A Public Choice Exploration of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act
35 Pages Posted: 5 May 2017
Date Written: May 1, 2017
Abstract
Recent bankruptcies in the coal industry have stoked concerns regarding the efficacy of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA). We review the history of SMCRA through a public choice lens focusing on bonding and the Abandoned Mine Land fund (AML). Overall, SMCRA can be considered a success, but important problems persist that demand attention. For example, bond valuation is improperly handled and the AML is used for political purposes by state governments. We propose these problems could be mitigated with binding guidelines for bond release and by putting valuation in the hands of independent third parties.
Keywords: Reclamation, Mining, Coal, SMCRA, AML, Bonds, Public Choice, Bureaucracy
JEL Classification: Q38, Q48, K20, K32
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation