98-20715. Kentucky Regulatory Program  

  • [Federal Register Volume 63, Number 149 (Tuesday, August 4, 1998)]
    [Rules and Regulations]
    [Pages 41423-41427]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 98-20715]
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
    
    Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement
    
    30 CFR Part 917
    
    [SPATS No. KY-191-FOR]
    
    
    Kentucky Regulatory Program
    
    AGENCY: Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM), 
    Interior.
    
    ACTION: Final rule; approval of amendment.
    
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    SUMMARY: OSM is announcing approval, with an exception, of an amendment 
    to the Kentucky permanent regulatory program approved pursuant to the 
    Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA). This 
    amendment provides that areas reclaimed following the removal of 
    temporary structures such as sedimentation ponds, roads, and small 
    diversions are not subject to a revegetation responsibility period and 
    bond liability period separate from that of the permit area or 
    increment thereof served by such facilities. The amendment is intended 
    to clarify ambiguities in the State regulations and to improve 
    operational efficiency.
    
    EFFECTIVE DATE: August 4, 1998.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
    William J. Kovacic, Director, Lexington Field Office, Telephone (606) 
    233-2894.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    I. Background on the Kentucky Program
    II. Submission of the Proposed Amendment
    III. Director's Findings
    IV. Summary and Disposition of Comments
    V. Director's Decision
    VI. Procedural Determinations
    
    I. Background on the Kentucky Program
    
        The Secretary of the Interior conditionally approved the Kentucky 
    regulatory program effective May 18, 1982. Background information on 
    the permanent program submission, as well as the Secretary's findings, 
    the disposition of comments and a detailed explanation of the 
    conditions of approval can be found in the May 18, 1982, Federal 
    Register (47 FR 21404). Subsequent actions concerning the conditions of 
    approval and program amendments are identified at 30 CFR 917.11, 
    917.13, 917.15, 917.16 and 917.17.
    
    II. Submission of the Proposed Amendment
    
        By letter dated June 28, 1991 (Administrative Record No. KY-1059, 
    Kentucky submitted revisions to section 1(7) of the Kentucky 
    Administrative Regulations (KAR) at 405 KAR 16:200 and 18:200 as part 
    of a larger rulemaking. OSM announced receipt of the proposed amendment 
    in the July 22, 1991, Federal Register (56 FR 33398), and, in the same 
    notice, opened the public comment period and provided opportunity for a 
    public hearing on the adequacy of the proposed amendment. The public 
    comment period ended on August 21, 1991. Since no one requested an 
    opportunity to testify at a public hearing, no hearing was held.
        By letter dated January 22, 1992 (Administrative Record No. KY-
    1107), Kentucky revised the proposed amendment in response to changes 
    made during its promulgation process. OSM announced receipt of the 
    revised amendment in the April 13, 1992, Federal Register (57 FR 
    12775), and, in the same notice, reopened the public comment period and 
    again provided an opportunity for a public hearing. The public comment 
    period closed on May 13, 1992. As with the previous submittal, no one 
    requested an opportunity to testify at a public hearing; therefore, no 
    hearing was held.
        OSM subsequently announced its decision on most provisions of the 
    proposed amendment in the June 9, 1993 Federal Register (58 FR 32283). 
    Like the corresponding Federal regulations at 30 CFR 816/817.116(c)(1) 
    and (c)(2), proposed sections 1(7) of 405 KAR 16:200 and 18:200 require 
    that the revegetation responsibility period begin after the last 
    augmented seeding, fertilizing, irrigating or other work and continue 
    for a minimum of 5 years. However, proposed subsections 1(7)(b) would 
    exempt haul roads, areas from which sedimentation ponds and associated 
    diversion have been removed, and disposal areas for accumulated 
    sediment and sedimentation pond embarkment material from the full 
    revegetation responsibility period, provided vegetation established on 
    all these areas has been in place at least 2 years before final bond 
    release. In its final decision, OSM stated at 58 FR 32285 that it was 
    deferring a decision on section 1(7)(b) of 405 KAR 16:200 and 18:200 
    until additional opportunity for public comment was provided in a 
    separate Federal Register notice. That commitment was fulfilled by the 
    notice published on September 15, 1993 (58 FR 48333), which opened the 
    public comment period until October 15, 1993. Since no one requested an 
    opportunity to testify at a public hearing, no hearing was held. This 
    notice also included similar proposed revisions to the Illinois and 
    Ohio regulations as well as a discussion of OSM's proposed policy 
    concerning restart of the revegetation responsibility period every time 
    a small portion of the permit area requires reseeding or replanting. 
    Subsequent to this notice, on May 29, 1996, OSM approved similar 
    proposed revisions to the Colorado regulations (61 FR 26792) and on 
    October 22, 1997, the Illinois regulations (62 FR 54765).
    
