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HR 2372 104th Congress House Public Lands and Natural Resources Administrative procedure Coal Commerce Department of the Interior Energy Energy policy Environmental Protection Federal-state relations Government Operations and Politics Judicial review of administrative acts Law Licenses Limitation of actions Mine wastes Mines and mineral resources Reclamation of land Roads and highways State laws Strip mining

Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Amendments Act of 1995

Introduced: September 21, 1995 See on congress.gov
 Everywhere this bill has been 8 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jul 18, 1996
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 6 - 2.
Jul 18, 1996
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Nov 9, 1995
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Sep 25, 1995
Executive Comment Requested from Interior.
Sep 25, 1995
Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.
Sep 21, 1995
Referred to the House Committee on Resources.
Sep 21, 1995
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1831-1832)
Sep 21, 1995
Introduced in House
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Amendments Act of 1995 - Amends the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to: (1) repeal certain oversight functions of the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement; (2) provide for an approved State program for surface coal mining and reclamation operations which shall apply in that State in lieu of the Act; (3) declare the Act inapplicable to surface coal mining and reclamation operations within a State with an approved State program until such program has been amended, and the permittee has been provided reasonable time to conform operations to the amended program; and (4) declare that operations in compliance with a permit issued under the Act shall be deemed to be in compliance with its environmental protection standards and those of an approved State or Federal program pursuant to the Act.

Amends enforcement guidelines to grant a State regulatory authority sole enforcement responsibility for the Act and relevant State law, subject only to State administrative and judicial review. Confers enforcement responsibility for Federal water quality laws (including State law enacted pursuant thereto) upon the regulatory authority approved by the Federal Environmental Protection Agency.

Revises judicial review guidelines to: (1) repeal the provision that availability of judicial review of a State regulatory authority does not limit the operation of rights with respect to citizens' suits to compel compliance with Federal law; and (2) declare that an action by the Secretary of the Interior regarding inadequate State enforcement is subject to judicial review by the U.S. district court for the district which includes the capital of the State whose program is at issue.

Establishes a three-year statute of limitations for an enforcement proceeding under this Act.

Excludes public roads from the regulatory purview of the Act.

What's happening now July 18, 1996

Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 6 - 2.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2