TITLE VII - ADMINISTRATIVE AND MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

SUBHEADER: SEC. 708 ALASKAN SURFACE COAL MINE STUDY

 85 (a) The Secretary is directed to contract to such extent or in such
amounts as are provided in advance in appropriation Acts with the National
Academy of Sciences-National Academy of Engineering for an in-depth study of
surface coal mining conditions in the State of Alaska in order to determine
which, if any, of the provisions of this Act should be modified with respect to 
surface coal mining operations in Alaska.

    85 (b) The Secretary shall report on the findings of the study to the
President and Congress no later than two years after the date of enactment of
this Act.

    85 (c) The Secretary shall include in his report a draft of legislation to
implement any changes recommended to this Act.

    85 (d) Until one year after the Secretary has made this report to the
President and Congress, or three years after the date of enactment of this Act, 
whichever comes first, the Secretary is authorized to modify the applicability
of any environmental protection provision of this Act, or any regulation issued 
pursuant thereto, to any surface coal mining operation in Alaska from which coal
has been mined during the year preceding enactment of this Act if he determines 
that it is necessary to insure the continued operation of such surface coal
mining operation.  The Secretary may exercise this authority only after he has
(1) published notice of proposed modification in the Federal Register and in a
newspaper of general circulation in the area of Alaska in which the affected
surface coal mining operation is located, and (2) held a public hearing on the
proposed modification in Alaska.

    85 (e) In order to allow new mines in Alaska to continue orderly
development, the Secretary is authorized to issue interim regulations pursuant
to section 501(b) including those modifications to the environmental standards
as required based on the special physical, hydrological and climatic conditions 
in Alaska but with the purpose of protecting the environment to an extent
equivalent to those standards for the other coal regions.

    85 (f) There is hereby authorized to be appropriated for the purpose of this
section $2 50,000: Provided, That no new budget authority is authorized to be
appropriated for fiscal year 1977.