    III. Director's Findings
    
        Set forth below, pursuant to SMCRA and the Federal regulations at 
    30 CFR 732.15 and 732.17, are the Director's findings concerning the 
    deferred revisions at sections 1(7)(b) of 405 KAR 16:200 and 18:200.
    
    A. OSM's policy concerning the term of liability for reclamation of 
    roads and Temporary Sediment Control Structures
    
        The following discussion of the rules in 30 CFR Part 816, which 
    applies to surface mining activitities, also pertains to similarly or 
    identically constructed sections in 30 CFR Part 817, which applies to 
    underground mining activities.
        Section 515(b)(20) of SMCRA provides that the revegetation 
    responsibility period shall commence ``after the last year of augmented 
    seeding, fertilizing, irrigation, or other work'' needed to assure 
    revegetation success. In the absence of any indication of Congressional 
    intent in the legislative history, OSM interprets this requirement as 
    applying to the increment or permit area as a whole, not individually 
    to those lands within the permit area upon which revegetation is 
    delayed solely because of their use in support of the reclamation 
    effort on the planted area. As implied in the preamble discussion in 30 
    CFR 816.46(b)(5), which prohibits the removal of ponds or other 
    siltation structures until two years after the last augmented seeding, 
    planting of the sites from which such structures are removed need not 
    itself be considered an augmented seeding necessitating an extended or 
    separate liability period (48 FR 44038-44039, September 26, 1983). Such 
    areas would include sediment control structures and associated 
    structures and facilities such as diversion ditches, disposal and 
    storage
    
    [[Page 41424]]
    
    areas for accumulated sediments and sediment pond embankment material, 
    and ancillary roads used to access such areas.
        The purose of the revegetation responsibility period is to ensure 
    that the mined area has been reclaimed to a condition capable of 
    supporting the desired permanent vegetation. Achievement of this 
    purpose will not be adversely affected by this interpretation of 
    section 515(b)(20) of SMCRA since (1) the lands involved are relatively 
    small in size and either widely dispersed or narrowly linear in 
    distribution and (2) the delay in establishing revegetation on these 
    sites is due not to reclamation deficiencies or the facilitation of 
    mining, but rather to the regulatory requirement that ponds and 
    diversions be retained and maintained to control runoff from the 
    planted area until the revegetation is sufficiently established to 
    render such structures unnecessary for the protection of water quality.
        In addition, the areas affected likely would be no larger than 
    those which could be reseeded (without restarting the revegetation 
    period) in the course of performing normal husbandry practices, as that 
    term is defined in 30 CFR 816.116(c)(4) and explained in the preamble 
    to that rule (53 FR 34636, 34641; September 7, 1988; 52 FR 28012, 
    28016; July 27, 1987). Areas this small would have a negligible impact 
    on any evaluation of the permit area as a whole. Most importantly, this 
    interpretation is unlikely to adversely affect the regulatory 
    authority's ability to make a statistically valid determination as to 
    whether a diverse, effective permanent vegetative cover has been 
    successfully established in accordance with the appropriate 
    revegetation success standards.
        However, nothing in this interpretation of section 515(b)(20) of 
    SMCRA should be construed as exempting such lands from meeting the 
    revegetation requirements of section 515(b)(19) of SMCRA prior to final 
    bond release. As required by 30 CFR 816.46(b)(6) and 816.150(f)(6), 
    when siltation structures and roads are removed, the land on which they 
    were located must be regraded and revegetated in accordance with the 
    reclamation plan and the requirements of 30 CFR 816.111 through 
    816.116, with the exception of 30 CFR 816.116(c), which requires a 
    period of extended responsibility for successful revegetation on 
    reclaimed areas (September 15, 1993, 58 FR 48335).
    
