30 U.S.C. § 1232
Reclamation fee
All operators of coal mining operations subject to the provisions of this chapter shall pay to the Secretary of the Interior, for deposit in the fund, a reclamation fee of 22.4 cents per ton of coal produced by surface coal mining and 9.6 cents per ton of coal produced by underground mining or 10 per centum of the value of the coal at the mine, as determined by the Secretary, whichever is less, except that the reclamation fee for lignite coal shall be at a rate of 2 per centum of the value of the coal at the mine, or 6.4 cents per ton, whichever is less.
Such fee shall be paid no later than thirty days after the end of each calendar quarter beginning with the first calendar quarter occurring after
Together with such reclamation fee, all operators of coal mine operations shall submit a statement of the amount of coal produced during the calendar quarter, the method of coal removal and the type of coal, the accuracy of which shall be sworn to by the operator and notarized. Such statement shall include an identification of the permittee of the surface coal mining operation, any operator in addition to the permittee, the owner of the coal, the preparation plant, tripple,1
Any portion of the reclamation fee not properly or promptly paid pursuant to this section shall be recoverable, with statutory interest, from coal mine operators, in any court of competent jurisdiction in any action at law to compel payment of debts.
All Federal and State agencies shall fully cooperate with the Secretary of the Interior in the enforcement of this section. Whenever the Secretary believes that any person has not paid the full amount of the fee payable under subsection (a) the Secretary shall notify the Federal agency responsible for ensuring compliance with the provisions of section 4121 of title 26.
As soon as practicable after the beginning of fiscal year 2007 and each fiscal year thereafter, and before making any allocation with respect to the fiscal year under subsection (g), the Secretary shall use an amount not to exceed the amount of interest that the Secretary estimates will be earned and paid to the fund during the fiscal year to transfer to the Combined Benefit Fund such amounts as are estimated by the trustees of such fund to offset the amount of any deficit in net assets in the Combined Benefit Fund as of
As soon as practicable after the beginning of fiscal year 2008 and each fiscal year thereafter, and before making any allocation with respect to the fiscal year under subsection (g), the Secretary shall use an amount not to exceed the amount of interest that the Secretary estimates will be earned and paid to the fund during the fiscal year (reduced by the amount used under subparagraph (A)) to make the transfers described in paragraphs (2)(B) and (2)(C).
Individuals referred to in clause (ii)(II) shall be treated as eligible to receive health benefits under the Plan.
The amount of the transfer otherwise determined under this subparagraph for a fiscal year shall be reduced by any amount transferred for the fiscal year to the Plan, to pay benefits required under the Plan, from a voluntary employees’ beneficiary association established as a result of a bankruptcy proceeding described in clause (ii).
The administrator of such voluntary employees’ beneficiary association shall transfer to the Plan any amounts received as a result of such bankruptcy proceeding, reduced by an amount for administrative costs of such association.
For purposes of subparagraph (C), any individual who was eligible to receive benefits from the Plan as of
If, for any fiscal year, the amount of a transfer under subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of paragraph (2) is more or less than the amount required to be transferred under that subparagraph, the Secretary shall appropriately adjust the amount transferred under that subparagraph for the next fiscal year.
All amounts allocated under subsection (g)(2) before
In addition to amounts held in reserve under subparagraph (A), there is authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for transfer to the fund to carry out the purposes of subparagraph (A)(ii).
The limitation described in subsection (i)(3)(A) shall not apply to payments made from the reserve fund under this paragraph.
The Secretary may make transfers under subparagraphs (B) and (C) of paragraph (2) for a calendar year only if the Secretary determines, using actuarial projections provided by the trustees of the Combined Benefit Fund referred to in paragraph (2)(A), that amounts will be available under paragraph (1), after the transfer, for the next fiscal year for making the transfer under paragraph (2)(A).
A transfer under paragraph (2)(C) shall not be made for a calendar year unless the persons that are obligated to contribute to the plan referred to in paragraph (2)(C) on the date of the transfer are obligated to make the contributions at rates that are no less than those in effect on the date which is 30 days before
The contributions described in subclause (I) shall be applied first to the provision of benefits to those plan beneficiaries who are not described in paragraph (2)(C)(ii).
From
Calendar year 2006 is the first calendar year for which contributions are required under this clause.
Except as provided in subclause (IV), the amount described in paragraph (2)(C) for calendar year 2006 shall be calculated as if paragraph (2)(C) had been in effect during 2005.
