[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 7 (Tuesday, January 11, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-601]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: January 11, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of Hearings and Appeals

43 CFR Part 4

RIN 1094-AA43

 

Special Rules Applicable to Surface Coal Mining Hearings and 
Appeals

AGENCY: Office of Hearings and Appeals, Interior.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Hearings and Appeals (OHA) amends several 
existing rules that govern procedures for hearings and appeals under 
the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 in order to 
bring the rules up to date. Because of events that have occurred since 
they were adopted, the existing rules omit references or contain 
incorrect references, are inconsistent with other rules, or fail to 
provide necessary information or procedures. The amendments correct 
these defects. In this document OHA also updates telephone numbers of 
offices of field solicitors and field offices of the Office of Surface 
Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM), listed in the existing rules, 
to reflect changes which have been effected heretofore.

EFFECTIVE DATE: February 10, 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Will A. Irwin, Administrative Judge, Interior Board of Land Appeals, 
Office of Hearings and Appeals, U.S. Department of the Interior, 4015 
Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia 22203. Telephone: 703-235-3750.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On November 19, 1991, OHA proposed 
amendments to existing procedural rules governing hearings and appeals 
under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977, 30 U.S.C. 
1201 et seq. (1988), because rules subsequently adopted or cases 
decided have rendered the existing rules out of date or shown them to 
be incomplete or inaccurate. See 56 FR 58330-58332 (Nov. 19, 1991). No 
comments were received on the published proposed amendments. The 
amendments effected by this final rulemaking are explained below under 
the heading for each rule involved.

Amendment of 43 CFR 4.1100

    As a result of previous amendments of 43 CFR 4.1109(a) to provide 
current addresses and jurisdictions of field solicitors who are to be 
served documents (see 56 FR 2139, 2142-43 (Jan. 22, 1991), 56 FR 5061 
(Feb. 7, 1991)), the definition of ``field solicitor'' in 43 CFR 
4.1100(d) is superfluous. It was proposed to remove that definition and 
redesignate the following definitions in alphabetical order. No 
comments were received on this proposal. That definition is therefore 
removed and the following definitions (e) and (f) are redesignated (d) 
and (e).

Amendment of 43 CFR 4.1105(a)

    30 CFR 842.15(d) provides a right of appeal to the Interior Board 
of Land Appeals (IBLA or the Board) under 43 CFR 4.1280 et seq. of the 
written determination, after informal review by the Director of the OSM 
or his or her designee, concerning the decision of an authorized 
representative of the Secretary not to inspect or take enforcement 
action concerning an alleged violation that is the subject of a request 
for a federal inspection under 30 CFR 842.12.
    Similarly, 30 CFR 843.12(i) provides that any determination by an 
authorized representative of the Secretary granting or denying an 
abatement period exceeding 90 days under 30 CFR 842.12(h) shall contain 
a right of appeal to IBLA under 1280 et seq.
    As the Board has had occasion to observe, however, 43 CFR 4.1105 
does not name the permittee of the operation that is the subject of a 
determination of the Director or an authorized representative, or any 
person whose interests might be adversely affected by the outcome on 
appeal and who participated before OSM, as a party who must be served 
with a copy of the notice of appeal and statement of reasons under 43 
CFR 4.1283(a) and who may participate under Secs. 4.1284 and 4.1286. 
See Save Our Cumberland Mountains, Inc., 108 IBLA 70, 83 n.7, 96 I.D. 
139, 146 n.7 (1989). OHA therefore proposed to amend 43 CFR 4.1105(a) 
by adding subsection (5) naming such permittees and persons as parties.
    After this addition to 43 CFR 4.1105(a) was proposed, however, the 
Board decided Robert L. Clewell, 123 IBLA 253 (1992). In that case, 
citizens who had requested their identity be kept confidential, in 
accordance with 30 CFR 842.12(b), later revealed their identity to the 
coal company whose operation they had requested be inspected by sending 
a copy of their statement of reasons of appealing the denial of their 
request for inspection to the company. Had they not done so, under the 
terms of Sec. 842.12(b), their ``identity may not be revealed, even to 
other parties to a case, unless and until a competent official acting 
in response to a formal request filed under 5 U.S.C. 552 (1988) or 
other Federal law has determined that [their] identity must be made 
public because it does not fall within the scope of 5 U.S.C. 552(b)(7) 
(1988) or any other exemption from disclosure provided by law. See 42 
FR 62665-66 (Dec. 13, 1977).'' Robert L. Clewell, supra at 257 n.1.
    As a result of this decision, OHA has added a statement to the new 
Sec. 4.1105(a)(5) that a person who wishes his or her identity kept 
confidential under 30 CFR 842.12(b) is responsible for maintaining that 
confidentiality when serving documents in accordance with Sec. 4.1109.

Amendment of 43 CFR 4.1109(a)

    43 CFR 4.1109(a) is amended to update field solicitor office 
telephone number to reflect changes which have been effected 
heretofore.

