Cooperative agreements are authorized by the first sentence of
section 523(c) of the Surface Mining Law. Section 523(c) provides that, "Any state with an
approved state program may elect to enter into a cooperative
agreement with the Secretary to provide for state regulation of
surface coal mining and reclamation operations on federal lands
within the state, provided the Secretary determines in writing
that such state has necessary personnel and funding to fully
implement such a cooperative agreement in accordance with the
provision[s] of this Act." Cooperative agreements currently
exist with the states listed below. Click on the name of the
state to view the cooperative agreement with that state.
