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General Mining Act of 1872
The General Mining Act of 1872, or 1872 Mining Law, set the first regulations that govern mining rights in the U.S. -
Rivers and Harbors Appropriations Act
The Rivers and Harbors Appropriations Act prohibits the excavation or alteration of public waterways. It also made it illegal to dam any waterways without a permit. The act regulates where mines can exist, as excavation has to be approved in areas of water. -
Migratory Bird Treaty Act
The Migratory Bird Treaty Act protects nearly all bird species from being hunted without permits or from having their habitats destroyed. -
Clean Air Act
The Clean Air Act establishes air quality standards that mining operations have to adhere to. -
Solid Waste Disposal Act
The Solid Waste Disposal Act sets regulations on the disposal of hazardous waste. Many materials mined are considered hazardous materials and must therefore adhere to these regulations. -
National Historic Preservation Act,
The National Historic Preservation Act requires federal agencies to examine the effects any federally permitted project may have on historic buildings or archaeological sites. This act regulates where federally approved mines can exist. -
National Environmental Policy Act
The National Environmental Policy Act requires mining companies to use interdisciplinary approaches to proposing and carrying out projects. This means they must consider the environmental effects of the process and determine if the benefits outweigh the costs. This law provides fairly general guidelines. -
Federal Water Pollution Control Act
The Federal Water Pollution Control Act made it unlawful for people to pollute waterways and it set the first boundaries for surface water contaminants, giving mining corporations guidelines for what could be allowed to seep into water and what they needed to keep away from it. This act was later amended into the Clean Water Act. -
Endangered Species Act
The Endangered Species Act protects threatened plants and animals and mandates the protection of their habitats, which can influence where mining is allowed to take place. -
Safe Drinking Water Act
The Safe Drinking Water Act dictates the standards for water that is supplied to the public as drinking water. Underground operations like mining are subject to regulations from this act. -
Toxic Substance Control Act
The Toxic Substance Control Act requires all chemicals that present risk to health or environment to be regulated. -
Federal Land Policy and Management Act
The Federal Land Policy and Management Act prevents degradation of federal lands that is deemed "undue" or "unnecessary." Mining is often considered due and necessary, but in certain instances it is considered superfluous and therefore is restricted by this law. -
Clean Water Act
The Clean Water Act is the amended version of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act and is now the leading law governing pollution control and water quality of U.S. waterways. This regulates the extent to which mines can affect the waterways connected to or near them. -
Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act
The Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act regulates coal mining specifically and set the stage for reclamation efforts. This law does not extend to other types of mining, though it may set precedents for future legislation. -
Federal Mine Safety and Health Act
The Federal Mine Safety and Health Act regulates working conditions for coal, metal, and non-metal mines in order to ensure the health and safety of those working inside. -
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act
The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act requires hazardous substance releases to be reported, as well as inventory to be taken over chemicals held.