A bill to require the Secretary of the Interior to establish a program to insure the stockpiling and replacement of topsoil on public lands and other lands which are moved or covered by surface mining projects, reclamation projects, and other Federal and federally assisted projects, and for other purposes.
National Topsoil Preservation Act of 1982 - Declares that topsoil is a valuable natural resource upon which future generations will be dependent. Declares that ownership of land carries with it a responsibility to keep the topsoil accessible for use at a later date.
Establishes a National Land Resources Protection Commission. Directs the Commission to establish standards with respect to the stockpiling and replacing of topsoil on all: (1) federally assisted projects; (2) projects on federally held land; and (3) projects which affect interstate commerce. Prescribes minimum criteria to be included in such standards.
Directs the Commission to establish minimum standards to assure that projects covered by this Act will not cause pollution of existing streams, land slides, flooding, or substantial changes in the volume of water to be carried by adjacent waterways except where such change is consistent with State or Federal water resource policy.
States that no dirt shall be moved on any project where the moving or covering of topsoil covers an area in excess of 100,000 square feet until a license or letter has been issued by the Commission or by a commission to whom authority has been delegated under this Act.
Authorizes appropriations.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to House Committee on Agriculture.
Referred to House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs.
Referred to Subcommittee on Energy and the Environment.
Executive Comment Requested from Interior, Agriculture.
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