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

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) is announcing that the information collection requests for the titles described below have been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The information collection requests describe the nature of the information collections and their expected burden and cost.

We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM), are announcing receipt of a proposed amendment to the Texas abandoned mine land reclamation plan (Texas plan) under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). The Railroad Commission of Texas, Surface Mining and Reclamation Division (RCT or commission) proposes to assume responsibility of the abandoned mine land reclamation (AMLR) emergency program in Texas. The RCT also proposes to revise its AMLR plan to reflect current practices and to update information regarding procedures for rights of entry, staffing, and emergency purchases. Texas intends to revise the Texas plan to be consistent with the corresponding Federal regulations and to improve operational efficiency. This document gives the times and locations that the Texas plan and the amendment to that plan are available for your inspection, the comment period during which you may submit written comments on the amendment, and the procedures that will be followed for the public hearing, if one is requested.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) is announcing its intention to request renewed authority for two collections of information: 30 CFR parts 816 and 817 relating to the permanent program performance standardssurface mining activities and underground mining activities, and 30 CFR part 850 authorizing State regulatory authorities to develop blaster certification programs. These information collection activities were previously approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and assigned clearance numbers 1029-0047 and 1029-0080, respectively.

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 revisions to and additions of rules and revisions to statutes concerning the administrative appeals process and revisions to statutes concerning an extension of time for the authority of the Coal Surface Mining Commission (Commission). New Mexico revised its program to be consistent with SMCRA and the corresponding Federal regulations, streamline and clarify the administrative and judicial appeals process and ensure continuing authority for the New Mexico program.

We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM), propose to revise certain provisions of our December 19, 2000, final ``ownership and control'' and related rules, as well as our rules pertaining to the transfer, assignment, or sale of permit rights. More specifically, we propose to amend our definitions pertaining to ownership, control, and transfer, assignment or sale of permit rights and to revise our regulatory provisions governing: permit eligibility determinations; improvidently issued permits, ownership or control challenges; post-permit issuance actions and requirements; transfer, assignment, or sale of permit rights; application and permit information; and alternative enforcement. Additionally, we propose to remove our current rules pertaining to improvidently issued State permits. In order to satisfy our obligations under a settlement agreement we entered into with the National Mining Association, we previously issued two proposed rules covering these subjects. (Ownership and Control Settlement Rule, December 29, 2003; Transfer, Assignment, or Sale of Permit Rights, January 26, 2005.) After receiving comments on those proposed rules, and holding an outreach meeting with our State co-regulators to discuss the ramifications of finalizing the proposed rules, we have decided to alter the proposals in certain respects and to propose additional revisions. We have also decided to combine the two prior proposals into one new proposed rule, which will allow the public to review and comment on the proposed revisions in context. As with the two prior proposals, our primary objective in issuing this proposed rule is to introduce greater clarity to our regulations and to achieve regulatory stability with regard to aspects of our regulatory program that have been the subject of litigation for many years. This proposed rulemaking does not suspend or withdraw any of the provisions of our 2000 final ownership and control rule or our current rules pertaining to the transfer, assignment, or sale of permit rights. We are, however, withdrawing our December 29, 2003, proposed rule and our January 26, 2005, proposed rule. This proposed rule is authorized under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977, as amended (SMCRA or the Act).

We, OSM, are announcing the receipt of a proposed amendment to the West Virginia Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation (AMLR) Plan under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). The proposed amendment makes numerous revisions throughout the State's AMLR Plan. The amendment is intended to update and improve the effectiveness of the West Virginia AMLR Plan. This document gives the times and locations that the West Virginia AMLR Plan and proposed amendment is available for your inspection, the comment period during which you may submit written comments, and the procedures that will be followed for the public hearing, if one is requested.

We are approving an amendment to the Colorado abandoned mine land reclamation (AMLR) plan (hereinafter referred to as the ``Colorado plan'') under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act).

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) is announcing its intention to request approval for the collections of information for 30 CFR parts 773, 774, and 778.

We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM), are finalizing minor changes to our regulations to improve the quality and diversity of revegetation in the reclamation of coal mined lands. These revisions govern topsoil redistribution and revegetation success standards and will: Encourage species diversity on reclaimed lands by allowing replacement of soil in variable thicknesses; provide more flexibility to States in using new vegetative success standards and sampling techniques by removing the current requirement that such changes be included in the approved regulatory program; define success standards for lands with an undeveloped land postmining land use; remove shelter belts from the list of postmining land uses subject to success standards; provide more flexibility to operators when they demonstrate compliance with time-in-place requirements by allowing them to consider all trees and shrubs in place at bond release, including volunteer trees and shrubs, and not requiring them to verify the length of time that individual trees and shrubs have been in placethis change will remove a significant impediment to reforestation of mined lands; and make the timing of revegetation success measurements in areas receiving 26 inches of annual precipitation or less consistent with those in areas receiving more than 26 inches of annual precipitation.

We 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). West Virginia revised the Code of West Virginia (W. Va. Code) as amended by Senate Bill 461 concerning water rights and replacement, and revised the Code of State Regulations (CSR) as amended by Committee Substitute for House Bill 4135 by adding a postmining land use of bio-oil cropland, and the criteria for approving bio-oil cropland as a postmining land use for mountaintop removal mining operations.

