Question. Context: The Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA) is the primary federal law that regulates the environmental effects of coal mining in the United States.

Question: when was the surface mining control and reclamation act written?
Answer. 1977
What step-by-step reasoning justifies that answer?
Reasoning: The relevant sentence in the passage is: The Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA) is the primary federal law that regulates the environmental effects of coal mining in the United States.