117 HR 1734 IH: Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act Amendments of 2021 U.S. House of Representatives 2021-03-10 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I117th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 1734IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESMarch 10, 2021Mr. Cartwright (for himself, Mr. Thompson of Pennsylvania, Mr. Meuser, Mr. Lamb, Mr. Reschenthaler, Mr. Brendan F. Boyle of Pennsylvania, Mr. Lowenthal, Mr. Mullin, Ms. Houlahan, Mr. Grijalva, Mr. Huffman, and Mr. Kelly of Pennsylvania) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concernedA BILLTo amend the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to allow the Secretary of the Interior to delegate certain emergency reclamation activities to the States and Tribes, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act Amendments of 2021.

2.

Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Fund

Section 401(f)(2) of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (30 U.S.C. 1231(f)(2)) is amended—(1)in subparagraph (A)—(A)in the heading, by striking 2022 and inserting 2037; and(B)by striking 2022 and substituting 2037; and(2)in subparagraph (B)—(A)in the heading, by striking 2023 and inserting 2038;(B)by striking 2023 and substituting 2038; and(C)by striking 2022 and inserting 2037.

3.

Emergency Powers

(a)

State reclamation program

Section 405(d) of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (30 U.S.C. 1235(d)) is amended by striking sections 402 and 410 excepted and inserting section 402 excepted.(b)

Delegation

Section 410 of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (30 U.S.C. 1240) is amended—(1)in subsection (a), by inserting , including through reimbursement to a State or Tribal Government described in subsection (c), after moneys; and(2)by adding at the end the following:(c)

State or Tribal Government

A State or Tribal Government is eligible to receive reimbursement from the Secretary under subsection (a) if such State or Tribal Government has submitted, and the Secretary has approved, an Abandoned Mine Land Emergency Program as part of an approved State or Tribal Reclamation Plan under section 405..

4.

Reclamation fee

(a)

Duration

Effective 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, section 402(b) of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (30 U.S.C. 1232(b)) is amended by striking September 30, 2021 and inserting September 30, 2036.(b)

Allocation of funds

Effective September 30, 2021, section 402(g) of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (30 U.S.C. 1232(g)) is amended—(1)in paragraph (6)(A), by striking paragraphs (1) and (5) and inserting paragraphs (1), (5), and (8);(2)in paragraph (8)(A), by striking $3,000,000 and inserting $5,000,000; and(3)by adding at the end the following:(9)From amounts withheld pursuant to the Budget Control Act of 2011 from payments to States and Indian Tribes under this subsection and section 411(h) of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act during fiscal years 2013 through 2021, the Secretary shall distribute for fiscal year 2022 an amount to each State and Indian Tribe equal to the total amount withheld..

5.

Exempt programs and activities

Section 255(g)(1)(A) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act (2 U.S.C. 905(g)(1)(A)) is amended by adding at the end the following: Payments to States and Indian Tribes from the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund and payments to States and Indian Tribes under section 402(i)(2) of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (30 U.S.C. 1232(i)(2))..