A bill to amend the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to limit the liability of a State performing reclamation work under an approved State abandoned mine reclamation plan.

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Apr 22, 2010

Amends the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to extend a state's shield from federal liability (except for gross negligence or intentional misconduct) for costs or damages incurred as a result of actions taken or omitted while implementing a state abandoned mine reclamation plan to include a state's own reclamation activities conducted pursuant to an approved plan.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT] · D–MT

Committees

Energy and Natural Resources Committee

0 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Apr 22, 2010
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Apr 22, 2010
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in Senate · Apr 22, 2010 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Sep 8, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

Explore the bill from different angles

Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze S.3252 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.3252, 111th Congress: A bill to amend the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to limit the liability of a State performing reclamation work under an approved State abandoned mine reclamation plan.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/senate-bill/3252

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2010-04-22.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/111/bills/s3252/BILLS-111s3252is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:11:57Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze S.3252 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.3252 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.3252, 111th Congress: A bill to amend the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to limit the liability of a State performing reclamation work under an approved State abandoned mine reclamation plan.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/senate-bill/3252

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2010-04-22.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/111/bills/s3252/BILLS-111s3252is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:11:57Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.3252 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.3252 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.3252, 111th Congress: A bill to amend the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to limit the liability of a State performing reclamation work under an approved State abandoned mine reclamation plan.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/senate-bill/3252

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2010-04-22.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/111/bills/s3252/BILLS-111s3252is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:11:57Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.3252 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine S.3252 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.3252, 111th Congress: A bill to amend the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to limit the liability of a State performing reclamation work under an approved State abandoned mine reclamation plan.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/senate-bill/3252

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2010-04-22.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/111/bills/s3252/BILLS-111s3252is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:11:57Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.3252 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.