[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 104 (Friday, May 30, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 29368]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-14163]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement
Draft Environmental Impact Statement, OSM-EIS-29
AGENCY: Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, Interior.
ACTION: Extension of Comment Period of Draft Environmental Impact
Statement.
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SUMMARY: On January 31, 1997, (62 FR 4759), the Environmental
Protection Agency made available for public comment an Office of
Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) revised Draft
Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) analyzing the potential impacts
to the permanent program regulations implementing and interpreting
section 522(e) of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of
1977 (SMCRA). As a result of requests received, OSM is extending the
comment period for the DEIS.
DATES: Electronic or written comments: OSM will accept electronic or
written comments on the DEIS 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 4759), OSM made
available for public comment a DEIS analyzing the impact of two
proposed rules and the alternatives under consideration, dealing with
the interpretation and implementation of section 522(e) of SMCRA. Both
proposed rules were published on January 31, 1997 (62 FR 4836-72). 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.
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 proposed rules and draft economic analysis 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. 97-14163 Filed 5-29-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-05-M
