Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement Office August 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents
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Texas Regulatory Program
We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM), are announcing receipt of a proposed amendment to the Texas regulatory program (Texas program) under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). Texas proposes to revise its fish and wildlife habitat revegetation guidelines by adding technical standards for reclaiming mined land to habitat suitable for bobwhite quail and other grassland bird species and by making associated changes to existing guidelines. Texas intends to revise its program to encourage reclamation practices that are suitable for grassland bird species. This document gives the times and locations that the Texas program and proposed amendment to that program are available for your inspection, the comment period during which you may submit written comments on the amendment, and the procedures that we will follow for the public hearing, if one is requested.
Texas Regulatory Program
We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM), are announcing the withdrawal of an amendment to the Texas regulatory program (Texas program) under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). Texas proposed to add a new policy document to its program that describes mine permit implementation actions that would not, in the opinion of the Railroad Commission of Texas (Commission), be considered permit revisions and as such would not be subject to Commission review and approval. Texas intended to revise its program to improve operational efficiency. Texas is withdrawing the amendment at its own initiative.
Notice of Proposed Information Collection for 1029-0063
In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) is announcing its intention to request approval for the collections of information for 30 CFR part 870 and the OSM-1 Form. This collection consolidates the requirements for all of part 870, including the provisions for excess moisture deductions previously approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under control number 1029-0090.
West Virginia Regulatory Program
We are announcing receipt of a proposed amendment to the West Virginia regulatory program (the West Virginia program) under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). West Virginia proposes revisions to the Code of West Virginia (W. Va. Code) and the Code of State Regulations (CSR) as authorized by several bills passed during the State's 2005 Legislative Session. West Virginia is also proposing an amendment that affects the State's regulations concerning erosion protection zones (EPZ) associated with durable rock fills. The State is revising its program to be consistent with certain corresponding Federal requirements, and to include other amendments at its own initiative. The amendments include, among other things, changes to the State's surface mining and blasting regulations as authorized by Committee Substitute for House Bill 2723; various statutory changes to the State's approved program as a result of the passage of Committee Substitute for House Bill 3033 and House Bills 2333 and 3236; the submission of a draft policy regarding the State's EPZ requirement and requesting that the Office of Surface Mining (OSM) reconsider its previous decision concerning EPZ; State water rights and replacement policy identifying the timing of water supply replacement; the revised Permittee's Request For Release form; and the submission of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP), Division of Mining and Reclamation, and the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Section that is intended to partially resolve a required program amendment relating to planting arrangements for Homestead post-mining land use.
Announcement to Extend Comment Period on the Preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement on Excess Spoil Generation and Disposal and Stream Buffer Zone Rulemaking
We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM), are allowing additional time for the public to submit suggestions on significant issues and specific alternatives that we should consider in the planning and preparation on an environmental impact statement on the excess spoil generation and disposal and stream buffer zone rulemaking. We received multiple requests to extend the comment period by a week beyond the last public scoping meeting in order for the meeting participants to fully consider discussions within the meeting. We believe that this is reasonable request and are granting an extension of public comment period.
Public Hearing and Public Comment Period on Termination of Federal Enforcement for Parts of the Missouri Permanent Regulatory Program
We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM), announced our decision to substitute Federal enforcement for parts of the Missouri permanent regulatory program (Missouri program) on August 22, 2003 (68 FR 50944). We are announcing today that the Governor of Missouri petitioned us to consider returning to Missouri the authority to enforce those parts of the Missouri program for which we substituted Federal enforcement. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Air and Land Protection Division, Land Reclamation Program (MLRP) is the regulatory authority responsible for implementing and enforcing the Missouri program. If we approve Missouri's petition, we will terminate Federal enforcement for those parts of the Missouri program for which we substituted Federal enforcement and return full enforcement authority to the MLRP. We are providing an opportunity for interested persons to comment on the Missouri Governor's petition to reassume authority of those parts of the Missouri program currently being enforced by us (Administrative Record No. MO-664.42). This document gives the dates and times during which interested persons may submit written comments or participate in the scheduled public hearing regarding Missouri's petition. This document also includes the procedures that we will follow for the public hearing.
Public Meetings To Discuss the Preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement on Excess Spoil Generation and Disposal and Stream Buffer Zones Rulemaking
On June 16, 2005, we, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM), announced in the Federal Register our intent to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) to analyze the effects of possibly revising our regulations pertaining to excess spoil generation and disposal, and stream buffer zones. We asked you to contact us if you wanted us to meet with you to discuss the scope of the proposed action, reasonable alternatives to the proposed action, and significant issues that should be examined in the course of preparing the EIS. Eighteen people contacted us to request public scoping meetings at various locations in the Appalachian coal fields. We are pleased to accommodate these requests by holding scoping meetings in Knoxville, Tennessee; Hazard, Kentucky; Charleston, West Virginia; and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Details applicable to these meetings are contained in this announcement.
Notice of Proposed Information Collection for 1029-0111 and 1029-0112
In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) is announcing its intention to request renewed approval for the collections of information for 30 CFR part 761, Areas designated by Act of Congress; and 30 CFR part 772, Requirements for coal exploration.
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