Coal Mining Regulations
Learn about surface mining and the regulations that are in place to address environmental and human health concerns associated with coal mining.
Transcript
The effects of coal mining can pose significant risks to human and environmental health. As a result, many of the laws that regulate the coal-mining process are focused on combating or even preventing these negative effects.
I. Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act
Most coal in the United States is removed directly from surface mines, or mines directly on the land’s surface. The Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 regulates environmental impacts from coal mining. The act...