§ 555. — Conditions precedent for aid to nonFederal lands.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 30USC555]
TITLE 30--MINERAL LANDS AND MINING
CHAPTER 13--CONTROL OF COAL-MINE FIRES
Sec. 555. Conditions precedent for aid to non-Federal lands
(a) Enactment of local laws; agreements
As a condition to the extending of any benefits under section 553(b)
of this title to any lands not owned or controlled by the United States
or any of its agencies, except where such action is necessary for the
protection of lands or other property owned or controlled by the United
States or any of its agencies, the Secretary of the Interior may
require--
(1) the enactment of State or local laws providing for the
control and extinguishment of outcrop and underground fires in coal
formations on State or privately owned land and the cooperation of
State or local authorities in the work; and
(2) agreements or covenants as to the performance and
maintenance of the work required to control or extinguish such
fires.
(b) Contributions
The Secretary of the Interior shall require in connection with any
project for the control or extinguishment of fires in any inactive coal
mine on any lands not owned or controlled by the United States or any of
its agencies, except where such project is necessary for the protection
of lands or other property owned or controlled by the United States or
any of its agencies, (1) that the State or person owning or controlling
such lands contribute on a matching basis 50 per centum of the cost of
planning and executing such project, or (2), if such State or person
furnishes evidence satisfactory to the Secretary of the Interior of an
inability to make the matching contribution herein provided for, that
such State or person pay to the Government, within such period of time
as the Secretary of the Interior shall determine, an amount equal to 50
per centum of the cost of planning and executing such project. At least
75 per centum of the funds expended in any fiscal year, from any
appropriation available to carry out the purposes of this chapter, in
connection with projects for the control or extinguishment of fires in
inactive coal mines where such action is not necessary for the
protection of lands or other property owned or controlled by the United
States or any of its agencies, shall be expended in conformity with
clause (1) of this subsection.
(Aug. 31, 1954, ch. 1156, Sec. 5, 68 Stat. 1010.)
