ELR Citation: ELR 20090
No(s). 00-283 (RWR) (D.D.C. May 4, 2006)

The court rejects a mining association's statutory and constitutional claims challenging a 1999 Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) rule defining "valid existing rights." The Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act prohibits new surface coal mining operations on certain lan...