For purposes of regulating surface coal mining operations on Indian lands, the following terms, when used in this subchapter or in parts referenced by this subchapter, have the following meanings:

BIA means the Bureau of Indian Affairs of the U.S. Department of the Interior.

BLM means the Bureau of Land Management of the U.S. Department of the Interior.

Federal program means the Federal program for Indian lands.

Indian mineral owner means (1) any individual Indian or Alaska native who owns land or mineral interests in land the title to which is held in trust by the United States or is subject to a restriction against alienation imposed by the United States, or (2) any Indian tribe, band, native, pueblo, community, rancheria, colony, or other group which owns land or mineral interest in land the title to which is held in trust by the United States or is subject to a restriction against alienation imposed by the United States. This definition does not include owners of lands patented to a village or regional corporation pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, Pub. L. 92-203.

Local government agencies means, in addition to county, city or township governments, Indian tribal governments.

Minerals agreement means any joint venture, operating, production sharing, service, managerial, lease or other agreements, or any amendment, supplement to or modification of such agreement, providing for the exploration for, or extraction, processing, or the development of coal, or providing for the sale or other disposition of the production or products of such coal resources.

MMS means the Minerals Management Service of the U.S. Department of the Interior.

Regulatory authority means the Office of Surface Mining.