Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement – 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 announcing our intention to request renewed approval for the collection of information which implements the requirement in Section 701(28) of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA). This grants an exemption from the requirements of SMCRA to operators extracting not more than 16 \2/3\ percentage tonnage of coal incidental to the extraction of other minerals. This information will be used by the regulatory authorities to make that determination.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) has prepared a Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Western Energy Company's Rosebud Mine Area F (Project) in southeastern Montana. This notice is announcing its availability. The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is a co-lead on this EIS process.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), are announcing our intention to request renewed approval for the collection of information which requires that a Federal lands program be established to govern surface coal mining and reclamation operations on Federal lands. The information requested is needed to assist the regulatory authority to determine the eligibility of an applicant to conduct surface coal mining operations on Federal lands.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), are announcing our collection of information which authorizes Federal, State, and Tribal governments to reclaim private lands and allows for the establishment of procedures for the recovery of the cost of reclamation activities on privately owned lands.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), are announcing our intention to request renewed approval for the collection of information to protect alluvial valley floors from the adverse effects of surface coal mining operations west of the 100th meridian. This information will be used by the regulatory authorities to make that determination.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), are announcing our intention to request renewed approval for the collection of information for persons seeking permit revisions, renewals, transfer, assignment, or sale of their permit rights for coal mining activities.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), are announcing our intention to request renewed approval for the collection of information that establishes the minimum procedures and standards for designating Federal lands unsuitable for certain types of surface mining operations and for terminating designations pursuant to a petition. The information requested will aid the regulatory authority in the decision making process to approve or disapprove a request.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), are announcing our intention to request renewed approval for the collection of information that provides a tool for OSMRE and the States/Indian tribes to help them prevent persons with outstanding violations from conducting further mining or AML reclamation activities in the State. This information collection activity was previously approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and assigned control number 1029-0119.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), are announcing our intention to request renewed approval for the collection of information for Permit ApplicationsMinimum Requirements for Legal, Financial, Compliance, and Related Information. This information collection activity was previously approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and assigned control number 1029-0117.

We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), are approving an amendment to the Alabama regulatory program (Alabama program) under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). Alabama proposed revisions to its program to allow the Alabama Surface Mining Commission (ASMC) to revise its current permit fee collection procedures from the term of the mine permit to enable the collection of permit fees over the entire life of the mine. The revision also defines the life of the mine to be from the issuance of the permit through the full release of the performance bond.

The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) is approving, with two exceptions, an amendment to the Ohio regulatory program (the Ohio program) under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). Ohio's submission demonstrates its intent to revise its program by amending the Ohio Reclamation Commission's (the Commission) procedural rules. By submission of the amended procedural rules, found within Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) at sections 1513-3-01 through 1513-3-22, Ohio proposed to revise the Ohio program pursuant to the additional flexibility afforded by the revised Federal regulations at 30 CFR 732.17, and SMCRA, as amended. As a result of review of the Ohio program, the proposed amendment, and an opportunity for public comments, OSMRE has determined that the majority of the submittal is no less stringent than SMCRA and no less effective than the corresponding regulations. The two revisions not approved by OSMRE are found within OAC at section 1513-3-07(A), which relates to intervention. OSMRE's rationale for not approving these proposed revisions is explained in depth below.

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 which provides that any interested person may request the Director of OSMRE to evaluate a State program by setting forth in the request a concise statement of facts that the person believes establishes the need for the evaluation.

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 for surface and underground mining permit applicationsminimum requirements for information on environmental resources.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), are announcing our intention to request renewed approval for the collection of information which requires that a Federal lands program be established to govern surface coal mining and reclamation operations on Federal lands. The information requested is needed to assist the regulatory authority to determine the eligibility of an applicant to conduct surface coal mining operations on Federal lands. This information collection activity was previously approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and assigned control number 1029-0027.

We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), are approving an amendment to the Alabama Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation (AMLR) Plan (hereinafter, the Plan) under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). Alabama proposed updates to their Plan with changes required by the 2006 Amendments to SMCRA.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), are announcing our intention to request renewed approval for the collection of information for the maintenance of state programs and procedures for substituting Federal enforcement of state programs and withdrawing approval of state programs. This information collection activity was previously approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and assigned control number 1029-0025.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), are announcing our intention to request renewed approval for the collection of information for surface and underground mining permit applications minimum requirements for information on environmental resources. This information collection activity was previously approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and assigned control number 1029-0035.

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 with revisions for Areas Designated by Act of Congress.

We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement published a document in the Federal Register on May 8, 2018, reopening the comment period and announcing a public hearing on an amendment to the Pennsylvania Regulatory Program. The document contained an incorrect date for the public hearing.

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 for the Excellence in Surface Coal Mining Reclamation Award and the Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Awards. These awards have been established to give well- earned public recognition to those responsible for the nation's highest achievements in abandoned mine land reclamation, and who have developed innovative reclamation techniques or who have completed reclamation that resulted in outstanding on-the-ground performance.

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 for the Permanent Regulatory ProgramSmall Operator Assistance Program (SOAP).

We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), are reopening the public comment period and will be holding a public hearing on the proposed amendment to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's approved regulatory program (the Pennsylvania program) published on March 12, 2018. The comment period is being reopened in order to afford the public additional time to comment and to allow for a public hearing. Approximately sixty citizens asked to both extend the comment period and for a public hearing. We are also notifying the public of the date, time, and location for the public hearing. Through this proposed amendment, Pennsylvania seeks to revise its Bituminous Mine Subsidence and Land Conservation Act (BMSLCA) to include language clarifying the circumstances where a finding of presumptive evidence of pollution is not warranted under the Commonwealth's Clean Streams Law.

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 used by the regulatory authority to determine if surface coal mine applicants can comply with the applicable performance and environmental standards required by the law.

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 related to requirements for coal exploration.

We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), are announcing the withdrawal of a proposed rule pertaining to an amendment to the Arkansas regulatory program (Arkansas program) and the Arkansas Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation (AMLR) Plan (hereinafter, the plan) under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). Arkansas submitted the amendment to revise substantial portions of its regulatory program and AMLR Plan to be no less effective than the counterpart Federal regulations, as well as to clarify ambiguities, improve operational efficiency, correct grammar and punctuation, revise dates, and delete and add citations and subsections.