---
kind: "section"
citation: "30 U.S.C. § 1262"
title: "30"
title_heading: "Mineral Lands and Mining"
number: "1262"
heading: "Coal exploration permits"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/30/1262"
units:
  - "Chapter 25 — Surface Mining Control and Reclamation"
  - "Subchapter V — Control of the Environmental Impacts of Surface Coal Mining"
---

# §1262. Coal exploration permits

- (a) **Regulations; contents—** Each [State](/usc/30/1291.md?p=24) or [Federal program](/usc/30/1291.md?p=6) shall include a requirement that coal exploration operations which substantially disturb the natural land surface be conducted in accordance with exploration regulations issued by the [regulatory authority](/usc/30/1291.md?p=22). Such regulations shall include, at a minimum (1) the requirement that prior to conducting any exploration under this section, any [person](/usc/30/1291.md?p=19) must file with the [regulatory authority](/usc/30/1291.md?p=22) notice of intention to explore and such notice shall include a description of the exploration area and the period of supposed exploration and (2) provisions for reclamation in accordance with the performance standards in [section 1265 of this title](/usc/30/1265.md) of all lands disturbed in exploration, including excavations, roads, drill holes, and the removal of necessary facilities and equipment.
- (b) **Confidential information—** Information submitted to the [regulatory authority](/usc/30/1291.md?p=22) pursuant to this subsection as confidential concerning trade secrets or privileged commercial or financial information which relates to the competitive rights of the [person](/usc/30/1291.md?p=19) or entity intended to explore the described area shall not be available for public examination.
- (c) **Penalties—** Any [person](/usc/30/1291.md?p=19) who conducts any coal exploration activities which substantially disturb the natural land surface in violation of this section or regulations issued pursuant thereto shall be subject to the provisions of [section 1268 of this title](/usc/30/1268.md).
- (d) **Limitation on removal of coal—** No [operator](/usc/30/1291.md?p=13) shall remove more than two hundred and fifty tons of coal pursuant to an exploration [permit](/usc/30/1291.md?p=15) without the specific written approval of the [regulatory authority](/usc/30/1291.md?p=22).
- (e) **Law governing exploration of Federal lands—** Coal exploration on [Federal lands](/usc/30/1291.md?p=4) shall be governed by section 4 of the Federal Coal Leasing Amendments Act of 1975 (90 Stat. 1085).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 95–87, title V, § 512, Aug. 3, 1977, 91 Stat. 483.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

Section 4 of the Federal Coal Leasing Amendments Act of 1975 (90 Stat. 1085), referred to in subsec. (e), is section 4 of Pub. L. 94–377, Aug. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1085, redesignated the Federal Coal Leasing Amendments Act of 1976, which amended section 201(b) of this title.