43 CFR § 3480.0-1 - Purpose.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t43/s3480.0-1"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "43 CFR § 3480.0-1 - Purpose."
title_number: 43
title_name: "Public Lands: Interior"
section_number: "3480.0-1"
section_name: "Purpose."
chapter_name: "BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR"
subchapter_number: "C"
subchapter_name: "MINERALS MANAGEMENT (3000)"
part_number: "3480"
part_name: "COAL EXPLORATION AND MINING OPERATIONS RULES"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "30 U.S.C. 189, 359, 1211, 1251, 1266, and 1273; and 43 U.S.C. 1461, 1733, and 1740."
regulatory_source: "47 FR 33179, July 30, 1982, unless otherwise noted. Redesignated at 48 FR 41589, Sept. 16, 1983."
cfr_part: "3480"
---


# 3480.0-1 Purpose.

The purposes of the rules of this part are to ensure orderly and efficient development, mining, preparation, and handling operations for Federal coal; ensure production practices that prevent wasting or loss of coal or other resources; avoid unnecessary damage to coal-bearing or mineral-bearing formations; ensure MER of Federal coal; ensure that operations meet requirements for diligent development and continued operation; ensure resource recovery and protection plans are submitted and approved in compliance with MLA; ensure effective and reasonable regulation of surface and underground coal mining operations; require an accurate record and accounting of all coal produced; ensure efficient, environmentally sound exploration and mining operations; and eliminate duplication of efforts by the Minerals Management Service (MMS), OSM, and the States in the Federal coal program.