96-22448. Virginia Regulatory Program  

  • [Federal Register Volume 61, Number 172 (Wednesday, September 4, 1996)]
    [Rules and Regulations]
    [Pages 46552-46554]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 96-22448]
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
    30 CFR Part 946
    
    [VA-108-FOR]
    
    
    Virginia Regulatory Program
    
    AGENCY: Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM), 
    Interior.
    
    
    [[Page 46553]]
    
    
    ACTION: Final rule; approval of amendment.
    
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    SUMMARY: OSM is approving a proposed amendment to the Virginia 
    regulatory program (hereinafter referred to as the ``Virginia 
    program'') under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 
    (SMCRA). The proposed amendment consists of regulatory changes to 
    implement the remining standards of the Federal Energy Policy Act of 
    1992. The amendment is intended to revise the Virginia program to be 
    consistent with the corresponding Federal regulations as amended on 
    November 27, 1995. (60 FR 58480)
    
    EFFECTIVE DATE: September 4, 1996.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
    Robert A. Penn, Director, Big Stone Gap Field Office, 1941 Neely Road, 
    Suite 201, Compartment 116, Big Stone Gap, Virginia 24219 Telephone: 
    (540) 523-4303
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    
    I. Background on the Virginia 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 Virginia Program
    
        On December 15, 1981, the Secretary of the Interior conditionally 
    approved the Virginia program. Background information on the Virginia 
    program, including the Secretary's findings, the disposition of 
    comments, and the conditions of approval can be found in the December 
    15, 1981, Federal Register (46 FR 61088). Subsequent actions concerning 
    conditions of approval and program amendments can be found at 30 CFR 
    946.11, 946.12, 946.13, 946.15, and 946.16.
    
    II. Submission of the Proposed Amendment
    
        By letter dated May 28, 1996, (Administrative Record No. VA-885) 
    Virginia submitted a proposed amendment to its program pursuant to 
    SMCRA. Virginia submitted the proposed amendment at its own initiative. 
    Virginia proposed amendments to implement the remining standards of the 
    Federal Energy Policy Act of 1992.
        OSM announced receipt of the proposed amendment in the June 19, 
    1996, Federal Register (61 FR 31071) and in the same document opened 
    the public comment period and provided an opportunity for a public 
    hearing on the adequacy of the proposed amendment. The public comment 
    period closed on July 19, 1996.
    
    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 
    proposed amendment.
        Revisions not specifically discussed below concern nonsubstantive 
    wording changes, or revised cross-references and paragraph notations to 
    reflect organizational changes resulting from this amendment.
    
    A. Revisions to Virginia Regulations That Are Substantively Identical 
    to the Corresponding Federal Regulations
    
        The amendments proposed by Virginia are as follows:
    
    1. Section 480-03-19.700.5  Definitions
    
        (a) ``Lands eligible for remining'' has been added to mean those 
    lands that would otherwise be eligible for expenditures under section 
    404 or under section 402(g)(4) of the Federal Act.
        (b) ``Unanticipated event or condition'' has been added to mean (as 
    used in Sec. 480-03-19.773.15), an event or condition related to prior 
    mining activity which arises from a surface coal mining and reclamation 
    operation on lands eligible for remining and was not contemplated by 
    the applicable permit.
    
    2. Section 480-03-19.773.15  Review of Permit Applications
    
        (a) New subsection (b)(4) has been added to provide, at (b)(4)(i) 
    that subsequent to October 24, 1992, the prohibitions of paragraph (b) 
    of this section regarding issuance of a new permit shall not apply to 
    any violation that: occurs after that date; is unabated; and results 
    from an unanticipated event or condition that arises from a surface 
    coal mining and reclamation operation on lands that are eligible for 
    remining under a permit which is issued before September 30, 2004, or 
    any renewals thereof, and held by the person making applications for 
    the new permit.
        New subsection (b)(4)(ii) provides that for permits issued under 
    Sec. 480-03-19.785.25 of this chapter, an event or condition shall be 
    presumed to be unanticipated for the purposes of this paragraph if it: 
    arose after permit issuance; was related to prior mining; and was not 
    identified in the permit.
        (b) New subsection (c)(14) has been added to provide that for 
    permits to be issued under Sec. 480-03-19.785.25 of this chapter, the 
    permit application must contain: lands eligible for remining; an 
    identification of the potential environmental and safety problems 
    related to prior mining activity which could reasonably be anticipated 
    to occur at the site; and mitigation plans to sufficiently address 
    these potential environmental and safety problems so that reclamation 
    as required by the applicable requirements of this chapter can be 
    accomplished.
    
