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<br />The Office of Surface Mining and Enforcement (OSM). 75 Where no program <br />is submitted, the Federal government will develop and enforce the program. <br />SMCRA requires OSM to develop standards for mining operations <br />which protect environmental quality. The regulations specify that mine <br />owners or operators applying for an operating permit must describe mining <br />methods and identify reclamation procedures to be employed. Major require- <br />ments include the following. <br />. Description of environmental conditions at the <br />. Mined areas must be backfilled and graded to <br />tours, covered by topsoil, and revegetated. <br />Sediment and mine run-off must be controlled to meet water <br /> <br />mining site. <br />near original <br /> <br />con- <br /> <br /> <br />-: . ~I <br /> <br />., <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />quality standards. <br />. Construction of roads, dams, and other ancillary facilities must <br />meet specified design standards. <br />. States must have procedures for designating lands unsuitable for <br />mining such as alluvial valleys and prime farmland. 76 <br /> <br />2.4.3 Energy Supply and Environmental Coordination Act of 1974 (ESECA) <br />This statute embodies the first Congressional initiatives advocating <br />the use of domestic coal resources in order to conserve oil and natural <br />gas. ESECA programs provided the foundation for Federal efforts to <br />77 <br />accelerate coal use. These programs were expanded under the Powerplant <br />and Industrial Fuel Use Act of 1978 (subsection 2.4.4). <br />Under ESECA, FEA, later ERA, was required to prohibit the use of <br />petroleum products and natural gas as primary energy sources in power <br />plants which were capable of using coal as of June 22, 1974.77 <br />Before issuing a prohibition order, ERA had to first make the tech- <br />nical determination that the power plant or facility was at some time capable <br />of using coal.78 Additionally, a prohibition order could not take effect <br />until the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) notified ERA that the <br />units could comply with all applicable clean air standards.79 Construction <br />orders could also be issued by ERA requiring that a proposed power plant <br />or MFB I be designed and constructed with the capability to use coal. <br /> <br />2-27 <br />