Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 106 Part 4.djvu/255

 PUBLIC LAW 102-486—OCT. 24, 1992 106 STAT. 2991 operate, a coal mine in any portion of the coalbed that would be affected by such well within the distances established pursuant to the rules promulgated under subsection (j)(S). Any notified entity may object to the drilling of such well witmn 30 days after receipt of a notice. Upon receipt of a timely objection to the drilling of any coalbed methane gas well submitted by a notified entity, the Secretary of the Interior may refuse to approve the drilling of the well based on any of the following: (A) The proposed activity, due to its proximity to any coal mine opening, shaft, underground worldngs, or to any proposed extension of the coal mine, would adversely affect any operating, inactive or abandoned coal mine, inclumng any coal mine already surveyed and platted but not yet being operated. (B) The proposed activity would not conform with a coal operator's development plan for an existing or proposed operation. (C) There would be an unreasonable interference from the proposed activity with present or future coal mining operations, mcluding the ability to comply with other applicable laws and regulations. (D) The presence of evidence indicating that the proposed drilling activities would be unsafe, taking into consideration the dangers from creeps, squeezes or other disturbances due to the ei^raction of coal. (E) The proposed activity would unreasonably interfere with the safe recovery of coal, oil and gas. (2) In the event the Secretary of the Interior does not approve the drilling of a coalbed methane well pursuant to paragraph (1), the Secretary of the Interior shall consider whether such drilling could be approved if the unit operator modifies the proposed activities to take mto account any of the following: (A) The proposed activity could instead be reasonably done through an existing or planned pillar of coal, or in close proximity to an existing well or such pillar of coal, taking into consideration surface topography. (B) The proposed activity could instead be moved to a mined-out area, below the coal outcrop or to some other feasible area. (C) The unit operator agrees to a drillin|^ moratorivun of not more than two years in order to permit completion of coal mining operations. (D) The practicaUty of locating the proposed spacing unit or well on a uniform pattern with other spacing umts or wells. (1) PLUGGING.— All coalbed methane wells drilled after enactment of this Act that penetrate coal seams with remaining reserves shall provide for subsequent safe mining through the well in accordance with standards prescribed by the Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with any Federal and State agencies having authority over coal mine safety. Well plugging costs should be allocated in accordance with State law or private contractual arrangement, as the case may be. (m) NoncE AND OBJECTION BY OTHER PARTIES.—The Secretary of the Interior shall not approve the drilling of any coalbed methane well unless such well complies with the spacing and other requirements established by the Secretary of the Interior and each of the following:

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