The contributions required under this clause for calendar year 2006 shall not exceed the amount necessary for solvency of the plan described in paragraph (2)(C), measured as of
The collective annual contribution obligation required under clause (ii) shall be divided among the persons subject to the obligation, and applied uniformly, based on the hours worked for which contributions referred to in clause (i) would be owed.
Subject to paragraph (3), out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the Secretary of the Treasury shall transfer to the Secretary of the Interior for distribution to States and Indian tribes such sums as are necessary to pay amounts described in paragraphs (1)(A) and (2)(A) of section 1240a(h) of this title.
The total amount transferred under this subsection for any fiscal year shall not exceed $750,000,000.
The dollar limitation under subparagraph (A) shall be increased by the amount of the cost to provide benefits which are taken into account under subsection (h)(2)(C)(ii) solely by reason of the amendments made by section 2(a) of the American Miner Benefits Improvement Act of 2020.
If the dollar limitation specified in paragraph (3)(A) exceeds the aggregate amount required to be transferred under paragraphs (1) and (2) for a fiscal year, the Secretary of the Treasury shall transfer an additional amount equal to the difference between such dollar limitation and such aggregate amount to the trustees of the 1974 UMWA Pension Plan to pay benefits required under that plan.
The transfers described in subparagraph (A) shall cease as of the first fiscal year beginning after the first plan year for which the funded percentage (as defined in section 432(j)(2) of title 26) of the 1974 UMWA Pension Plan is at least 100 percent.
During a fiscal year in which the 1974 UMWA Pension Plan is receiving transfers under subparagraph (A), no amendment of such plan which increases the liabilities of the plan by reason of any increase in benefits, any change in the accrual of benefits, or any change in the rate at which benefits become nonforfeitable under the plan may be adopted unless the amendment is required as a condition of qualification under part I of subchapter D of chapter 1 of title 26 [26 U.S.C. 401 et seq.].
The amount of any transfer made under subparagraph (A) (and any earnings attributable thereto) shall be disregarded in determining the unfunded vested benefits of the 1974 UMWA Pension Plan and the allocation of such unfunded vested benefits to an employer for purposes of determining the employer’s withdrawal liability under section 1381 of title 29.
A transfer under subparagraph (A) shall not be made for a fiscal year unless the persons that are obligated to contribute to the 1974 UMWA Pension Plan on the date of the transfer are obligated to make the contributions at rates that are no less than those in effect on the date which is 30 days before
The report required under clause (i) shall be submitted electronically.
The Secretary of the Treasury or the Secretary’s delegate shall share the information in the report under clause (i) with the Secretary of Labor.
Any failure to file the report required under clause (i) on or before the date described in such clause shall be treated as a failure to file a report required to be filed under section 6058(a) of title 26, except that section 6652(e) of title 26 shall be applied with respect to any such failure by substituting “$100” for “$25”. The preceding sentence shall not apply if the Secretary of the Treasury or the Secretary’s delegate determines that reasonable diligence has been exercised by the trustees of such plan in attempting to timely file such report.
For purposes of this paragraph, the term “1974 UMWA Pension Plan” has the meaning given the term in section 9701(a)(3) of title 26, but without regard to the limitation on participation to individuals who retired in 1976 and thereafter.
Funds shall be transferred under paragraphs (1) and (2) beginning in fiscal year 2008 and each fiscal year thereafter, and shall remain available until expended.
The amendments made by section 2(a) of the American Miner Benefits Improvement Act of 2020, referred to in subsec. (i)(3)(C), are the amendments made to subsec. (h)(2)(C)(ii) of this section made by section 2(a) of div. Y of Pub. L. 116–260. See 2020 Amendment notes below.
2021—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 117–58, § 40702(a), substituted “22.4 cents” for “28 cents”, “9.6 cents” for “12 cents”, and “6.4 cents” for “8 cents”.
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 117–58, § 40702(b), substituted “
2020—Subsec. (h)(2)(C)(ii). Pub. L. 116–260, § 2(a)(4), substituted “
Pub. L. 116–260, § 2(a)(1), substituted “
Subsec. (h)(2)(C)(ii)(II). Pub. L. 116–260, § 2(a)(3), inserted “(or, in the case of any such health benefits confirmed in any bankruptcy proceeding, would be subsequently denied or reduced)” before “; and”.
