The results of the analysis of the environmental situation in coal-mining regions based on the assessment of the environmental capacity of the natural environment and its exhaustiveness are presented. The limiting level of coal mining within a typical administrative district in terms of area and population, providing environmental stability under the current normative indicators and applied methods and means of engineering environmental protection, is determined. A set of tasks, the solution of which at the level of the federal center by executive and legislative authorities of a particular sub-unit of the federation, or directly by the economic entities themselves will lead to a reduction in the negative impact of the coal mining industry on the environment and the health of the population of the region, is proposed.