Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement January 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We are approving an amendment to the New Mexico regulatory program (the ``New Mexico program'') under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (``SMCRA'' or ``the Act''). New Mexico proposed non-substantive editorial revisions to its rules; substantive revisions and additions to rules concerning ownership and control; and substantive revisions to one rule about retention of sedimentation ponds. New Mexico revised its program to be consistent with the corresponding Federal regulations and to clarify ambiguities.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) is announcing that the information collection request for the requirements for coal exploration has been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. This information collection request describes the nature of the information collection and the expected burden and cost.

We are reopening and extending the public comment period on the proposed amendment to the Maryland regulatory program (the ``Maryland program'') under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act) that was originally published on January 28, 2011, and was later reopened on March 10, 2011, to extend the comment period and announce a public meeting. The amendment involves provisions to Maryland's program to regulate coal combustion byproducts (CCBs) and, specifically, the use of CCBs in surface coal mining and reclamation operations within Maryland. The comment period is being extended to incorporate subsequent information that we received from Maryland in response to comments received during the public meeting. This document gives the times and locations that the Maryland program, and this 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.