Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement Office 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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.

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 795, Permanent Regulatory ProgramSmall Operator Assistance Program (SOAP), and two technical training program course effectiveness evaluation forms. These information collection activities were previously approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and assigned clearance numbers 1029-0061 and -0110, respectively.

We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM), are approving 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 the Texas Surface Coal Mining and Reclamation Act (TSCMRA) and the Texas Administrative Code (TAC) regarding the State's annual fees that are required from coal mining permit holders. Texas proposed to change the requirement for the current annual fee and to add two new annual fees. Texas intends to revise its program to reduce the economic cost to the coal mining industry as a whole and to require coal mining permit holders that have ceased mining to pay annual fees.

The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) is announcing receipt of a proposed amendment to the Ohio regulatory program (the ``Ohio program'') under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). Ohio proposes to revise the Ohio Revised Code (ORC) regarding changes to the State's alternate bonding system (bond pool). The amendment is intended to satisfy a program condition codified in the Federal regulations. This document gives the times and locations that the Ohio 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 announcing receipt of a proposed amendment to the New Mexico regulatory program (hereinafter, the ``New Mexico program'') under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). New Mexico proposes revisions to statutes concerning administrative review of decisions and the award of attorney's fees and legal costs. New Mexico intends to revise its program to be consistent with the corresponding provisions of SMCRA and clarify the administrative and judicial review process. This document gives the times and locations that the New Mexico 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 our decision under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act) to terminate direct Federal enforcement for those parts of the Missouri permanent regulatory program (Missouri program) for which we substituted Federal enforcement. We announced our decision to substitute Federal enforcement for parts of the Missouri program on August 22, 2003. On June 2, 2005, the Governor of Missouri petitioned us to consider returning to the Missouri Land Reclamation Commission (MLRC) the authority to enforce those parts of the Missouri program for which we substituted Federal enforcement. The Missouri Land Reclamation Program (MLRP), within the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR), implements and enforces the Missouri program for the MLRC. Based on the Missouri Governor's petition for return of the Missouri program and MLRP's completion of the required remedial actions, we are terminating Federal enforcement for those parts of the Missouri program for which we substituted Federal enforcement and returning full enforcement authority to Missouri. This document also removes those sections of the Federal regulations that address: Direct Federal enforcement for parts of the Missouri program; the remedial actions required of Missouri to regain full enforcement authority; and the requirements and procedures for terminating direct Federal enforcement.

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 approval for the collections of information for 30 CFR part 735Grants for Program Development and Administration and Enforcement, and 30 CFR 886State and Tribal Reclamation Grants. This collection request has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The information collection request describes the nature of the information collection and the expected burden and cost.