Amendment of 43 CFR 4.1151(b)

    OSM amended 30 CFR 723.19(a) and 845.19(a) to provide 30 days 
rather than 15 days in which a person may file a petition for review of 
a proposed civil penalty with the Hearings Division of OHA after the 
date of service of notice of an assessment conference officer's action. 
See 56 FR 10060, 10063 (Mar. 8, 1991). OHA therefore proposed to amend 
the corresponding procedural rule, 43 CFR 4.1151(b), to provide the 
same time and to add a reference to 30 CFR 845.18. No comments were 
received on the proposed change, so it is adopted.

Amendments of 43 CFR 4.1152, 4.1154, and 4.1157

    The references to 30 CFR part 723 in 43 CFR 4.1152(a)(2); to 30 CFR 
723.15 in 43 CFR 4.1154(a); and to 30 CFR 723.12 and 723.13 in 43 CFR 
4.1157 (a) and (b) need to be updated by correcting the references in 
43 CFR 4.1154(a) and in 43 CFR 4.1157 (a) and (b) and by adding 
references to the corresponding sections in 30 CFR part 845. OHA 
proposed to amend 43 CFR 4.1152, 4.1154, and 4.1157 for this purpose. 
No comments on these proposed changes were received, so they are 
adopted.

Amendment of 43 CFR 4.1266(b)(2)

    43 CFR 4.1266(b)(2) is amended to update OSM field office telephone 
numbers to reflect changes which have been effected heretofore.

Amendment of 43 CFR 4.1271(a)

    When 43 CFR part 4, subpart L was originally promulgated in 1978, 
43 CFR 4.1271(a) provided that an aggrieved party could file a ``notice 
of appeal'' from an order or decision of an administrative law judge 
disposing of a proceeding ``under this subpart, except a civil penalty 
proceeding under Sec. 4.1150.'' This is still the language of the rule. 
Since 1978, however, other rules have been added to subpart L that 
provide for a ``petition for discretionary review,'' rather than a 
notice of appeal, as the document to file with IBLA when seeking review 
of the initial decision of an administrative law judge. See 43 CFR 
4.1309, 4.1369 (56 FR 2139, 2144, Jan. 22, 1991; 56 FR 5061, Feb. 7, 
1991). OHA has also proposed rules that provide for petitions for 
discretionary review. See 43 CFR 4.1377, 4.1387 (56 FR 45806, Sept. 6, 
1991). Further, special procedures for seeking IBLA review exist for 
other proceedings in subpart L. See 43 CFR 4.1187, 4.1196, 4.1391.
    Although it is possible for IBLA to clarify by decision which 
avenue of appeal is appropriate for each proceeding, see The Hopi Tribe 
v. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation & Enforcement, 107 IBLA 329 
(1989), it is preferable for the procedural rules themselves to contain 
this information. OHA therefore proposed to amend 43 CFR 4.1271(a) so 
that the rule will specify for which proceedings a notice of appeal is 
appropriate. No comments on the proposed change were received, so it is 
adopted. Proceedings not covered by the procedural rules set forth in 
the revised Sec. 4.1271(a) contain special provisions for seeking 
review of initial decisions.

Determination of Effects

    The Department has determined that these rules will not have a 
significant economic effect on a substantial number of small entities 
under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.). These 
rules were not subject to OMB review under Executive Order 12866.

National Environmental Policy Act

    The Department has determined that these rules will not 
significantly affect the quality of the human environment on the basis 
of the categorical exclusion of regulations of a procedural nature set 
forth in 516 DM 2, Appendix 1, section 1.10.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    These rules contain no information collection requirements 
requiring Office of Management and Budget approval under 44 U.S.C. 3501 
et seq. 

Takings Implication Assessment

    These rules do not pose any takings implications requiring 
preparation of a Takings Implication Assessment under Executive Order 
No. 12630 of March 18, 1988.

Drafting Information

    The primary author of these regulations is Will A. Irwin, 
Administrative Judge, Interior Board of Land Appeals, Office of 
Hearings and Appeals, U.S. Department of the Interior.

List of Subjects in 43 CFR Part 4

    Administrative practice and procedure, Mines, Public lands, Surface 
mining.

    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, subpart L of part 4 of 
title 43 of the Code of Federal Regulations is amended as set forth 
below.


    Dated: December 12, 1993.
Bonnie R. Cohen,
Assistant Secretary--Policy, Management and Budget.

    43 CFR part 4 is amended as follows:

PART 4--[AMENDED]

Subpart L--Special Rules Applicable to Surface Coal Mining Hearings 
and Appeals

    1. The authority citation for part 4, subpart L, continues to read 
as follows:


    Authority: 30 U.S.C. 1256, 1260, 1261, 1264, 1268, 1271, 1272, 
1275, 1293; 5 U.S.C. 301.


