Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement January 28, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We are announcing receipt of a proposed amendment to the Maryland program (the ``Maryland program'') under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act) (Administrative Record No. 588.00). Maryland added provisions to regulate coal combustion byproducts (CCBs) and to establish requirements pertaining to the generation, storage, handling, processing, disposal, recycling, beneficial use, or other use of CCBs within the State. In total these regulations pertain to all CCB activities in the State, not just surface coal mining and reclamation operations. However, a section of the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) specifically pertains to the surface coal mining and reclamation operations. The regulation specific to surface coal mining and reclamation operations is a new regulation, Regulation .08 under COMAR 26.20.24, Special Performance Standards. Maryland is requesting approval of this section that it submitted as an amendment on June 24, 2010. This document gives the times and locations that the Maryland submittal are available for your inspection, the comment period during which you may submit written comments, and the procedures that we will follow for the public hearing, if one is requested.