Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement Office July 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM), are announcing receipt of a proposed Mississippi abandoned mine land reclamation plan (Mississippi plan) under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). The purpose of the Mississippi plan is to establish policies and procedures to be followed in conducting reclamation of abandoned coal mine lands in Mississippi. Mississippi will use Federal monies to carry out the reclamation activities. We are seeking public comments on the adequacy of the proposed Mississippi plan. This document gives the times and locations that the proposed plan is available for your inspection, the comment period during which you may submit written comments on the plan, and the procedures that will be followed for the public hearing, if one is requested.

We are approving an amendment to the Virginia regulatory program under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). Virginia is revising its remining regulations to make three of those provisions permanent by deleting a termination date of September 30, 2004, from the regulations. The amendment is intended to render the State regulations consistent with recent amendments to SMCRA.