Sec. 4.1100  [Amended]

    2. Section 4.1100 is amended by removing paragraph (d) and 
redesignating paragraphs (e) and (f) as paragraphs (d) and (e) 
respectively.
    3. Section 4.1105 is amended by adding paragraph (a)(5) to read as 
follows:


Sec. 4.1105  Parties.

    (a) * * *
    (5) In an appeal to the Board in accordance with 43 CFR 4.1280 
through 4.1286 from a determination of the Director of OSM or his or 
her designee under 30 CFR 842.15(d) or a determination of an authorized 
representative under 30 CFR 843.12(i), the permittee of the operation 
that is the subject of the determination and any person whose interests 
may be adversely affected by the outcome on appeal and who participated 
before OSM. A person who wishes his or her identity kept confidential 
under 30 CFR 842.12(b) is responsible for maintaining that 
confidentiality when serving documents in accordance with Sec. 4.1109.
* * * * *
    4. Section 4.1109 is amended by revising the phone numbers in 
paragraph (a) to read as follows:


Sec. 4.1109  Service.

    (a) * * *
    East of the Mississippi River--
* * * * *
    Telephone: (615) 545-4292, FAX (615) 545-4314.
* * * * *
    Telephone: (412) 937-4000, FAX (412) 937-4003.
    West of the Mississippi River--
* * * * *
    Telephone: (303) 231-5350, FAX, (303) 231-5360.
* * * * *
    5. Section 4.1151 is amended by revising paragraph (b) to read as 
follows:


Sec. 4.1151  Time for filing.

    (a) * * *
    (b) If a timely request for a conference has been made pursuant to 
30 CFR 723.18 or 845.18, a petition for review must be filed within 30 
days from service of notice by the conference officer that the 
conference is deemed completed.
* * * * *
    6. Section 4.1152 is amended by revising paragraph (a)(2) to read 
as follows:


Sec. 4.1152  Contents of petition; payment required.

    (a) * * *
    (2) If the amount of penalty is being contested based upon a 
misapplication of the civil penalty formula, a statement indicating how 
the civil penalty formula contained in 30 CFR part 723 or 845 was 
misapplied, along with a proposed civil penalty utilizing the civil 
penalty formula;
* * * * *
    7. Section 4.1154 is amended by revising paragraph (a)(2) to read 
as follows:


Sec. 4.1154  Review of waiver determination.

    (a) Within 10 days of the filing of a petition under this part, 
petitioner may move the administrative law judge to review the granting 
or denial of a waiver of the civil penalty formula pursuant to 30 CFR 
723.16 or 845.16.
* * * * *
    8. Section 4.1157 is amended by revising paragraphs (a) and (b)(1) 
to read as follows:


Sec. 4.1157  Determination by administrative law judge.

    (a) The administrative law judge shall incorporate in his decision 
concerning the civil penalty, findings of fact on each of the four 
criteria set forth in 30 CFR 723.13 or 845.13, and conclusions of law.
    (b) If the administrative law judge finds that--
    (1) A violation occurred or that the fact of violation is 
uncontested, he shall establish the amount of the penalty, but in so 
doing, he shall adhere to the point system and conversion table 
contained in 30 CFR 723.13 and 723.14 or 845.13 and 845.14, except that 
the administrative law judge may waive the use of such point system 
where he determines that a waiver would further abatement of violations 
of the Act. However, the administrative law judge shall not waive the 
use of the point system and reduce the proposed assessment on the basis 
of an argument that a reduction in the proposed assessment could be 
used to abate other violations of the Act; or
* * * * *
    9. Section 4.1266 is amended by revising the following phone 
numbers in paragraph (b)(2):


Sec. 4.1266  Determination on application concerning an order of 
cessation issued pursuant to section 521(a)(2) or section 521(a)(3) of 
the act.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (2) * * *
Alabama Field Office (also serving Georgia): 205-290-7282
Illinois Field Office: 217-492-4495
Indiana Field Office: 317-226-6700
Kentucky Field Office: 606-233-2494
Missouri Field Office (also serving Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska): 816-
374-6405
* * * * *
Oklahoma Field Office (also serving Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas): 
918-581-6430
* * * * *
Tennessee Field Office: 615-545-4103
* * * * *
Wyoming Field Office (also serving Alaska, Idaho, Montana, North 
Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota and Washington): 307-261-5776
* * * * *
    10. Section 4.1271 is amended by revising paragraph (a) to read as 
follows:


Sec. 4.1271  Notice of appeal.

    (a) Any aggrieved party may file a notice of appeal from an order 
or decision of an administrative law judge disposing of a proceeding 
under Secs. 4.1160 through 4.1171, 4.1200 through 4.1205, 4.1260 
through 4.1267, 4.1290 through 4.1296, and 4.1350 through 4.1356.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 94-601 Filed 1-10-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-79-M