CLEAN UP Mines Act of 2026

The CLEAN UP Mines Act of 2026 proposes significant amendments to the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977, aiming to strengthen environmental protections and ensure more timely reclamation of surface coal mining sites. A core focus is to mandate that reclamation activities occur more contemporaneously with mining operations, preventing long periods of inactivity without environmental restoration. Key provisions include establishing stricter deadlines for various reclamation stages. Operators would be required to complete final backfilling and grading within 180 days of the last coal production, ensuring proper drainage control before equipment is removed. Furthermore, revegetation on regraded areas must be established within 36 months of the last coal production, with a maximum additional year allowed for successful revegetation. The bill also addresses inactive permits, deeming them out of compliance if no active coal removal or reclamation occurs for more than six months within any three-year period, unless specific reclamation standards are met or a plan to resume operations is approved. To enhance oversight, it mandates more rigorous environmental monitoring, including quarterly monitoring of surface and groundwater, annual assessments of stream biological conditions, and inspections of runoff control structures after significant precipitation events. Finally, the legislation revises the process for releasing performance bonds or deposits. It reduces the initial phase of bond release from 60% to 40% and explicitly links subsequent bond releases to the successful completion of specific reclamation milestones, such as backfilling, grading, and revegetation, as defined by the new, stricter timelines.