HB5047 - Amending surface mining reclamation requirements

4 Co-Sponsors

The purpose of this bill is to implement changes in the West Virginia Surface Coal Mining and Reclamation Act recommended by the West Virginia Legislature's Post Audit Division to facilitate compliance with state and federal mining and reclamation laws to assure that bonding and reclamation requirements are adequate to assure that post mining reclamation is completed and paid for by coal mining operators and does not become a financial liability to state taxpayers; requiring greater review of stability of special reclamation fund; revising bonding requirements to require the bond be set for actual reclamation costs; providing conditions upon bonding companies to assure viability of the special reclamation fund; requiring coordination between the Tax Department and the Department of Environmental Projection to assure accuracy in reporting and correct payments into the surface mining special reclamation fund; and requiring that mining operations keep payments to the special reclamation fund current as a condition for receiving and retaining a mining permit.