    B. Comparison of Kentucky's Proposed Regulations at 405 KAR 16:200 and 
    18:200 Sections 1(7)(b) With OSM's Policy Clarification
    
        Kentucky's proposed provisions would exempt haul roads, areas from 
    which sedimentation ponds and associated diversions have been removed, 
    and disposal areas for accumulated sediment and sedimentation pond 
    embankment material from the full revegetation responsibility period, 
    provided vegetation established on all these areas has been in place at 
    least two years before final bond release.
        Except for the reference to haul roads, the Kentucky provision is 
    consistent with the OSM policy stated above. As interpreted in the 
    policy statement above, the removal of sediment ponds and related 
    structures such as diversion ditches, disposal and storage areas for 
    accumulated sediments and sediment pond embankment material, and 
    ancillary roads used to access such areas, is a nonaugmentative 
    practice that does not restart the five-year responsibility period. 
    However, Kentucky's reference to haul roads renders the proposed 
    provisions less effective than the Federal regulations as interpreted 
    in the OSM policy statement above. As stated above, the purposes of 
    SMCRA at section 515(b)(20) concerning the five-year revegetation 
    responsibility period would not be adversely affected by this 
    interpretation of SMCRA if: (1) The lands involved are relatively small 
    in size and either widely dispersed or narrowly linear in distribution 
    and (2) the delay in establishing revegetation on these sites is due 
    not to reclamation deficiencies or the facilitation of mining, but 
    rather to the regulatory requirement that ponds and diversions be 
    retained and maintained to control runoff from the planted area until 
    the revegetation is sufficiently established to render such structures 
    unnecessary for the protection of water quality. Haul roads do not meet 
    these requirements. Haul roads facilitate mining and can encompass a 
    significant amount of the permit area. And, haul roads are not retained 
    and maintained for their use in support of the reclamation effort of a 
    planted area. Haul roads are ``used for transporting coal or spoil'' 
    and are considered primary roads. 48 FR 22110, 22113 (May 16, 1983). 
    Primary roads have a greater potential for environmental harm than 
    ancillary roads. 53 FR 45190-45198 (November 8, 1988). In addition to 
    meeting the performance requirements of 30 CFR 816/817.150, primary 
    roads must meet the requirements of 816/817.151. In Illinois, OSM only 
    approved those roads necessary for the maintenance of sediment ponds, 
    diversions and reclamation areas. 62 FR 54765 (October 22, 1997). OSM 
    and Illinois agreed that the amendment did not include haul roads or 
    other primary roads.
        Kentucky's proposal to require that vegetation be established on 
    areas where sediment control structures and associated structures and 
    facilities have been removed for two years before bond release does not 
    render the Kentucky program less effective. As discussed above, the 
    Federal regulations and Kentucky's regulations (405 KAR 16:070 Section 
    1(1)(b) and 16:090 Section 5(17) provide that sediment ponds be 
    retained and maintained to control runoff from the planted area until 
    the revegetation is sufficiently established to render such structures 
    unnecessary for the protection of water quality. Therefore, when the 
    sediment control structures are removed, the surrounding drainage area 
    has already been effectively revegetated. Following this, the entire 
    revegetated area (or increment thereof), including the reclaimed area 
    where the sediment control structure was located, is subject to the 
    full Kentucky program requirements concerning final inspection for bond 
    release. Any inadequate revegetation on the reclaimed sediment control 
    structure and related facilities will be detected during the inspection 
    for bond release. That is, the proposed two-year criterion in no way 
    reduces or eliminates any of Kentucky's standards for reclamation 
    success for bond release. The Director finds that the two-year 
    criterion is sufficient to establish a permanent and diverse vegetative 
    cover as is required by SMCRA section 515(b)(19), especially since the 
    lands typically involved will be small in size, widely dispersed, and 
    surrounded by revegetated lands.
        Therefore, and except for the proposed reference to haul roads, the 
    Director finds that Kentucky's proposed provision is consistent with 
    and no less effective than the Federal regulations at 30 CFR 816/
    817.46(b) (5) and (6), 30 CFR 816/817.116(c) and sections 515(b) (19) 
    and (20) of SMCRA, as clarified by OSM in the September 15, 1993, 
    Federal Register (58 FR 48333). In addition, the Director is requiring 
    that Kentucky further amend the Kentucky program to delete the term 
    ``haul roads'' at sections 1(7)(b) of 405 KAR 16:200 and 18:200.
    
