[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 104 (Friday, May 30, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 29314]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-14162]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement
30 CFR Parts 740, 745, 761, and 772
RIN 1029-AB42 and 1029-AB82
Valid Existing Rights and Prohibitions of Section 522(e);
Extension of Public Comment Period
AGENCY: Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, Interior.
ACTION: Extension of comment period.
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SUMMARY: On January 31, 1997, (62 FR 4836-72), the Office of Surface
Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) of the U.S. Department of the
Interior published proposed rules which would implement and interpret
section 522(e) of Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977
(SMCRA). On that date, OSM also made available for public comment a
draft economic analysis (DEA) analyzing the potential impacts of the
proposed rules. As a result of requests received, OSM is extending the
comment period for the proposed rules and the DEA.
DATES: Electronic or written comments: OSM will accept electronic or
written comments on the proposed rules and DEA until 5:00 p.m. Eastern
time on August 1, 1997.
ADDRESSES: Electronic or written comments: Submit electronic comments
to osmrules@osmre.gov. Mail written comments to the Administrative
Record, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, 1951
Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20240 or hand-deliver to Room
117 at the above address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andy DeVito, Office of Surface Mining
Reclamation and Enforcement, U.S. Department of the Interior, 1951
Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20240; Telephone (202) 208-
2701; E-Mail:adevito@osmre.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 31, 1997 (62 FR 4836-72) OSM
published two proposed rules dealing with the interpretation and
implementation of section 522(e) of SMCRA. The first rule, RIN 1029-
AB42, would amend OSM's regulations to redefine the circumstances under
which a person has valid existing rights to conduct surface coal mining
operations in areas where such operations are otherwise prohibited by
section 522(e) of SMCRA. The second rule, RIN 1029-AB82, is a proposed
interpretative rulemaking to address the question of whether subsidence
due to underground mining is a surface coal mining operation and thus
prohibited in areas enumerated in section 522(e) of SMCRA. On January
31, 1997 (62 FR 4759), OSM also made available for public comment a
DEIS analyzing the impact of the two proposed rules and the
alternatives under consideration.
The comment period was scheduled to close on June 2, 1997. In order
to accommodate several requests for an extension of the public comment
period, OSM is extending the comment period until 5 p.m. Eastern time
on August 1, 1997.
Under separate Federal Register Notice, the public comment period
for the DEIS is also being extended until 5 p.m. Eastern time on August
1, 1997.
Dated: May 27, 1997.
Mary Josie Blanchard,
Assistant Director, Program Support.
[FR Doc. 97-14162 Filed 5-29-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-05-M
