--- kind: "section" citation: "30 U.S.C. § 872" title: "30" title_heading: "Mineral Lands and Mining" number: "872" heading: "Maps" release: "119-102" date: "2026-07-12" url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/30/872" units: - "Chapter 22 — Mine Safety and Health" - "Subchapter III — Interim Mandatory Safety Standards for Underground Coal Mines" --- # §872. Maps - (a) **Fireproof repository; contents; certification—** The [operator](/usc/30/802.md?p=d) of a [coal mine](/usc/30/878.md?p=l) shall have in a fireproof repository located in an area on the surface of the mine chosen by the mine [operator](/usc/30/802.md?p=d) to minimize the danger of destruction by fire or other hazard, an accurate and up-to-date map of such mine drawn on scale. Such map shall show the [active workings](/usc/30/878.md?p=g-4), all pillared, worked out, and [abandoned areas](/usc/30/878.md?p=h), except as provided in this section, entries and aircourses with the direction of airflow indicated by arrows, contour lines of all elevations, elevations of all main and cross or side entries, dip of the coalbed, escapeways, adjacent mine workings within one thousand feet, mines above or below, water pools above, and either producing or abandoned oil and gas wells located within five hundred feet of such mine and any underground area of such mine, and such other information as the [Secretary](/usc/30/802.md?p=a) may require. Such map shall identify those areas of the mine which have been pillared, worked out, or abandoned which are inaccessible or cannot be entered safely and on which no information is available. Such map shall be made or certified by a registered engineer or a registered surveyor of the [State](/usc/30/802.md?p=c) in which the mine is located. Such map shall be kept up to date by temporary notations and such map shall be revised and supplemented at intervals prescribed by the [Secretary](/usc/30/802.md?p=a) on the basis of a survey made or certified by such engineer or surveyor. - (b) **Availability for inspection; confidential copies—** The [coal mine](/usc/30/878.md?p=l) map and any revision and supplement thereof shall be available for inspection by the [Secretary](/usc/30/802.md?p=a) or his authorized representative, by [coal mine](/usc/30/878.md?p=l) inspectors of the [State](/usc/30/802.md?p=c) in which the mine is located, by [miners](/usc/30/802.md?p=g) in the mine and their representatives and by [operators](/usc/30/802.md?p=d) of adjacent [coal mines](/usc/30/878.md?p=l) and by [persons](/usc/30/802.md?p=f) owning, leasing, or residing on surface areas of such mines or areas adjacent to such mines. The [operator](/usc/30/802.md?p=d) shall furnish to the [Secretary](/usc/30/802.md?p=a) or his authorized representative and to the [Secretary](/usc/30/802.md?p=a) of Housing and Urban Development, upon request, one or more copies of such map and any revision and supplement thereof. Such map or revision and supplement thereof shall be kept confidential and its contents shall not be divulged to any other [person](/usc/30/802.md?p=f), except to the extent necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter and in connection with the functions and responsibilities of the [Secretary](/usc/30/802.md?p=a) of Housing and Urban Development. - (c) **Notification of mine closures; filing of revised and supplemental map; certification—** Whenever an [operator](/usc/30/802.md?p=d) permanently closes or abandons a [coal mine](/usc/30/878.md?p=l), or temporarily closes a [coal mine](/usc/30/878.md?p=l) for a period of more than ninety days, he shall promptly notify the [Secretary](/usc/30/802.md?p=a) of such closure. Within sixty days of the permanent closure or abandonment of the mine, or, when the mine is temporarily closed, upon the expiration of a period of ninety days from the date of closure, the [operator](/usc/30/802.md?p=d) shall file with the [Secretary](/usc/30/802.md?p=a) a copy of the mine map revised and supplemented to the date of the closure. Such copy of the mine map shall be certified by a registered surveyor or registered engineer of the [State](/usc/30/802.md?p=c) in which the mine is located and shall be available for public inspection. ## Source credit (Pub. L. 91–173, title III, § 312, Dec. 30, 1969, 83 Stat. 785.) ## Notes ### Editorial Notes ### References in Text This chapter, referred to in subsec. (b), was in the original “this Act”, meaning Pub. L. 91–173, Dec. 30, 1969, 83 Stat. 742, known as the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 801 of this title and Tables. ### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries ### Effective Date Section operative 90 days after Dec. 30, 1969, except to the extent an earlier date is specifically provided for in Pub. L. 91–173, see section 509 of Pub. L. 91–173, set out as a note under section 801 of this title.