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FEDERAL ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS
More than three dozen federal environmental laws and regulations
cover all aspects of mining today. The following list includes some
of the major laws governing mining. In addition, each state has
laws and regulations that mining companies must follow as well.
- National Environmental Policy Act--requires interdisciplinary
approach to environmental decisionmaking.
- Federal Land Policy and Management Act--prevents undue
and unnecessary degradation of federal lands.
- Clean Air Act--sets air quality standards.
- Federal Water Pollution Control Act (Clean Water Act)--directs
standards to be set for surface water quality and for controlling
discharges to surface water.
- Safe Drinking Water Act--directs standards to be set
for quality of drinking water supplied to the public (states are
primary authorities) and regulating underground injection operations.
- Solid Waste Disposal Act--to regulate generation, storage
and disposal of hazardous waste and manage solid, non-hazardous
waste (states).
- Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability
Act owners/operators required to report releases of hazardous
substances to the environment and inventory chemicals handled;
remedial actions established.
- Toxic Substance Control Act--requires regulation of chemicals
that present risk to health or environment.
- Endangered Species Act--plants and animals listed that
are threatened; protection plans mandated.
- Migratory Bird Treaty Act--prohibits killing of nearly
all bird species.
Other laws that impact on mining include:
- the Rivers and Harbors Act,
- the Mining Law of 1872,
- the National Historic Preservation Act,
- the Law Authorizing Treasury's Bureau of
Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms to Regulate Sale, Transport and
Storage of Explosives, and
- Federal Mine Safety and Health Act.
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