Coal Cleanup Taxpayer Protection Act of 2019

Coal Cleanup Taxpayer Protection Act of 2019

This bill addresses bonding programs with regard to surface coal mining operations..

Specifically, the bill

• prohibits the Office of Surface Mining and Reclamation Enforcement (OSMRE) and state regulatory authorities from accepting new self-bonds for coal reclamation,
• requires any existing self-bonds or corporate bonds utilized for coal reclamation to be converted to surety or collateral bonds,
• authorizes the OSMRE to approve state or federal alternative coal mining bond programs that result in no greater risk of financial liability to the federal government than a surety or collateral bond program, and
• directs the OSMRE to issue rules establishing limitations on surety bonds to minimize the financial liability to the federal or state government.