Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement Office February 17, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM), are approving 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 revisions to the Texas Surface Coal Mining and Reclamation Act (TSCMRA) and the Texas Administrative Code (TAC) regarding the State's annual fees that are required from coal mining permit holders. Texas proposed to change the requirement for the current annual fee and to add two new annual fees. Texas intends to revise its program to reduce the economic cost to the coal mining industry as a whole and to require coal mining permit holders that have ceased mining to pay annual fees.