Pennsylvania Code
Title 25 - ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
Part I - Department of Environmental Protection
Subpart A - Preliminary Provisions
Article I - Administrative Provisions
Chapter 9 - ENVIRONMENTAL MASTER PLAN
Subchapter B - POLICIES FOR CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL AREAS
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES FOR COAL RESOURCES
Section 9.143 - Regulations

(a) The only redeeming value of the previous degradation from coal mining is that it serves as a continuous warning of the necessity for a strong regulatory program. Although conformance with existing regulations will preclude the major problems of the past, the regulatory structure is effective only to the extent that it is enforceable. This is becoming a more serious concern especially with the dramatic increase in coal mining activity and budgetary constraints imposed upon regulatory agencies.

(b) It shall be the environmental policy of the Commonwealth to ensure complete conformance with existing coal mining regulations by strengthening existing programs to provide compliance throughout the entire coal extraction and reclamation process.