97-3104. Water Protection

[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 26 (Friday, February 7, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 5841]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-3104]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement


Water Protection

AGENCY: Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) 
of the United States Department of the Interior is making available on 
the Internet a draft resource document that describes OSM's role in 
water protection. The document provides an overview of two permitting 
requirements from the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 
1977 (SMCRA): the applicant's determination of probable hydrologic 
consequences (PHC), and the regulatory authority's cumulative 
hydrologic impact assessment (CHIA). The web page contains electronic 
links to sources of hydrologic data that may be useful in making PHC 
and CHIA determinations.

DATES: OSM is requesting comments on the document until May 15, 1997.

ADDRESS: Electronic or written comments: The resource document can be 
viewed at the following URL address: http://www.osmre.gov. The document 
contains prompts at several locations for reader response. Readers may 
also submit electronic comments to: [e-mail] or mail written 
comments to the Administrative Record (MS 210), Office of Surface 
Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, 1951 Constitution Avenue, N.W., 
Washington, DC 20240.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Douglas Growitz, Office of Surface 
Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, 1951 Constitution Avenue, NW, 
Washington, DC 20240; Telephone: [phone]; E-mail address: 
[e-mail]. Additional information concerning OSM, this 
resource document, and related documents may be found on OSM's home 
page at http://www.osmre.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: OSM is making available on its Internet home 
page a resource document to aid in protecting water and the hydrologic 
balance under SMCRA's permitting process. The Internet offers an 
opportunity for electronic presentation of information and dialog to a 
wide audience.
    The OSM resource document is titled ``Managing Hydrologic 
Information, A Resource for Development of Probable Hydrologic 
Consequences (PHC) and Cumulative Hydrologic Impact Assessments 
(CHIA).'' A PHC is prepared by the coal operator seeking a permit to 
mine. The CHIA is prepared by the regulatory authority as part of the 
analysis is to approve or deny a permit application.
    The document does not establish a regulatory standard and would not 
be binding on OSM or State regulatory authorities. The purpose of the 
document is to: (1) outline the hydrologic and related geologic 
requirements of SMCRA, (2) describe approaches for responding to these 
requirements, and (3) identify resources that may be helpful to 
industry and regulatory authorities in the permitting process. Some of 
the available resources described in the document, such as selected 
hydrologic data bases maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey, are 
directly accessible electronically through the document.
    OSM would like to receive feedback from a wide audience and 
welcomes constructive comments aimed at making the document a more 
understandable, useful, and complete resource.

    Dated: February 4, 1997.
Arthur W. Abbs,
Acting Assistant Director, Program Support.
[FR Doc. 97-3104 Filed 2-6-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-05-M