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<br />> . <br /> <br />to be operated or terminated during the ensuing ten years, (2) tentative sites and <br />environmental impact statements for construction scheduled to begin in the ensuing <br />five years, and (3) descriptions of efforts to coordinate with other suppliers and <br />with environmental protection and land use planning agencies. <br />Designate, within two years of enactment, an agency to (1) certify sites in <br />cooperation with state environmental protection, natural resource and planning <br />bodies, (2) issue certifications on the basis of evaluations of environmental impact <br />and electric power needs in all states affected by a proposed facility, (3) prohibit, <br />effective two years after enactment, construction or operation of bulk power supply <br />facilities without certification, and (4) conduct public hearings concerning any <br />proposed site. <br />Federal Role: The President would be authorized to issue regulations for state <br />certification procedures and designate -- in the absence of an approved state <br />designation after two years -- a Federal agency with certification powers for that <br />state. The Federal Power Commission would be required to accept appeals for certifi- <br />cation by owners or operators in the absence of prompt state action. U.S. District <br />Courts would be authorized to conduct eminent domain proceedings to obtain certified <br />sites. <br />Funding: None. <br /> <br />SURFACE MINING RECLAMATION ACT <br /> <br />Sponsor: Sen. Jackson (S. 630). <br />Current Status: (Reported by Interior Committee in late 1972, no floor action <br />taken.) Reintrodnced Jan. 11 in same form. <br />General Approach: The bill would establish Federal guidelines and grants for <br />the development of state programs to regulate surface mining operations for all <br />minerals on non-Federal lands. <br />State Role: States would be required to: Develop -- within one year for coal <br />and within two years for all other minerals -- a program to issue permits for all <br />surface mining operations and surface operations incidental to underground mining <br />operations; issue permits on the basis of operators' written plans (1) to prevent <br />stream degradation, flooding, debris slides and fire, (2) to mini~ze emissions and <br />disturbances and (3) to provide for regradation and revegetation, and operators' <br />reclamation bonds of at least $500 per acre; deny permits and prohibit operations <br />where the surface cannot be reclaimed or where an area of critical concern or <br />significant historical or cultural value would be destroyed by proposed operations; <br />and inspect biannually all lands affected by permits. <br />Federal Role: The Interior Secretary would be required to issue guidelines for <br />and approve state plans in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture; establish <br />a Federal interim plan for each state in the absence of an approved state plan after <br />the specified time limit; and inspect mines and surface aycas to evaluate the <br />administration of state or Federal plans. <br />Funding: The bill would authorize $10 million for grants to cover up to 80 <br />percent of state costs in the first fiscal year after enactment, and $20 million <br />to cover up to 50 percent of state costs in each of the next two fiscal years. An <br />additional $100 million revolving fund would be authorized for Federal acquisition. <br />and reclamation of abandoned mined lands. <br /> <br />10 <br />