PRINTER'S NO. 1652
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
1333
Session of
2017
INTRODUCED BY GABLER, BERNSTINE, BLOOM, DOWLING, DUSH, GILLEN,
A. HARRIS, HELM, JAMES, MASSER, METZGAR, MILLARD, PETRARCA,
PICKETT, PYLE, RYAN, SANKEY, SNYDER, TALLMAN, WARD, WHEELAND
AND ZIMMERMAN, MAY 5, 2017
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY,
MAY 5, 2017
AN ACT
Amending the act of May 31, 1945 (P.L.1198, No.418), entitled,
as amended, "An act providing for the conservation and
improvement of land affected in connection with surface
mining; regulating such mining; providing for the
establishment of an Emergency Bond Fund for anthracite deep
mine operators; and providing penalties," further providing
for mining permit, reclamation plan and bond.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 4 heading of the act of May 31, 1945
(P.L.1198, No.418), known as the Surface Mining Conservation and
Reclamation Act, is amended and the section is amended by adding
a subsection to read:
Section 4. Mining Permit; Reclamation Plan; Bond; Temporary
Cessation of Operation.--* * *
(k) (1) Before temporary cessation of operation for a
period of thirty (30) days or more, an operator shall submit to
the department a notice of intention to temporarily cease
operation. The notice shall include a statement of the exact
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number of acres affected in the permit area, the extent and kind
of reclamation of the areas and identification of the
backfilling, regrading, vegetation, monitoring and water
treatment activities which will continue during the temporary
cessation.
(2) Temporary cessation of operations does not relieve the
operator of the obligations to comply with this act, the
implementing regulations or the approved permit.
(3) Temporary cessation of operations shall terminate under
any of the following conditions:
(i) upon the resumption of coal extraction;
(ii) for failure of the operator to submit an application
for permit renewal within at least one hundred eighty (180) days
before expiration of the existing permit; or
(iii) for the operator's failure to comply with this act,
the implementing regulations or the approved permit.
(4) Operations under temporary cessation shall be
effectively secured.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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