatory authority](/usc/30/1291.md?p=22).
- (b) **Interim standards—** All [surface coal mining operations](/usc/30/1291.md?p=28) on lands on which such operations are regulated by a [State](/usc/30/1291.md?p=24) which commence operations pursuant to a [permit](/usc/30/1291.md?p=15) issued on or after six months from August 3, 1977, shall comply, and such [permits](/usc/30/1291.md?p=15) shall contain terms requiring compliance with, the provisions set out in [subsection (c)](#c) of this section. Prior to final disapproval of a [State program](/usc/30/1291.md?p=25) or prior to promulgation of a [Federal program](/usc/30/1291.md?p=6) or a [Federal lands program](/usc/30/1291.md?p=5) pursuant to this chapter, a [State](/usc/30/1291.md?p=24) may issue such [permits](/usc/30/1291.md?p=15).
- (c) **Full compliance with environmental protection performance standards—** On and after nine months from August 3, 1977, all [surface coal mining operations](/usc/30/1291.md?p=28) on lands on which such operations are regulated by a [State](/usc/30/1291.md?p=24) shall comply with the provisions of subsections (b)(2), (b)(3), (b)(5), (b)(10), (b)(13), (b)(15), (b)(19), and (d) of [section 1265 of this title](/usc/30/1265.md) or, where a surface coal mining operation will remove an entire coal seam or seams running through the upper fraction of a mountain, ridge, or hill by removing all of the overburden and creating a level plateau or a gently rolling contour with no highwalls remaining, such operation shall comply with the requirements of [section 1265(c)(4)](/usc/30/1265.md?p=c-4) and (5) of this title without regard to the requirements of [section 1265(b)(3)](/usc/30/1265.md?p=b-3) or (d)(2) and (3) of this title, with respect to lands from which overburden and the coal seam being mined have not been removed: Provided, however, That [surface coal mining operations](/usc/30/1291.md?p=28) in operation pursuant to a [permit](/usc/30/1291.md?p=15) issued by a [State](/usc/30/1291.md?p=24) before August 3, 1977, issued to a [person](/usc/30/1291.md?p=19) as defined in [section 1291(19) of this title](/usc/30/1291.md?p=19) in existence prior to May 2, 1977 and operated by a [person](/usc/30/1291.md?p=19) whose total annual production of coal from surface and underground coal mining operations does not exceed one hundred thousand tons shall not be subject to the provisions of this subsection except with reference to the provision of [section 1265(d)(1) of this title](/usc/30/1265.md?p=d-1) until January 1, 1979.
- (d) **Permit application—** Not later than two months following the approval of a [State program](/usc/30/1291.md?p=25) pursuant to [section 1253 of this title](/usc/30/1253.md) or the implementation of a [Federal program](/usc/30/1291.md?p=6) pursuant to [section 1254 of this title](/usc/30/1254.md), regardless of litigation contesting that approval or implementation, all [operators](/usc/30/1291.md?p=13) of surface coal mines in expectation of operating such mines after the expiration of eight months from the approval of a [State program](/usc/30/1291.md?p=25) or the implementation of a [Federal program](/usc/30/1291.md?p=6), shall file an application for a [permit](/usc/30/1291.md?p=15) with the [regulatory authority](/usc/30/1291.md?p=22). Such application shall cover those lands to be mined after the expiration of eight months from the approval of a [State program](/usc/30/1291.md?p=25) or the implementation of a [Federal program](/usc/30/1291.md?p=6). The [regulatory authority](/usc/30/1291.md?p=22) shall process such applications and grant or deny a [permit](/usc/30/1291.md?p=15) within eight months after the date of approval of the [State program](/usc/30/1291.md?p=25) or the implementation of the [Federal program](/usc/30/1291.md?p=6), unless specially enjoined by a court of competent jurisdiction, but in no case later than forty-two months from August 3, 1977.
