Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 91.djvu/556

 91 STAT. 522 Modifications.

Publication in Federal Register. Hearing.

Interim regulations. Ante, p. 467.

Appropriation authorization.

PUBLIC LAW 95-87—AUG. 3, 1977 (d) Until one year after the Secretary has made this report to the President and Congress, or three years after the date of enactment of this Act, whichever comes first, the Secretary is authorized to modify the applicability of any environmental protection provision of this Act, or any regulation issued pursuant thereto, to any surface coal mining operation in Alaska from which coal has been mined during the year preceding enactment of this Act if he determines that it is necessary to insure the continued operation of such surface coal mining operation. The Secretary may exercise this authority only after he has (1) published notice of proposed modification in the Federal Register and in a newspaper of general circulation in the area of Alaska in which the affected surface coal mining operation is located, and (2) held a public hearing on the proposed modification in Alaska. (e) In order to allow new mines in Alaska to continue orderly development, the Secretary is authorized to issue interim regulations pursuant to section 501(b) including those modifications to the environmental standards as required based on the special physical, hydrological and climatic conditions in Alaska but with the purpose of protecting the environment to an extent equivalent to those standards for the other coal regions. (f) There is hereby authorized to be appropriated for the purpose of this section $250,000: Provided, That no new budget authority is authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 1977. STUDY OF RECLAMATION STANDARDS FOR SURFACE M I N I N G OF OTHER MINERALS

Contract.

30 USC 1299.

Legislative recommendations, submittal to President and Congress.

SEC. 709. (a) The Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality is directed to contract to such extent or in such amounts as are provided in appropriation Acts with the National Academy of Sciences-National Academy of Engineering, other Government agencies or private groups as appropriate, for an in-depth study of current and developing technology for surface and open pit mining and reclamation for minerals other than coal designed to assist in the establishment of effective and reasonable regulation of surface and open pit mining and reclamation for minerals other than coal. The study shall— (1) assess the degree to which the requirements of this Act can be met by such technology and the costs involved; (2) identify areas where the requirements of this Act cannot he met by curi-ent and developing technology; (3) in those instances describe requirements most comparable to those of this Act which could be met, the costs involved, and the differences in reclamation results between these requirements and those of this Act; and (4) discuss alternative regulatory mechanisms designed to insure the achievement of the most beneficial postmining land use for areas affected by surface and open pit mining, (b) The study together with specific legislative recommendations shall be submitted to the President and the Congress no later than eighteen months after the date of enactment of this Act: Provided, That, with respect to surface or open pit mining for sand and gravel the study shall be submitted no later than twelve months after the date of enactment of this Act: Provided further, That with respect to mining for oil shale and tar sands that a preliminary report shall be submitted no later than twelve months after the date of enactment of this Act.

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