(a) Reclamation projects should be accomplished in accordance with OSMRE's "Final Guidelines for Reclamation Programs and Projects" (66 Federal Register 31250, June 11, 2001).
(b) Reclamation project expenditures shall reflect the priorities of Section 403(a) of the Federal Act in the order stated:
  (1) Priority 1: The protection of public health, safety, and property from extreme danger of adverse effects of coal mining practices, including the restoration of land and water resources and the environment that:
    (A) have been degraded by the adverse effects of coal mining practices; and
    (B) are adjacent to a site that has been or will be addressed to protect the public health, safety, and property from extreme danger of adverse effects of coal mining practices.
  (2) Priority 2: The protection of public health and safety from adverse effects of coal mining practices, including the restoration of land and water resources and the environment that:
    (A) have been degraded by the adverse effects of coal mining practices; and
    (B) are adjacent to a site that has been or will be addressed to protect the public health and safety from adverse effects of coal mining practices.
  (3) Priority 3: The restoration of land and water resources and the environment previously degraded by adverse effects of coal mining practices, including measures for the conservation and development of soil, water (excluding channelization), woodland, fish and wildlife, recreation resources, and agricultural productivity. Priority 3 land and water resources that are geographically contiguous with existing or remediated Priority 1 or 2 problems will be considered adjacent under paragraphs (1)(B) or (2)(B) of this subsection.
(c) Generally, projects lower than a Priority 2 should not be undertaken until all known higher priority coal projects either have been accomplished, are in the process of being reclaimed, or have been approved for funding by the Secretary, except in those instances where such lower priority projects may be undertaken in conjunction with a Priority 1 or 2 site in accordance with OSMRE's "Final Guidelines for Reclamation Programs and Projects."

Source Note: The provisions of this §12.804 adopted to be effective August 17, 1999, 24 TexReg 6283; amended to be effective December 9, 2019, 44 TexReg 7534