Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 106 Part 4.djvu/369

 PUBLIC LAW 102-486—OCT. 24, 1992 106 STAT. 3105 General of the United States, appropriate officials of relevant States, and owners and representatives of natural gas and petroleum pipeline companies and coal companies. (D) The Secretary of the Interior shall submit a report detailing Reports. the results of the review to the Committee on Energy and Natur£a Resources of the United States Senate and the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs of the United States House of Representatives within 18 months of enactment of this Act. Where appropriate, the Secretary of the Interior shall commence a rulemaking to address any deficiencies in existing law determined in the review under subparagraph (A) regarding notification, coordination and mitigation. (b) VALID EXISTING RIGHTS.—During the 1-year period following the enactment of this Act, in administering the provisions of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 regarding valid existing rights, the Secretary of the Interior shall continue in force and effect the policies of the Office of Surface Mining as set forth in the November 10, 1986 Statement of Policy published in 51 Federal Register 41952. (c) RESEARCH.— (1) Section 401(c)(6) of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (30 U.S.C. 1231(c)(6)) is amended as follows: (A) Insert ", research, and demonstration projects" after "studies". (B) Strike "to provide information, advice, and technical assistance, including research and demonstration projects". (2) Section 403(a) of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (30 U.S.C. 1233) is amended by striking paragraph (4) and renumber the subsequent paragraphs accordingly. (3) Title VII of the Surface Mining Control anof Reclamation Act of 1977 (30 U.S.C. 1291 and following) is amended by adding the following new section after section 720: "SEC. 721. RESEARCH. 30 USC 1309b. 'The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement is authorized to conduct studies, research and demonstration projects relating to the implementation of, and compliance with, title V of this Act, and provide technical assistance to states for that purpose. Prior to approving any such studies, research or demonstration projects the Director, OfiElce of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, shall first consult with the Director, Bureau of Mines, and obtain a determination from such Director that the Bureau of Mines is not already conducting like or similar studies, research or demonstration projects. Studies, research and demonstration projects for the purposes of title IV of this Act shall only be conducted in accordance with section 401(c)(6). ". 30 USC 551 note. (d) COAL FORMATIONS.— (1) In furtherance of the purposes of the Act of August 31, 1954 (30 U.S.C. 551-558) the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, shall, upon application by a State, enter into a cooperative agreement with any such State that has an approved abandoned mine reclamation program pursuant to section 405 of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to undertake the activities referred to in section 3(b) of the Act of August 31, 1954 (30 U.S.C. 553(b)). The Secretary shall immediately enter into such cooperative agreement upon application by a State. Any such cooperative agreement shall not

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