STUDY CONCLUDED ON ASSEMBLY WATER-SUPPLY BILL

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, January 5, 1993                   TAG: 9301050246
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: STATE 
SOURCE: Southwest Bureau  (Staff)
DATELINE: GATE CITY                                LENGTH: Short
STUDY CONCLUDED ON ASSEMBLY WATER-SUPPLY BILL
The chairman of a subcommittee of the Committee on Mining and Mineral Resources, appointed to study a house bill on replacing water supplies damaged by underground mining, will not make any recommendations.
Del. Ford Quillen, D-Gate City and subcommittee chairman, said the matter has been addressed by federal legislation that became effective Oct. 24.
The Virginia bill was introduced last year by Del. Clarence Phillips, D-Saint Paul. The bill, carried over in the committee to the 1993 session, would have required underground coal-mine operators to replace water supplies interrupted, diminished or contaminated from mining.
Quillen said changes to the U.S. Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act included in the Comprehensive National Energy Policy Act of 1992 will require underground coal mining operators to promptly replace any drinking, domestic or residential water supplies from wells or springs affected by mining.
The federal Office of Surface Mining now must adopt rules to implement the federal requirement by next Oct. 24. - Southwest bureau

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB