Coal Mine Surface Area Protection Act

Coal Mine Surface Area Protection Act - Declares it to be the purpose of this Act to encourage a nationwide effort to regulate coal mining surface operations.

Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to: (1) make investigations or inspections necessary to insure compliance with this Act and the rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto; (2) conduct hearings; (3) were public health or safety is involved, or the health or safety of the employee is involved, issue a cease-and-desist order for any operation; (4) order the revocation of any permit for failure to comply with any of the provisions of this Act or any rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto; (5) appoint such advisory committees as may be of assistance to the Secretary in the development of programs and policies; (6) review and vacate or modify orders and decisions of the Secretary; and (7) designate certain areas as unsuitable for surface mining.

Directs the Secretary to make an annual report to Congress concerning the activities conducted by him under this Act relating to the regulation of coal mine surface operations.

Provides that an area may be designated as unsuitable for surface coal minig if the Secretary finds that it is not economically or physically possible to reclaim the land, or if surface mining is already being conducted in such area, the mining will cause irrevocable or lasting injury to the environment of the area or an area adversely affected by such area. Provides that, on and after the effective date of this Act, no person shall engage in coal mining surface operations without a permit issued by the Secretary under the provisions of this Act. Sets forth the information required to be submitted in an application for such a permit. Provides that an application for an original permit, and for any renewal of such permit, shall be accompanied by a certificate issued by an insurance company authorized to do business in the United States certifying that the applicant has a public liability insurance policy in force for the coal mining operation for which such permit is sought.

Provides that any bona fide resident of the area having a valid legal interest which will be affected by the proposed coal mining or the officer or head of any Federal, State, or local governmental agency or authority shall have the right to file written objections to a proposed mining operation. Provides that after such objections the Secretary shall hold public hearings at which the applicant for a permit shall have the burden of establishing that his application is in compliance with the applicable State and Federal laws.

Provides that if the Secretary finds that the overburden of any part of the area of land described in the permit application is such that deposits of sediment in streambeds, landslides or acid in mineralized water pollution in violation of State and Federal water quality standards, whichever is higher, cannot feasibly be prevented, he shall delete such part of the land described in the application upon which such overburden exists.

Provides that no application shall be approved if mining the area will adversely affect any publicly owned park unless screening and other measures approved by the Secretary are used.

Provides that no permit application shall be approved under this Act if: (1) the applicant is presently ineligible to obtain a permit or license to conduct a coal mining surface operation under the law of the State in which the proposed mining is to be conducted; (2) the applicant has had a permit revoked by the Secretary under this Act; or (3) the applicant has violated, and continues to violate, any law, rule, or regulation of the United States, or of any department or agency of the United States, pertaining to coal mining operations or reclamation.

Provides that no permit application shall be approved unless a plan of operation and reclamation is approved. Requires such reclamation plan to include a statement: (1) of the highest and best use to which the land was put prior to the commencement of surface mining; (2) of the use which is proposed to be made of the land following reclamation; (3) of the manner in which mining operations will be conducted and whatever actions will be taken to prevent adverse environmental effects; (4) that proper consideration has been given to insure that the plan is consistent with local environmental conditions and current mining and reclamation technologies; (5) that there will be provisions to maintain and improve where practicable the quality of water in surface and ground water systems; and (6) of the steps to be taken to insure that the coal mining operation complies with all applicable air and water regulations and health and safety standards.

Provides that after a permit application has been approved, but before a permit is issued, the applicant shall file with the Secretary a bond for performance, payable to the United States and conditioned that the operator shall faithfully perform all the requirements of this Act. Provides that the amount of the bond shall be sufficient to assure the completion of the reclamation plan.

Creates on the books of the Treasury of the United States an Abandoned Coal Mine Reclamation Fund. Provides that the fund shall consist of amounts deposited which are derived from the sale, lease, or rental of land reclaimed pursuant to this Act, and any user charge imposed on land after expenditures for maintenance have been deducted. Authorizes annual appropriations to the fund of amounts necessary to make the income of the fund not less than $200,000,000 for fiscal year 1975 and for each fiscal year thereafter. States that the first three priorities in obligating funds should be: (1) the protection of health or safety of the public; (2) protection of the environment from continued degradation and the conservation of land and water resources; and (3) the protection, construction, or enhancement of public facilities.

Allows the Secretary to renew a permit for mining if the operation is in compliance with existing law. Provides that the Secretary may revoke any permit if, after a hearing, he determines that the operator has violated any provision of this Act or any rules and regulations of the Secretary issued under this Act. Provides that every operator shall reclaim the land affected by his mining. Provides that such reclamation shall include the removal and replacement of topsoil and the burying of any toxic material.

Provides that no operation shall throw, dump, pile, or otherwise place or permit the throwing, dumping, piling or otherwise placing of any material of any type outside the area of land which is under permit.

Authorizes the appointment of inspectors to make any necessary survey and inspection of coal mining operations and to administer and enforce all Federal coal mining laws, rules and regulations, and to visit each surface coal mine operation subject to this Act a minimum of twice monthly on an irregular basis and without prior notice to the operator or any of his employees.

Authorizes appeals by anyone aggrieved under this Act in accordance with the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act. Authorizes the Attorney General to apply for relief by injunction to enforce compliance with, or restrain violations of any provisions of this Act or any rule, regulation, or order made pursuant thereto.

Allows any resident of the United States, who is injured in any manner through the failure of any operator to comply with the provisions of this Act, to bring an action for damages, including attorney fees, regardless of the amount involved, in an appropriate United States district court. Provides that the operator of a coal mine in which a violation of any provisions of this Act occurs shall be assessed a civil penalty by the Secretary under the provisions of the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act. States that any order or decision issued by the Secretary under this Act shall be subject to judicial review in accordance with such Act.

Provides that nothing in this Act whall preclude or deny the right of any State or political subdivision thereof to adopt and enforce standards relating to the conduct of coal mining surface operations and reclamation, except such State or political subdivision may not adopt or enforce any standard which is less stringent than the corresponding Federal standard or regulation then being enforced under this Act by the Secretary.

Authorizes the Secretary to appoint an advisory committee to consult with and make recommendations to the Secretary on matters involving or relating to coal mining research. Authorizes to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.