Bond Improvement and Reclamation Assurance Act of 2026

This bill updates bond requirements for coal mining permits under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977. It requires mining operators to post performance bonds calculated based on specific site conditions (like geology, topography, and reclamation difficulty), with a minimum bond amount of $52,593 (adjusted annually for inflation). The bonds must cover all reclamation costs if a mine closes early or operations are abandoned, and must be recalculated when permits are transferred, renewed, or site conditions change. This directly affects coal mining operators and state/federal regulatory agencies responsible for enforcing reclamation.