Pub. L. 116–260, § 2(a)(2), substituted “2019, or any year thereafter,” for “or 2019”.
Subsec. (i)(3)(C). Pub. L. 116–260, § 2(b), added subpar. (C).
2019—Subsec. (h)(2)(C)(ii). Pub. L. 116–94, § 103(4), substituted “
Pub. L. 116–94, § 103(1), substituted “
Subsec. (h)(2)(C)(ii)(II). Pub. L. 116–94, § 103(2), substituted “or a related coal wage agreement, would be denied or reduced as a result of a bankruptcy proceeding commenced in 2012, 2015, 2018, or 2019” for “, would be denied or reduced as a result of a bankruptcy proceeding commenced in 2012 or 2015”.
Subsec. (h)(2)(C)(ii)(III). Pub. L. 116–94, § 103(3), added subcl. (III).
Subsec. (h)(2)(C)(vi). Pub. L. 116–94, § 103(5), added cl. (vi).
Subsec. (i)(3)(A). Pub. L. 116–94, § 102(a)(1), substituted “$750,000,000” for “$490,000,000”.
Subsec. (i)(4), (5). Pub. L. 116–94, § 102(a)(2), (3), added par. (4) and redesignated former par. (4) as (5).
2017—Subsec. (h)(2)(C)(ii). Pub. L. 115–31 added cl. (ii) and struck out former cl. (ii) which related to calculation of excess.
Pub. L. 114–223, div. C, § 202(b)(3), as added by Pub. L. 115–30, par. (2), inserted at end of concluding provisions “For purposes of subclause (II)(aa), a beneficiary enrolled in the Plan as of
Subsec. (h)(2)(C)(ii)(II). Pub. L. 114–223, div. C, § 202(b)(1), as added by Pub. L. 115–30, par. (2), substituted “
Subsec. (h)(2)(C)(ii)(II)(aa). Pub. L. 114–223, div. C, § 202(b)(2), as added by Pub. L. 115–30, par. (2), substituted “
Subsec. (h)(2)(C)(iii), (iv). Pub. L. 115–31 added cls. (iii) and (iv) and struck out former cls. (iii) and (iv) which read as follows:
“(iii)
“(iv)
2016—Subsec. (h)(2)(C). Pub. L. 114–223, div. C, § 167(b), as added by Pub. L. 114–254, div. A, § 101(3), designated existing provisions as cl. (i), inserted heading, redesignated former cls. (i) and (ii) as subcls. (I) and (II), respectively, of cl. (i), realigned margins, added cls. (ii) to (v), and struck out concluding provisions which read as follows: “Such excess shall be calculated by taking into account only those beneficiaries actually enrolled in the Plan as of
Subsec. (i)(3)(B). Pub. L. 114–223, div. C, § 167(c), as added by Pub. L. 114–254, div. A, § 101(3), substituted “under paragraph (1) so that” for “so that” in introductory provisions, “each such transfer” for “each transfer” in cl. (i), and “paragraph (1)” for “this subsection” in cl. (iii).
2008—Subsec. (i)(1)(C). Pub. L. 110–343 substituted “$9,000,000 on
2006—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 109–432, § 202(a)(2), substituted “28” for “31.5”, “12” for “13.5”, and “8 cents” for “9 cents”.
Pub. L. 109–432, § 202(a)(1), substituted “31.5” for “35”, “13.5” for “15”, and “9 cents” for “10 cents”.
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 109–432, § 202(b), substituted “
Pub. L. 109–234 substituted “
Subsec. (g)(1)(D). Pub. L. 109–432, § 202(c)(1), inserted “(except for grants awarded during fiscal years 2008, 2009, and 2010 to the extent not expended within 5 years)” after “this paragraph” and substituted “under paragraph (5)” for “in any area under paragraph (2), (3), (4), or (5)”.
Subsec. (g)(2). Pub. L. 109–432, § 202(c)(2), added par. (2) and struck out former par. (2) which read as follows: “20 percent of the amounts available in the fund in any fiscal year which are not allocated under paragraph (1) in that fiscal year (including that interest accruing as provided in section 1231(e) of this title and including funds available for reallocation pursuant to paragraph (1)(D)), shall be allocated to the Secretary only for the purpose of making the annual transfer to the Secretary of Agriculture under section 1231(c)(2) of this title.”
Subsec. (g)(3). Pub. L. 109–432, § 202(c)(3)(A), substituted “paragraph (5)” for “paragraphs (2) and (5)” in introductory provisions.
Subsec. (g)(3)(A). Pub. L. 109–432, § 202(c)(3)(B), substituted “1231(c)(9)” for “1231(c)(11)”.
Subsec. (g)(3)(E). Pub. L. 109–432, § 202(c)(3)(C), added subpar. (E).
Subsec. (g)(5). Pub. L. 109–432, § 202(c)(4), designated existing provisions as subpar. (A), in first sentence, substituted “60” for “40”, in last sentence, substituted “Funds made available under paragraph (3) or (4)” for “Funds allocated or expended by the Secretary under paragraphs (2), (3), or (4)”, and added subpar. (B).
Subsec. (g)(6) to (8). Pub. L. 109–432, § 202(c)(5), added pars. (6) to (8) and struck out former pars. (6) to (8) which related to authority of any State to receive and retain up to 10 percent of the total of grants, State authority to establish an acid mine drainage abatement and treatment fund and to implement plans for acid mine drainage abatement and treatment, and allocation of not less than $2,000,000 annually for expenditure in each State and for each Indian tribe, having an approved reclamation program and eligible lands and waters.
Subsecs. (h), (i). Pub. L. 109–432, § 202(d), added subsecs. (h) and (i) and struck out former subsec. (h) which related to transfer of funds to the United Mine Workers of America Combined Benefit Fund.
2005—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 109–54 substituted “
Pub. L. 109–13 substituted “
2004—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 108–447 substituted “
1992—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 102–486, § 2515, which directed that subsec. (b) be amended by substituting “2004, after which time the fee shall be established at a rate to continue to provide for the deposit referred to in subsection (h) of this section” for “1995”, was executed by inserting “, after which time the fee shall be established at a rate to continue to provide for the deposit referred to in subsection (h) of this section” after “2004”, to reflect the probable intent of Congress and the intervening amendment by Pub. L. 102–486, § 19143(b)(1). See below.
Pub. L. 102–486, § 19143(b)(1), substituted “2004” for “1995” before period at end.
Subsec. (g)(1). Pub. L. 102–486, § 19143(b)(3)(B), substituted “Except as provided in subsection (h) of this section, moneys” for “Moneys”.
Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 102–486, § 19143(b)(2), added subsec. (h).
1990—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 101–508, § 6003(a), substituted “ending
Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 101–508, § 6003(b), inserted at end “Such statement shall include an identification of the permittee of the surface coal mining operation, any operator in addition to the permittee, the owner of the coal, the preparation plant, tripple, or loading point for the coal, and the person purchasing the coal from the operator. The report shall also specify the number of the permit required under section 1256 of this title and the mine safety and health identification number. Each quarterly report shall contain a notification of any changes in the information required by this subsection since the date of the preceding quarterly report. The information contained in the quarterly reports under this subsection shall be maintained by the Secretary in a computerized database.”
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 101–508, § 6003(c), designated existing provisions as par. (1) and added par. (2).
Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 101–508, § 6003(d), inserted at end “Whenever the Secretary believes that any person has not paid the full amount of the fee payable under subsection (a) of this section the Secretary shall notify the Federal agency responsible for ensuring compliance with the provisions of section 4121 of title 26.”
Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 101–508, § 6004, amended subsec. (g) generally, substituting present provisions for provisions relating to geographic allocation of expenditures from the fund, providing for allocation of 50 percent of funds collected annually in any State or Indian reservation to that State or Indian reservation pursuant to approved reclamation program, providing for special State set-aside for future expenditure, and authorizing expenditure of balance of funds collected at discretion of Secretary in order to meet the purposes of this subchapter.
1987—Subsec. (g)(3), (4). Pub. L. 100–34 added par. (3) and redesignated former par. (3) as (4).
Pub. L. 116–260, div. Y, § 2(c),
Pub. L. 116–94, div. M, § 102(b),
Pub. L. 115–31, div. M, title I, § 104(b),
Pub. L. 109–432, div. C, title II, § 202(a)(1),
Pub. L. 109–432, div. C, title II, § 202(a)(2),
Pub. L. 109–432, div. C, title II, § 202(b),
Amendment by Pub. L. 101–508 effective
For provisions relating to rates of wages to be paid to laborers and mechanics on projects for construction, alteration, or repair work funded under div. D or an amendment by div. D of Pub. L. 117–58, including authority of Secretary of Labor, see section 18851 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare.