---
kind: "section"
citation: "30 U.S.C. § 1261"
title: "30"
title_heading: "Mineral Lands and Mining"
number: "1261"
heading: "Revision of permits"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/30/1261"
units:
  - "Chapter 25 — Surface Mining Control and Reclamation"
  - "Subchapter V — Control of the Environmental Impacts of Surface Coal Mining"
---

# §1261. Revision of permits

- (a) **Application and revised reclamation plan; requirements; extensions to area covered—**
  - (1) During the term of the [permit](/usc/30/1291.md?p=15) the [permittee](/usc/30/1291.md?p=18) may submit an application for a revision of the [permit](/usc/30/1291.md?p=15), together with a revised [reclamation plan](/usc/30/1291.md?p=21), to the [regulatory authority](/usc/30/1291.md?p=22).
  - (2) An application for a revision of a [permit](/usc/30/1291.md?p=15) shall not be approved unless the [regulatory authority](/usc/30/1291.md?p=22) finds that reclamation as required by this chapter and the [State](/usc/30/1291.md?p=24) or [Federal program](/usc/30/1291.md?p=6) can be accomplished under the revised [reclamation plan](/usc/30/1291.md?p=21). The revision shall be approved or disapproved within a period of time established by the [State](/usc/30/1291.md?p=24) or [Federal program](/usc/30/1291.md?p=6). The [regulatory authority](/usc/30/1291.md?p=22) shall establish guidelines for a determination of the scale or extent of a revision request for which all [permit](/usc/30/1291.md?p=15) application information requirements and procedures, including notice and hearings, shall apply: Provided, That any revisions which propose significant alterations in the [reclamation plan](/usc/30/1291.md?p=21) shall, at a minimum, be subject to notice and hearing requirements.
  - (3) Any extensions to the area covered by the [permit](/usc/30/1291.md?p=15) except incidental boundary revisions must be made by application for another [permit](/usc/30/1291.md?p=15).
- (b) **Transfer, assignment, or sale of rights under permit—** No transfer, assignment, or sale of the rights granted under any [permit](/usc/30/1291.md?p=15) issued pursuant to this chapter shall be made without the written approval of the [regulatory authority](/usc/30/1291.md?p=22).
- (c) **Review of outstanding permits—** The [regulatory authority](/usc/30/1291.md?p=22) shall within a time limit prescribed in regulations promulgated by the [regulatory authority](/usc/30/1291.md?p=22), review outstanding [permits](/usc/30/1291.md?p=15) and may require reasonable revision or modification of the [permit](/usc/30/1291.md?p=15) provisions during the term of such [permit](/usc/30/1291.md?p=15): Provided, That such revision or modification shall be based upon a written finding and subject to notice and hearing requirements established by the [State](/usc/30/1291.md?p=24) or [Federal program](/usc/30/1291.md?p=6).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 95–87, title V, § 511, Aug. 3, 1977, 91 Stat. 483.)