- (e) **Federal enforcement program—** Within six months after August 3, 1977, the [Secretary](/usc/30/1291.md?p=23) shall implement a Federal enforcement program which shall remain in effect in each [State](/usc/30/1291.md?p=24) as [surface coal mining operations](/usc/30/1291.md?p=28) are required to comply with the provisions of this chapter, until the [State program](/usc/30/1291.md?p=25) has been approved pursuant to this chapter or until a [Federal program](/usc/30/1291.md?p=6) has been implemented pursuant to this chapter. The enforcement program shall—
  - (1) include inspections of surface coal mine sites which may be made (but at least one inspection for every site every six months), without advance notice to the mine [operator](/usc/30/1291.md?p=13) and for the purpose of ascertaining compliance with the standards of subsections [(b)](#b) and [(c)](#c) above. The [Secretary](/usc/30/1291.md?p=23) shall order any necessary enforcement action to be implemented pursuant to the Federal enforcement provision of this subchapter to correct violations identified at the inspections;
  - (2) provide that upon receipt of inspection reports indicating that any surface coal mining operation has been found in violation of subsections [(b)](#b) and [(c)](#c) above, during not less than two consecutive [State](/usc/30/1291.md?p=24) inspections or upon receipt by the [Secretary](/usc/30/1291.md?p=23) of information which would give rise to reasonable belief that such standards are being violated by any surface coal mining operation, the [Secretary](/usc/30/1291.md?p=23) shall order the immediate inspection of such operation by Federal inspectors and the necessary enforcement actions, if any, to be implemented pursuant to the Federal enforcement provisions of this subchapter. When the Federal inspection results from information provided to the [Secretary](/usc/30/1291.md?p=23) by any [person](/usc/30/1291.md?p=19), the [Secretary](/usc/30/1291.md?p=23) shall notify such [person](/usc/30/1291.md?p=19) when the Federal inspection is proposed to be carried out and such [person](/usc/30/1291.md?p=19) shall be allowed to accompany the inspector during the inspection;
  - (3) provide that the [State](/usc/30/1291.md?p=24) regulatory agency file with the [Secretary](/usc/30/1291.md?p=23) and with a designated Federal [office](/usc/30/1291.md?p=12) centrally located in the county or area in which the inspected surface coal mine is located copies of inspection reports made;
  - (4) provide that moneys authorized by [section 1302 of this title](/usc/30/1302.md) shall be available to the [Secretary](/usc/30/1291.md?p=23) prior to the approval of a [State program](/usc/30/1291.md?p=25) pursuant to this chapter to reimburse the [State](/usc/30/1291.md?p=24) for conducting those inspections in which the standards of this chapter are enforced and for the administration of this section.[^1]
  - (5) for purposes of this section, the term “Federal inspector” means personnel of the [Office](/usc/30/1291.md?p=12) of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement and such additional personnel of the United States Geological Survey, Bureau of Land Management, or of the Mining Enforcement and Safety Administration so designated by the [Secretary](/usc/30/1291.md?p=23), or such other personnel of the Forest Service, Soil Conservation Service, or the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service as arranged by appropriate agreement with the [Secretary](/usc/30/1291.md?p=23) on a reimbursable or other basis;[^2]
- (f) **Interim period—** Following the final disapproval of a [State program](/usc/30/1291.md?p=25), and prior to promulgation of a [Federal program](/usc/30/1291.md?p=6) or a [Federal lands program](/usc/30/1291.md?p=5) pursuant to this chapter, including judicial review of such a program, existing [surface coal mining operations](/usc/30/1291.md?p=28) may continue surface mining operations pursuant to the provisions of this section. During such period no new [permits](/usc/30/1291.md?p=15) shall be issued by the [State](/usc/30/1291.md?p=24) whose program has been disapproved. [Permits](/usc/30/1291.md?p=15) which lapse during such period may continue in full force and effect until promulgation of a [Federal program](/usc/30/1291.md?p=6) or a [Federal lands program](/usc/30/1291.md?p=5).

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. The period probably should be a semicolon.
[^2]: So in original. The semicolon probably should be a period.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 95–87, title V, § 502, Aug. 3, 1977, 91 Stat. 468.)