---
kind: "section"
citation: "30 U.S.C. § 1279"
title: "30"
title_heading: "Mineral Lands and Mining"
number: "1279"
heading: "Anthracite coal mines"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/30/1279"
units:
  - "Chapter 25 — Surface Mining Control and Reclamation"
  - "Subchapter V — Control of the Environmental Impacts of Surface Coal Mining"
---

# §1279. Anthracite coal mines

- (a) The [Secretary](/usc/30/1291.md?p=23) is authorized to and shall issue separate regulations according to time schedules established in this chapter for anthracite coal surface mines, if such mines are regulated by environmental protection standards of the [State](/usc/30/1291.md?p=24) in which they are located. Such alternative regulations shall adopt, in each instance, the environmental protection provisions of the [State](/usc/30/1291.md?p=24) regulatory program in existence on August 3, 1977, in lieu of sections [1265](/usc/30/1265.md) and [1266](/usc/30/1266.md) of this title. Provisions of sections [1259](/usc/30/1259.md) and [1269](/usc/30/1269.md) of this title are applicable except for specified bond limits and period of revegetation responsibility. All other provisions of this chapter apply and the regulation issued by the [Secretary](/usc/30/1291.md?p=23) of Interior for each [State](/usc/30/1291.md?p=24) anthracite regulatory program shall so reflect: Provided, however, That upon amendment of a [State](/usc/30/1291.md?p=24)’s regulatory program for anthracite mining or regulations thereunder in force in lieu of the above-cited sections of this chapter, the [Secretary](/usc/30/1291.md?p=23) shall issue such additional regulations as necessary to meet the purposes of this chapter.
- (b) Omitted.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 95–87, title V, § 529, Aug. 3, 1977, 91 Stat. 514.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Subsec. (b) of this section, which required the Secretary of the Interior to report to Congress biennially on the effectiveness of State anthracite regulatory programs operating in conjunction with this chapter with respect to protecting the environment, terminated, effective May 15, 2000, pursuant to section 3003 of Pub. L. 104–66, as amended, set out as a note under section 1113 of Title 31, Money and Finance. See, also, page 109 of House Document No. 103–7.