Current through Pa Acts 2024-53, 2024-56 through 2024-111
Section 1396.4k - Pennsylvania Reclamation and Remining Program(a) The Environmental Quality Board shall publish proposed regulations within one hundred eighty (180) days from the effective date of this act which shall constitute an interim reclamation and remining program which provides incentives and assistance to reclaim abandoned mine lands and land that is subject to bond forfeitures. The department is authorized to expend moneys from the Remining Environmental Enhancement Fund for this program. The proposed regulations and any final regulations promulgated under this section shall include, but not be limited to, the following elements: (1) The encouragement of the reclamation of abandoned mine lands by active surface coal mine operators.(2) The encouragement of the recovery of remaining coal resources on abandoned mine lands and maximizing reclamation of such lands in the process.(3) The development of an operator qualification system.(4) The encouragement of local government participation in abandoned mine land agreements.(b) The department shall prepare a report to the Environmental Resources and Energy Committee of the Senate and the Conservation Committee of the House of Representatives on July 1 of each year giving a status report on activities covering the department's reclamation and remining programs under this section and sections 4.8, 4.9, 4.10, 4.12, 4.13 and 18. (c) The report shall include, but not be limited to:(1) The number and names of operators participating in the programs under sections 4.8, 4.9, 4.10, 4.12, 4.13 and this section and the reclamation programs undersection 18 . (2) The number of acres of abandoned mine land, land subject to bond forfeiture and coal refuse piles reclaimed.(3) The dollar value of these reclamation activities.(4) Recommendations for providing additional incentives for the reclamation of areas previously mined.(5) The comments of the Mining and Reclamation Advisory Board on the annual report, if any.1945, May 31, P.L. 1198, No. 418, § 4.11, added 1992, Dec. 18, P.L. 1384, No. 173, § 8, effective in 60 days.