    [[Page 41425]]
    
    IV. Summary and Disposition of Comments
    
    Public Comments
    
        The Director solicited public comments and provided an opportunity 
    for a public hearing on Kentucky's proposed regulations and OSM's 
    proposed policy. Because no one requested an opportunity to speak at a 
    public hearing, no hearing was held.
        Comments were received from the Illinois Department of Mines and 
    Minerals (now the Illinois Department of Natural Resources--Office of 
    Mines and Minerals), the Western Kentucky Coal Association, the 
    Kentucky Coal Association, the Lignite Energy Council, the National 
    Coal Association, the Ohio Mining and Reclamation Association, the 
    North Dakota Public Service Commission, and the Kentucky Resources 
    Council. Except for the Kentucky Resources Council, all of the 
    commenters were in favor of the policy.
        In its comments, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources 
    supported the inclusion of the reclamation of roads along with the 
    reclamation of sediment control structures that would not restart the 
    revegetation responsibility period. On October 22, 1997 (62 FR 54765), 
    OSM approved Illinois regulations concerning reseeding that is 
    considered to be nonaugmentative of areas from which temporary features 
    such as sedimentation ponds, roads, and diversions have been removed 
    after vegetation has been established on the surrounding area. In its 
    review of those regulations, OSM reviewed and commented on an 
    accompanying policy document that explains how the State intends to 
    implement these regulations. Illinois' reference to roads in its policy 
    document was interpreted by OSM to mean those roads necessary for 
    maintenance of sediment ponds, diversions, and reclamation areas. 
    Ancillary roads used for maintenance do not include haul roads or other 
    primary roads which should either have been removed upon completion of 
    mining or approved to be retained for an approved postmining land use. 
    On April 11, 1997 (Administrative Record Number IL-1243) OSM discussed 
    the above interpretation of roads with Illinois. Illinois agreed with 
    OSM's interpretation of the meaning of the term ``roads'' as used in 
    its policy document.
        In response to the Directors' proposed clarification of OSM policy, 
    the Kentucky Resources Council initiates its comments with the premise 
    that OSM has proposed to treat the initial seeding and restoration of 
    areas disturbed by diversions, roads and sedimentation ponds as 
    ``normal husbandry practices.'' It then argues that the initial seeding 
    of such areas is not normal husbandry practice, and any revegetation 
    other than ``husbandry practices'' as defined by 30 CFR 816.116(c)(4) 
    constitutes ``augmented seeding'' and would therefore require extension 
    of the full liability period for the establishment of permanent 
    vegetation. First, the Director did not base not restarting the 
    liability period on the contention that revegetation of such areas is a 
    normal husbandry practice. Second, the Director does not agree that any 
