Assessing the impacts of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act
Even a dozen years since the passage of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) there is little agreement on how well it has worked. The paper attempts to assess the impacts of SMCRA in six major surface coal producing states. Although it is not possible to make an unqualified overall national assessment, the evidence presented in the paper indicates that in many (but by no means all) cases, surface coal mining is now carried out in environmentally less destructive ways then before the Act. However, the accomplishments have fallen far short of expectations. The situation in some states has gotten worse than before the Act. Overall, the impact of the Act on the ground has been mixed and has depended on the rigor with which the Act has been implemented in individual coal states.
- OSTI ID:
- 6668492
- Journal Information:
- Policy Studies Review; (USA), Vol. 9:1; ISSN 0278-4416
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
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Related Subjects
SURFACE MINING ACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
COAL
LAND RECLAMATION
STATE GOVERNMENT
SURFACE MINING
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
LAWS
MATERIALS
MINING
MINING LAWS
017000* - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Legislation & Regulations
012020 - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Surface Mining- (1987-)