Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement October 30, 2019 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) is approving an amendment to the Montana coal regulatory program (the Montana program or the State program) under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). The proposed changes to the Montana program are in response to a 2011 state legislative change, which enacted a new State statutory provision under the Montana Strip and Underground Mine Reclamation Act (MSUMRA). The statutory change, directs the State Board to adopt rules governing underground mining that uses in situ coal gasification. Montana proposes to revise its State program to incorporate the addition and proposes changes to the Administrative Rules of Montana (ARM) pertaining to the regulation of in situ coal gasification operations.