ELR Citation: ELR 20284
No(s). 81-2134 (D.D.C. Sep 30, 1982)

The court holds that the Secretary of the Interior has a mandatory duty under §518 of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) to impose civil penalties on surface coal mine operators who fail to abate violations and are issued cessation orders under §521(a)(3). First, the court rule...