Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act Amendments of 1979 - Amends the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to extend the time periods within which: (1) the regulatory authority is required to process and decide upon permit applications submitted by the operators of surface coal mines in expectation of operating such mines; (2) each State must submit to the Secretary of the Interior a State program which demonstrates that such State has the capability of carrying out the provisions of such Act; (3) the Secretary must prepare, promulgate and implement a Federal program for a State which failed to submit an acceptable program within the specified time; and (4) each State must submit a program covering surface coal mining and reclamation operations.
Deletes the requirement that State reclamation programs must be consistent with regulations issued by the Secretary.
Deletes the requirement that the Secretary shall implement a Federal lands program within one year of enactment of this Act. Directs the Secretary to implement such a program to coincide with the implementation of a State program.
Requires States to be responsible for mine inspection during the period of time prior to the submittal of State plans for approval.
Introduced in Senate
Referred to Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Reported to Senate from the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources with amendment, S. Rept. 96-271.
Reported to Senate from the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources with amendment, S. Rept. 96-271.
Measure called up by unanimous consent in Senate.
Measure considered in Senate.
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Measure passed Senate, amended, roll call #272 (68-26).
Roll Call #272 (Senate)Measure passed Senate, amended, roll call #272 (68-26).
Roll Call #272 (Senate)Referred to House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs.
Llama 3.2 · runs locally in your browser
Ask anything about this bill. The AI reads the full text to answer.
Enter to send · Shift+Enter for new line