We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM), are approving a partial abandoned mine land reclamation (AMLR) plan under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). Mississippi proposed revisions to and addition of statutes to the Mississippi Surface Coal Mining and Reclamation Law in order to authorize and establish an AMLR plan. The purpose of this amendment is to demonstrate both the intent and capability to assume responsibility for administering and conducting an AMLR plan.

We are announcing receipt of a proposed amendment to the North Dakota regulatory program (hereinafter, the ``North Dakota program'') under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). North Dakota intends to revise its program to incorporate the additional flexibility afforded by the revised Federal regulations, clarify ambiguities, and improve operational efficiency. This document gives the times and locations that the North Dakota program and 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.

OSM is announcing the receipt of a proposed 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 proposed amendment (Administrative Record Number PA 887.00) was submitted to clarify the requirements for shaft and slope development and other issues relating to blasting at a mine site. This document gives the times and locations that the Pennsylvania 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.

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 regarding noncoal reclamation, found at 30 CFR part 875, has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for renewal authority. The information collection request describes the nature of the information collection and the expected burden and cost.

We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM), are providing opportunity for the public to comment on a request for a determination of valid existing rights (VER) to use an existing Forest Service road as a coal mine access and haul road across Federal lands within the boundaries of the Daniel Boone National Forest in Owsley County, Kentucky. The mine would be located on privately owned land.

We are approving a revised amendment to the Utah regulatory program (the ``Utah program'') under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). Utah proposed changes to the Utah Administrative Rules concerning permit change, renewal, transfer, sale and assignment, cross sections and maps, processing and approval of extensions to the approved permit area, determining civil penalty amounts, and assessing daily civil penalties. Utah revised its program to clarify and strengthen certain parts of the rules.

We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM), are announcing receipt of a partially proposed abandoned mine land reclamation (AMLR) plan under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). Mississippi proposes revisions to and addition of statutes to the Mississippi Surface Coal Mining and Reclamation Law in order to authorize and establish an AMLR plan. If we approve Mississippi's proposed statutes, our approval will not give Mississippi authority to receive and expend Federal AMLR grant funds. Mississippi would need to submit to us additional information required under 30 CFR 884.13 in order for us to make the findings necessary for full approval of an AMLR plan. The State will be able to receive and spend Federal funds only after we approve its complete State AMLR plan. This document gives the times and locations that the Mississippi AMLR plan statutes are available for your inspection, the comment period during which you may submit written comments, and the procedures that will be followed for the public hearing, if one is requested.

We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM), are announcing receipt of a proposed amendment to the Mississippi regulatory program (Mississippi program) under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). Mississippi proposes a revision to its statutes regarding valid existing rights as it pertains to designation of lands as unsuitable for surface coal mining operations. Mississippi intends to revise its program to be consistent with SMCRA. This document gives the times and locations that the Mississippi program and 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.

We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM), are announcing the withdrawal of an amendment to the Texas regulatory program (Texas program) under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). Texas proposed revisions to and additions of regulations regarding coal combustion by-products and coal combustion products. Texas intended to revise its program to clarify how the use and disposal of coal combustion by-products and coal combustion products are regulated at coal mine sites in Texas. By letter dated April 11, 2006, Texas withdrew the amendment at its own initiative.

We are announcing receipt of a proposed amendment to the Kentucky regulatory program (hereinafter, the ``Kentucky program'') under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). Kentucky submitted three separate items proposing revisions pertaining to prepayment of civil penalties, easements of necessity for reclamation on bankruptcy sites, and various statutes to eliminate outdated language. Kentucky intends to revise its program to be consistent with the corresponding Federal regulations and SMCRA. This document gives the times and locations that the Kentucky 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.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) is announcing its intention to request approval to continue the collections of information under 30 CFR part 740, Surface Coal Mining and Reclamation Operations on Federal Lands. This information collection activity was previously approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and assigned clearance numbers 1029-0027.

We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM), are announcing receipt of revisions to a previously proposed amendment to the Texas regulatory program (Texas program) under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). The revisions concern technical standards and normal husbandry practices regarding habitat for bobwhite quail and other grassland bird species. Texas intends to revise its program to encourage reclamation practices that are suitable for grassland bird species. This document gives the times and locations that the Texas program and proposed amendment to that program are available for your inspection and the comment period during which you may submit written comments on the revisions to the amendment.

We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM or Office), are proposing three revisions to the Tennessee Federal program. The revisions would: (1) Provide regulations establishing trust funds or annuities to fund the treatment of long-term postmining pollutional discharges; (2) delete the minimum requirements of eighty percent (80%) ground cover for certain postmining land uses and provide that herbaceous ground cover be limited to that necessary to control erosion and support the postmining land use; and (3) exempt areas developed for wildlife habitat, undeveloped land, recreation, or forestry from the requirements that bare areas shall not exceed one- sixteenth (1/16) acre in size and total not more than ten percent (10%) of the area seeded.

We are announcing receipt of a proposed amendment to the Montana regulatory program under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). This document gives the times and locations that the Montana regulatory program and 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.

We are approving an amendment to the Wyoming abandoned mine land reclamation (AMLR) plan (hereinafter referred to as the ``Wyoming Plan'' or ``Plan'') under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). Wyoming proposed revisions and additions to its abandoned mine land (AML) Plan by removing phrases concerning liens for reclamation on private lands and by removing and adding words concerning contract eligibility. Wyoming intended to revise its Plan in accordance with the amendments required by OSM to make it consistent with SMCRA.