    3. Section 480-03-19.785.25  Lands Eligible for Remining
    
        This new section contains permitting requirements to implement 
    Sec. 480-03-19.773.15(b)(4), and provides that: any person who submits 
    a permit application to conduct a surface coal mining operation on 
    lands eligible for remaining must comply with this section; any 
    application for a permit under this section shall be made according to 
    all requirements of this subchapter applicable to surface coal mining 
    and reclamation operations. In addition, the application shall: to the 
    extent not otherwise addressed in the permit application, identify 
    potential environmental and safety problems related to prior mining 
    activity at the site and that could be reasonably anticipated to occur. 
    This identification shall be based on a due diligence investigation 
    which shall include visual observations at the site, a record review of 
    past mining at the site, and environmental sampling tailored to current 
    site conditions; with regard to potential environmental and safety 
    problems referred to in paragraph (b)(1) of this section, describe the 
    mitigative measures that will be taken to ensure that the applicable 
    reclamation requirements of this chapter can be met; The requirements 
    of this section shall not apply after September 30, 2004.
    
    4. Section 480-03-19.816/817.116  Revegetation: Standards for Success
    
        Subsections (c)(2)(i) have been amended by adding the phrase 
    ``except as provided in paragraph (c)(2)(ii) of this section'' to the 
    first sentence. This modification was made in response to the new 
    language added at subsection (c)(2)(ii), and that is identified below.
        New subsection (c)(2)(ii) provide that the responsibility period 
    shall be two full years for lands eligible for remining included in 
    permits issued before September 30, 2004, or any renewals thereof. To 
    the extent that the success standards are established by paragraph 
    (b)(5) of this section, the lands shall equal or exceed the standards 
    during the growing season of the last year of the responsibility 
    period.
        Because the above proposed revisions are identical in meaning to 
    the corresponding Federal regulation, the Director finds that 
    Virginia's proposed rules are no less effective than the Federal rule.
    
    [[Page 46554]]
    
    IV. Summary and Disposition of Comments
    
    Public Comments
    
        The Director solicited public comments and provided an opportunity 
    for a public hearing on the proposed amendment. No public comments were 
    received, and because no one requested an opportunity to speak at a 
    public hearing, no hearing was held.
    
    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 Virginia program. The U.S. 
    Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service 
    responded and recommended that the amendments be accepted. The U.S. 
    Fish and Wildlife Service responded and stated that the proposed 
    regulatory changes are not likely to adversely affect threatened or 
    endangered species or critical habitats. The U.S. Department of Labor, 
    Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) responded and stated that 
    the amendments should be accepted.
    
    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 
    Director has determined that this amendment contains no provisions in 
    these categories and that EPA's concurrence is not required.
        Pursuant to 732.17(h)(11)(i), OSM solicited comments on the 
    proposed amendment from EPA on May 31, 1996. EPA responded that the 
    amendment was acceptable.
    
    State Historical Preservation Officer (SHPO) and the Advisory Council 
    on Historic Preservation (ACHP)
    
        Pursuant to 30 CFR 732.17(h)(4), OSM solicited comments on the 
    proposed amendment from the SHPO and ACHP. They did not respond.
    
    V. Director's Decision
    
        Based on the above finding(s), the Director approves the proposed 
    amendment as submitted by Virginia on May 28, 1996.
        The Federal regulations at 30 CFR Part 946, codifying decisions 
    concerning the Virginia 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 concluded 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 special 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 
    counterpart 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 
    assumption for the counterpart Federal regulations.
    
    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.
        Intergovernmental relations, Surface mining, Underground mining.
    
        Dated: August 14, 1996.
    Tim L. Dieringer,
    Acting Regional Director, Appalachian Regional Coordinating Center.
    
        For the reasons set out in the preamble, Title 30, Chapter VII, 
    Subchapter T of the Code of Federal Regulations is amended as set forth 
    below:
    
    PART 946--VIRGINIA
    
        1. The authority citation for Part 946 continues to read as 
    follows:
    
        Authority: 30 U.S.C. 1201 et seq.
    
        2. Section 946.15 is amended by adding paragraph (ll) to read as 
    follows:
    
    
    Sec. 946.15  Approval of regulatory program amendments.
    
    * * * * *
        (ll) The amendment to the Virginia program concerning 
    implementation of the remining standards of the Federal Energy Policy 
    Act of 1992 as submitted to OSM on May 28, 1996, is approved effective 
    September 4, 1996.
    
    [FR Doc. 96-22448 Filed 9-3-96; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 4310-05-M
    
    
    

Document Information

Effective Date:
9/4/1996
Published:
09/04/1996
Department:
Interior Department
Entry Type:
Rule
Action:
Final rule; approval of amendment.
Document Number:
96-22448
Dates:
September 4, 1996.
Pages:
46552-46554 (3 pages)
Docket Numbers:
VA-108-FOR
PDF File:
96-22448.pdf
CFR: (1)
30 CFR 946.15