Every successful bidder for any contract by an uncertified State or Indian tribe under this part, or for any contract by a certified State or Indian tribe to undertake a noncoal reclamation project under this part, must be eligible under §§773.12, 773.13, and 773.14 of this chapter at the time of contract award to receive a permit or be provisionally issued a permit to conduct surface coal mining operations. This section applies only to any contracts by a certified State or Indian tribe that are for coal reclamation or that are for a noncoal reclamation project under this part.

[80 FR 6446, Feb. 5, 2015]