Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement 2024 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), are proposing to renew an information collection.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), are proposing to renew an information collection.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), are proposing to renew an information collection.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), are proposing to renew an information collection.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), are proposing to renew an information collection.

The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) is publishing this notice to announce that it has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for Navajo Transitional Energy Company's (NTEC) Lease by Application (LBA) 1 Federal Mining Plan Modification for Federal Lease MTM-94378 (the Project). With this notice, OSMRE also announces that it will hold a public meeting and 45- day public comment period to receive comments on the DEIS. Spring Creek Mine (SCM) is located in Big Horn County, Montana, approximately 32 miles from Sheridan, Wyoming. SCM started operation in 1974. The proposed Project would allow 162.5 acres of additional surface disturbance and recovery of an additional 39.9 million tons (Mt) of Federal coal.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), are proposing to renew an information collection.

We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), published a document in the Federal Register on March 18, 2024, approving in part, and not approving in part, amendments to the West Virginia regulatory program (the West Virginia program) under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act).

We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), are approving an amendment to the Pennsylvania Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Plan (Pennsylvania Plan or Plan) under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). Pennsylvania proposed to modify its Plan by adding Reclamation Plan Amendment No. 3 to allow the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) to administer a State Emergency Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Program (Program). The amendment to the Pennsylvania Plan covers coordination of emergency reclamation work between Pennsylvania and OSMRE as well as procedures for implementing the National Environmental Policy Act and other Pennsylvania procedures.

We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), are not approving the State of Utah's proposed amendment to the Utah regulatory program ("the Utah program") under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 ("SMCRA" or "the Act"). In May of 2011, an environmental advocacy group notified OSMRE that the Utah legislature modified its Judicial Code of the Utah Code Annotated by adding a new section that requires plaintiffs who seek an administrative stay or preliminary injunction in an environmental action to first post a surety bond or cash equivalent. After determining that the legislative change would affect the implementation of the Utah program, OSMRE notified the Utah Division of Oil, Gas and Mining ("DOGM" or "the Division") that the changes to the State law must be submitted as a proposed Utah program amendment. DOGM subsequently submitted this amendment proposing to incorporate legislative changes made to the Utah program.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), are proposing to renew an information collection.

We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), are approving an amendment to the West Virginia regulatory program (the West Virginia program) under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). This amendment revises West Virginia's regulatory program provisions related to entities authorized to issue surety bonds and the repair and compensation of damage resulting from subsidence.

We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), are approving a request from Pennsylvania for the removal of a required amendment to the Pennsylvania regulatory program (hereinafter, the Pennsylvania program) under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). The required amendment directed Pennsylvania to submit regulations requiring that siltation structures (e.g., sedimentation ponds) not be removed any sooner than two years after the last augmented seeding.

We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), are reopening the public comment period in response to feedback received in response to a concern letter for a proposed amendment to the Montana regulatory program (hereinafter, the Montana program) under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). Montana proposed this amendment to OSMRE, on its own initiative, following its passing of Montana House Bill 576 (2023), which amends the Montana Code Annotated (Mont. Code Ann.). Montana proposes changes to the definition of material damage and changes to permit requirements related to hydrologic information. HB 576 also adds four contingencies to the proposed amendments of the Mont. Code Ann.: a severability clause, a contingent voidness clause, an effective date clause, and a retroactive applicability clause. This document gives the times and locations that the Montana program and this revised proposed amendment to that program are available for your inspection and the comment period during which you may submit written comments on the revised amendment.

We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), are announcing receipt of a proposed regulatory amendment to the Wyoming coal program (Wyoming program) under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). On February 19, 2019, the Wyoming Environmental Quality Council (EQC) approved several revisions to the rules governing Financial Assurances and Self-Bonding under the Wyoming program. This document gives the times and locations that the Wyoming program and this proposed amendment to that program are available for your inspection, the comment period during which you may submit written comments on the amendment, and the procedures that we will follow for the public hearing, if one is requested.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), are proposing to renew an information collection.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), are proposing to renew an information collection.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), are proposing to renew an information collection.

Pursuant to the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 (2015 Act), which further amended the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990 (1990 Act), and Office of Management and Budget guidance, this rule adjusts for inflation the level of civil monetary penalties assessed under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA) and its implementing regulations.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), are proposing to renew an information collection.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), are proposing to renew an information collection.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), are proposing to renew an information collection.

The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) is issuing this direct final rule to amend its regulations by reducing the threshold for electronic payment of quarterly Abandoned Mine Land (AML) reclamation fees from $25,000 to $500. On April 30, 2024, the U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury) will close OSMRE's lockbox, which is used to process non-electronic reclamation fee payments. After April 15, 2024, quarterly reclamation fees of $500 or more must be paid by electronic transfer, while quarterly reclamation fees of less than $500 may be paid by electronic transfer or by check or money order sent to OSMRE's Division of Financial Management. By reducing the threshold for electronic payments, OSMRE will receive more payments through electronic funds transfer, which will expedite and streamline its fee collection efforts.

We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), are approving with exceptions an amendment to the Wyoming regulatory program (Wyoming program) under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). Between 1978 and 2007, the Wyoming Legislature enacted a number of revisions to the statutes governing coal exploration by drilling. On March 2, 2016, the Wyoming Environmental Quality Council approved a number of revisions to the rules governing coal exploration by drilling under the Wyoming program. The State submitted this proposal to OSMRE at its own initiative.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), are proposing to renew an information collection.