CFR

CFR

877.13—Entry and consent to reclaim.

(a) OSM, the State, or Indian tribe or its agents, employees, or contractors may enter upon land to perform reclamation activities or conduct studies or exploratory work to determine the existence of the adverse effects of past coal mining if consent from the owner is obtained.

(b) If consent is not obtained, then, prior to entry under this section, the OSM, State, or Indian tribe shall find in writing, with supporting reasons that—

(1) Land or water resources have been or may be adversely affected by past coal mining practices;

(2) The adverse effects are at a state where, in the interest of the public health, safety, or the general welfare, action to restore, reclaim, abate, control, or prevent should be taken; and

(3) The owner of the land or water resources where entry must be made to restore, reclaim, abate, control, or prevent the adverse effects of past coal mining practices is not known or readily available, or the owner will not give permission for OSM, State, or Indian tribe or its agents, employees, or contractors to enter upon such property to restore, reclaim, abate, control, or prevent the effects of past coal mining practices.

(c) If consent is not obtained, OSM, State, or Indian tribe shall give notice of its intent to enter for purposes of conducting reclamation at least 30 days before entry upon the property. The notice shall be in writing and shall be mailed, return receipt requested, to the owner, if known, with a copy of the findings required by this section. If the owner is not known, or if the current mailing address of the owner is not known, notice shall be posted in one or more places on the property to be entered where it is readily visible to the public and advertised once in a newspaper of general circulation in the locality in which the land is located. The notice posted on the property and advertised in the newspaper shall include a statement of where the findings required by this section may be inspected or obtained.