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• 4.14.2 General Grading Requirements <br />(1) "The final graded slopes shall not exceed <br />... Post mining final graded slopes <br />- need not be uniform but shall approximate <br />the general nature of the premining topo- <br />graphy...." <br />The foregoing examples are proffered to demonstrate <br />the efforts of government to express a functional result <br />while recrognizing that numerous conditions linit the appli- <br />cation of the concept, i.e., exceptions, variances, etc. <br />In general, therefore, the best that can be said of the <br />phrase "approximate original contour" is that it is ambiguous. <br />In such circumstances, it has been the practice of courts <br />and others to attempt ascertaining the intent of lawmakers <br />• ~y examining the legislative history of a particular subject. <br /> Following a number of studies on mining impacts on <br />the environment by several governmental and non-governmental <br />entities in the 1960's, the Senate in 1971 had a number of <br />bills introduced that would address the issues nationally. <br />The approach taken would have used guidelines for, inter <br />alia, minimizing highwalls, etc. No action was finalized <br />in that session. In 1973, Congress again attempted to design <br />a surface coal mining law that became more specific and <br />treated highwall elimination and return to AOC in detail <br />with no exceptions. Several senators and congressmen from <br />coal-producing states took active roles in debating the <br />issues considered by various committees. Senator Randolph <br />• <br />-3- <br />