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 (OSMRE) is announcing its intention to request renewed approval for the collection of information for Permit ApplicationsMinimum Requirements for Legal, Financial, Compliance, and Related Information. The information collection request has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. 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 (OSMRE), are announcing receipt of a proposed amendment to the Kansas Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation (AMLR) Plan (hereinafter, the Plan) under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). Kansas proposes revisions to modernize its Plan, which remains largely unchanged since its approval on February 1, 1982, and encompasses the November 14, 2008, changes to the Federal regulations. This document gives the times and locations that the Kansas Plan and proposed 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 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 (OSMRE) is announcing its intention to request renewed approval for the collection of information for OSMRE's Special Permanent Program Performance StandardsOperations in Alluvial Valley Floors.

We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), are announcing a 30-day extension of the comment period on a petition, submitted pursuant to the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act, (SMCRA or the Act), requesting that we amend our self- bonding regulations to ensure that companies with a history of financial insolvency, and their subsidiary companies, are not allowed to self-bond coal mining operations. We are requesting comments on the merits of the petition and the rule changes suggested in the petition. Comments received will assist the Director of OSMRE in making the decision whether to grant or deny the petition.

We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), seek comments concerning a petition, submitted pursuant to the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA or the Act), requesting that we amend our self-bonding regulations to ensure that companies with a history of financial insolvency, and their subsidiary companies, are not allowed to self-bond coal mining operations. We are requesting comments on the merits of the petition and the rule changes suggested in the petition. Comments received will assist the Director of OSMRE in making the decision whether to grant or deny the petition.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) is announcing that the information collection request for the Exemption for Coal Extraction Incidental to the Extraction of Other Minerals, has been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The information collection request describes the nature of the information collection and its expected burden and cost.

We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), are announcing receipt of a proposed amendment to the Texas regulatory program (Texas program) under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). Texas proposes revisions to its regulations regarding annual permit fees. Texas intends to revise its program to improve operational efficiency. This document gives the times and locations that the Texas 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.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) is announcing that the information collection request for our Permanent Regulatory Program RequirementsStandards for Certification of Blasters, has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. This information collection activity was previously approved by OMB and assigned control number 1029-0080. This information collection request describes the nature of the information collection and its expected burden.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) is announcing that the information collection request for the requirements for permits and permit processing has been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The information collection package was previously approved and assigned control number 1029-0115. This information collection will also seek approval to collect permit processing fees approved under OSM regulations. This notice describes the nature of the information collection activity and the expected burdens.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) is announcing its intention to request renewed collection authority for the exemption of coal extraction incidental to the extraction of other minerals. This information collection activity was previously approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and assigned control number 1029-0089.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) is announcing its intention to request approval to continue the collection of information for one of its Technical Training Program forms: Nomination and Request for Payment. This information collection activity was previously approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and assigned control number 1029-0120.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) is announcing its intention to request approval to continue collecting information for its regulations regarding reclamation on private land. Our regulations establish procedures for recovery of the cost of reclamation activities conducted on private property. OSMRE, the State, or the Indian tribe has the discretionary authority to appraise the land and place or waive a lien against land reclaimed by the regulatory authority if the reclamation results in a significant increase in the fair market value. This information collection activity was previously approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and assigned control number 1029- 0057.

The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) announces that the draft Petition Evaluation Document and Environmental Impact Statement (PED/EIS) for the North Cumberland Wildlife Management Area Petition to Find Certain Lands Unsuitable for Surface Coal Mining Operations is available for public review and comment.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) is announcing its intention to request approval to continue the collection of information for its Permanent Program Inspection and Enforcement Procedures. This information collection activity was previously approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and assigned control number 1029-0051.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) is announcing that the information collection request for its General provisions has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. This information collection request describes the nature of the information collection and its expected burden and cost. This information collection activity was previously approved by OMB and assigned control number 1029-0094.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) is announcing its intention to seek renewed authority to collect information for surface coal mining and reclamation operations on Federal lands. This collection request has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The information collection request describes the nature of the information collection and the expected burden and cost.

We are approving, with one additional requirement, an amendment to the Ohio regulatory program (the Ohio program) under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). The amendment we are approving updates the Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) to address issues raised by OSMRE regarding the consistency of Ohio's program with the final Federal rule relative to Ownership and Control, Permit and Application Information and Transfer, and Assignment or Sale of Permit Rights, which became effective on December 3, 2007. The amendment specifically revises the following regulations within the OAC: Definitions; Incorporation by reference; permit applications, requirements for legal, financial, compliance and related information; permit applications, revisions, and renewals, and transfers, assignments, and sales of permit rights; improvidently issued permits; and enforcement and individual civil penalties. Ohio submitted this amendment to ensure the Ohio program is consistent with, and in accordance with, SMCRA, and no less effective than the corresponding regulations. During the course of our review of this amendment, we determined that Ohio must amend its program to ensure the term ``violation notice'' is consistent with the approved Ohio program.

We are approving an amendment to the Pennsylvania regulatory program (the ``Pennsylvania program'') under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). The amendment that we are approving involves a statutory amendment to Pennsylvania's Coal Refuse Disposal Control Act (CRDCA). The amendment adds another category of sites considered as preferred when selecting a location for the placement of coal refuse.

The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) is removing a required amendment to the Pennsylvania regulatory program (the Pennsylvania program) under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). OSMRE has determined that the information submitted by Pennsylvania satisfies a previously required amendment regarding bonding in Pennsylvania. Therefore, OSMRE is removing the previously required amendment from the Pennsylvania program as Pennsylvania has demonstrated that its program is being administered in a manner consistent with SMCRA and the corresponding Federal regulations.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) is announcing that the information collection request for Areas Designated by Act of Congress, has been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The information collection request describes the nature of the information collection and the expected burden and cost. This information collection activity was previously approved by OMB and assigned control number 1029-0111.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) is announcing that the information collection request for its maintenance of state programs and procedures for substituting Federal enforcement of state programs and withdrawing approval of state programs, has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The information collection request describes the nature of the information collection and its expected burden and cost.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) is announcing its intention to request approval for the collection of information for OSMRE's call for nominations for its Excellence in Surface Coal Mining Reclamation Awards and Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Awards.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, et seq. (NEPA) the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) has prepared a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Four Corners Power Plant (FCPP) and Navajo Mine Energy Project, and is announcing its availability.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) is announcing its 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.

We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), are reopening the public comment period on the proposed amendment to the Kentucky regulatory program (the Kentucky program) under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act) that was originally published on February 20, 2013. The public comment period and opportunity for public hearing is being reopened to incorporate subsequent information (emergency regulations, permanent regulations, legislation, and revised statutes) that we received from Kentucky to address a deficiency in the Kentucky program regarding reclamation bonds and to revise its program to be administered in a manner consistent with SMCRA and the Federal regulations. This document gives the times and locations that this proposed amendment to the Kentucky program is 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.