    revegetation other than ``normal husbandry practices'' constitutes 
    ``augmented seeding.'' The legislative history of the Act reveals no 
    specific Congressional intent in the use of the term ``augmented 
    seeding.'' Accordingly, OSM's interpretation of augmented seeding is 
    given deference so long as it has a rational basis. OSM would not 
    consider the seeding of small areas, such as ponds and their associated 
    diversions and roads, as augmented seeding. However, only the 
    reclamation and reseeding of ancillary roads and not haul roads would 
    be considered nonaugmentative. For further discussion of such 
    rationale, see the Director's Finding above. Areas reclaimed following 
    removal of temporary sediment control, and associated structures such 
    as diversions, disposal and storage areas for accumulated sediments and 
    sediment pond embankment material, and ancillary roads used to access 
    such areas would not be subject to a separate or extended bond 
    liability period apart from the applicable permit area served by such 
    structures. The seeding of sedimentation ponds and their associated 
    diversions and roads is not the result of reclamation failure, but 
    because 30 CFR 816.46(b)(5) prohibits the removal of temporary 
    sedimentation ponds until two years after the last augmented seeding.
        The Kentucky Resources Council overlooks the fact that for the vast 
    majority of the reclaimed area the revegetation responsibility period 
    will be at least five years. Neither Congressional history nor the 
    language of the statute distinguishes between initial overall 
    reclamation of a mined area and the subsequent restoration of temporary 
    structures like sedimentation ponds and their associated areas. In the 
    absence of such distinction, the Secretary is delegated discretion to 
    determine whether a proposed state amendment is no less effective than 
    the Act and consistent with the counterpart Federal regulation. The 
    Director's stated interpretation of Section 515(b)(20) is that the 
    period of revegetation responsibility applies ``to the increment or 
    permit area as a whole, not individually to those lands within that 
    area upon which revegetation is delayed solely because of their use in 
    support of the reclamation effort of the planted area.'' See 58 FR 
    48333-48335, September 15, 1993.
        OSM has taken a consistent position in approving an amendment to 
    the Colorado (61 FR 26792, May 29, 1996) and Illinois (62 FR 54765, 
    October 22, 1997) surface mining programs which provided that reclaimed 
    temporary drainage control facilities shall not be subject to the 
    extended liability period for revegetative success or the related bond 
    release criteria. The Director, therefore, does not agree with the 
    commenter's interpretation of Section 515(b)(20) of SMCRA.
        The Kentucky Resources Council also asserts that OSM's position 
    violates 30 CFR 816.133. Section 816.133 requires that disturbed areas 
    be restored in a timely manner to the premining uses of land or higher 
    or better uses. In response, the Director notes that the Kentucky 
    amendment does not eliminate this requirement.
    
    Federal Agency Comments
    
        Pursuant to 30 CFR 732.17(h)(11)(i), the Director solicited 
    comments on the proposed amendment from various Federal agencies with 
    an actual or potential interest in the Ohio program. Comments were 
    received from the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Bureau of Mines, and 
    the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). The U.S. Forest Service 
    commented that it had reviewed OSM's proposed rule to clarify its 
    policy towards revegetation success and agreed with the proposed rule.
        The U.S. Bureau of Mines suggested that OSM consider the 
    significant differences in the reclamation of sediment structures and 
    roads, since sediment structures generally possess characteristics 
    necessary for successful reclamation, while roads generally require 
    significant initial work to develop a necessary growth environment. The 
    Director agrees with the commenter. OSM's policy and regulations 
    require that when haul roads are removed, the land on which they were 
    located must be regraded and revegetated in accordance with approved 
    plans and the requirements of 30 CFR 816.111 through 816.116, or State 
    counterparts. Although the proposed Kentucky regulation would have 
    included haul roads in the proposed exclusion to restarting the
    
    [[Page 41426]]
    
    five-year revegetation period, OSM has not approved the provision to 
    the extent that it includes haul roads (see Findings above). OSM's 
    policy as stated above, limits the proposed exemption to small, lightly 
    traveled roads used to access the sediment control structures. OSM's 
    policy excludes roads posing significant potential for reclamation 
    problems (such as haul roads).
        The USFWS commented and recommended that the proposed provisions 
    remain unamended. The USFWS stated that requiring only a two-year 
    revegetation responsibility period following the removal of sedimentary 
    structures and associated facilities will not be sufficient to 
    guarantee adequate revegetation and prevent erosion. The Director 
    disagrees. As stated above in the findings, Kentucky is proposing that 
    the five-year revegetation responsibility period not be restarted when 
    small areas containing the required sedimentary control structures are 
    reclaimed when no longer needed. The five-year revegetation 
    responsibility period will still be required for the overall permit 
    area or increment thereof. In addition, the approved Kentucky program 
    requirements concerning bond release, including the revegetation 
    standards, remain in place. Therefore, Kentucky will continue to assess 
    whether or not there has been established within the permit area (or 
    increment), including the areas where sediment control structures were 
    removed, a diverse, effective permanent vegetative cover in accordance 
    with the appropriate revegetation success standards. That is, not 
    restarting the revegetation responsibility upon removal of sediment 
    control structures will not diminish the requirements to meet the 
    revegetation standards.
        The USFWS also stated that sedimentary control structures are often 
    constructed on steep slopes, involve loose and erosive materials, and 
    are located within or upslope of environmentally sensitive areas 
    associated with streams and wetlands. Reduction of the vegetation 
    monitoring from five to two years would unjustifiably increase the 
    potential to impair the quality of Kentucky's waters. In response, the 
    Director disagrees with the commenter. The areas from which the 
    sedimentary structures are removed, including any in steep slope areas, 
    and any with nearby environmentally sensitive areas, are required by 
    Kentucky regulations to be surrounded by revegetated lands with 
    vegetation already sufficiently established as to render such 
    structures unnecessary for the protection of water quality and effluent 
    limitations. Following this, the entire revegetated area (or increment 
    thereof), including the reclaimed area where the sediment control 
    structure was located, is subject to the full Kentucky program 
    requirements concerning final inspection for bond release. In addition, 
    the Director finds that the two-year criterion proposed by Kentucky is 
    sufficient to establish (as is required by SMCRA section 515(b)(19)) a 
    permanent and diverse vegetative cover on the reclaimed sediment 
    control structure areas, especially since the lands typically involved 
    will be small in size, widely dispersed, and surrounded by revegetated 
    lands.
    
    Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
    
        Pursuant to 30 CFR 732.17(h)(11)(ii), OSM is required to obtain the 
    written concurrence of the EPA with respect to those provisions of the 
    proposed program amendment that relate to air or water quality 
    standards promulgated under the authority of the Clean Water Act (33 
    U.S.C. 1251 et seq.) or the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.). The 
    proposed Kentucky amendment does not pertain to air or water quality 
    standards and, therefore, EPA's concurrence is not required.
        Pursuant to 732.17(h)(11)(i), OSM solicited comments on the 
    proposed amendment from the EPA. The EPA responded and concurred 
    without comment on October 18, 1993 (Administrative Record No. KY-
    1246).
    
    V. Director's Decision
    
        Based on the above finding, the Director approves, except for the 
    reference to haul roads, Kentucky's regulations at sections 1(7)(b) of 
    405 KAR 16:200 and 18:200. In addition, the Director is requiring that 
    Kentucky further amend the Kentucky program to detele the term ``haul 
    roads'' at sections 1(7)(b) of 405 KAR 16:200 and 18:200.
        The Federal regulations at 30 CFR Part 917, codifying decisions 
    concerning the Kentucky program, are being amended to implement this 
    decision. This final rule is being made effective immediately to 
    expedite the State program amendment process and to encourage States to 
    bring their programs into conformity with the Federal standards without 
    undue delay. Consistency of State and Federal standards is required by 
    SMCRA.
    
    VI. Procedural Determinations
    
    Executive Order 12866
    
        This rule is exempted from review by the Office of Management and 
    Budget (OMB) under Executive Order 12866 (Regulatory Planning and 
    Review).
    
    Executive Order 12988
    
        The Department of the Interior has conducted the reviews required 
    by section 3 of Executive Order 12988 (Civil Justice Reform) and has 
    determined that, to the extent allowed by law, this rule meets the 
    applicable standards of subsections (a) and (b) of that section. 
    However, these standards are not applicable to the actual language of 
    State regulatory programs and program amendments since each such 
    program is drafted and promulgated by a specific State, not by OSM. 
    Under sections 503 and 505 of SMCRA (30 U.S.C. 1253 and 1255) and 30 
    CFR 730.11, 732.15, and 732.17(h)(10), decisions on proposed State 
    regulatory programs and program amendments submitted by the States must 
    be based solely on a determination of whether the submittal is 
    consistent with SMCRA and its implementing Federal regulations and 
    whether the other requirements of 30 CFR Parts 730, 731, and 732 have 
    been met.
    
    National Environmental Policy Act
    
        No environmental impact statement is required for this rule since 
    section 702(d) of SMCRA (30 U.S.C. 1292(d)) provides that agency 
    decisions on proposed State regulatory program provisions do not 
    constitute major Federal actions within the meaning of section 
    102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 
    4332(2)(C)).
    
    Paperwork Reduction Act
    
        This rule does not contain information collection requirements that 
    require approval by OMB under the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 
    3507 et seq.).
    
    Regulatory Flexibility Act
    
        The Department of the Interior has determined that this rule will 
    not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
    entities under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.). 
    The State submittal which is the subject of this rule is based upon 
    corresponding Federal regulations for which an economic analysis was 
    prepared and certification made that such regulations would not have a 
    significant economic effect upon a substantial number of small 
    entities. Accordingly, this rule will ensure that existing requirements 
    previously promulgated by OSM will be implemented by the State. In 
    making the determination as to whether this rule would have a 
    significant economic impact, the Department relied upon the data and 
    assumptions for the corresponding Federal regulations.
    
    [[Page 41427]]
    
    Unfunded Mandates
    
        This rule will not impose a cost of $100 million or more in any 
    given year on any governmental entity or the private sector.
    
    List of Subjects in 30 CFR Part 913
    
        Intergovernmental relations, Surface mining, Underground mining.
    
        Dated: July 20, 1998.
    Allen D. Klein,
    Regional Director, Appalachian Regional Coordinating Center.
        For the reasons set out in the preamble, 30 CFR Part 917 is amended 
    as set forth below:
    
    PART 917--KENTUCKY
    
        1. The authority citation for Part 917 continues to read as 
    follows:
    
        Authority: 30 U.S.C. 1201 et seq.
    
        2. Section 917.15 is amended in the table by adding a new entry in 
    chronological order by ``Date of final publication'' to read as 
    follows:
    
    
    Sec. 917.15  Approval of Kentucky regulatory program amendments.
    
    * * * * *
    
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Original amendment submission      Date of final         Citation/    
                  date                    publication         description   
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            
                      *        *        *        *        *                 
    June 28, 1991...................  August 4, 1998....  405 KAR 16:200    
                                                           Sec.  1(7)(b) and
                                                           18:200 Sec.      
                                                           1(7)(b).         
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
        3. Section 917.16 is amended by adding a new paragraph (n) to read 
    as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 917.16  Required regulatory program amendments.
    
    * * * * *
        (n) By October 5, 1998, Kentucky shall amend the Kentucky program, 
    or provide a written description of an amendment together with a 
    timetable for enactment which is consistent with established 
    administrative or legislative procedures in the State, to delete the 
    term ``haul roads'' at sections 1(7)(b) of 405 KAR 16:200 and 18:200.
    
    [FR Doc. 98-20715 Filed 8-3-98; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 4310-05-M
    
    
    

Document Information

Effective Date:
8/4/1998
Published:
08/04/1998
Department:
Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement Office
Entry Type:
Rule
Action:
Final rule; approval of amendment.
Document Number:
98-20715
Dates:
August 4, 1998.
Pages:
41423-41427 (5 pages)
Docket Numbers:
SPATS No. KY-191-FOR
PDF File:
98-20715.pdf
CFR: (3)
30 CFR 1(7)(b)
30 CFR 917.15
30 CFR 917.16