[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 145 (Friday, July 29, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-18502]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: July 29, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
30 CFR Part 944

 

Utah Regulatory Program

action: Proposed rule; reopening and extension of public comment period 
on proposed amendment.

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summary: OSM is announcing receipt of revisions pertaining to a 
previously proposed amendment to the Utah regulatory program 
(hereinafter, the ``Utah program'') under the Surface Mining Control 
and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA). The revisions for Utah's proposed 
rules pertain to coal exploration on lands designated as unsuitable for 
surface coal mining operations and performance standards for coal 
exploration operations that substantially disturb the natural land 
surface. Utah proposed the amendment with the intent of streamlining 
the Utah program and making the exploration process more responsive to 
field needs for coal seam information.

dates: Written comments must be received by 4:00 p.m., m.d.t, August 
15, 1994.

addresses: Written comments should be mailed or hand delivered to 
Thomas E. Ehmett at the address listed below.
    Copies of the Utah program, the proposed amendment, and all written 
comments received in response to this document will be available for 
public review at the addresses listed below during normal business 
hours, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. Each requester may 
receive one free copy of the proposed amendment by contacting OSM's 
Albuquerque Field Office.

Thomas E. Ehmett, Acting Director, Albuquerque Field Office, Office of 
Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, 505 Marquette Avenue NW., 
Suite 1200, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102.
Utah Coal Regulatory Program, Division of Oil, Gas, and Mining, 355 
West North Temple, 3 Triad Center, Suite 350, Salt Lake City, Utah 
84180-1203, Telephone: (801) 538-5340.

for further information contact: Thomas E. Ehmett, Telephone: (505) 
766-1486.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background on the Utah Program

    On January 21, 1981, the Secretary of the Interior conditionally 
approved the Utah program. General background information on the Utah 
program, including the Secretary's findings, the disposition of 
comments, and the conditions of approval of the Utah program can be 
found in the January 21, 1981, Federal Register (46 FR 5899). 
Subsequent actions concerning Utah's program and program amendments can 
be found at 30 CFR 944.15, 944.16, and 944.30.

II. Proposed Amendment

    By letter dated January 27, 1994, Utah submitted a proposed 
amendment to its program pursuant to SMCRA (administrative record No. 
UT-888). Utah submitted the proposed amendment at its own initiative. 
The provisions of the Utah Coal Mining Rules that Utah proposed to 
amend were: (1) Utah Administrative Rule (Utah Admin. R.) 645-200-100, 
scope of rules for coal exploration; Utah Admin. R. 645-200-200, 
responsibilities of the Division of Oil, Gas, and Mining (Division); 
Utah Admin. R. 645-201-100, requirements for coal exploration approval; 
Utah Admin. R. 645-201-200, notices of intention to conduct minor coal 
exploration; and Utah Admin. R. 645-202-100, required documents.
    OSM announced receipt of the proposed amendment in the February 25, 
1994, Federal Register (59 FR 9153), provided an opportunity for a 
public hearing or meeting on its substantive adequacy, and invited 
public comment on its adequacy (administrative record No. UT-897). 
Because no one requested a public hearing or meeting, none was held. 
The public comment period ended on March 28, 1994.
    During its review of the amendment, OSM identified concerns 
relating to (1) the provisions of the Utah Coal Mining rules at Utah 
Admin. R. 645-202-232, roads and other transportation facilities, and 
Utah Admin. R. 645-202-235, disturbance of the hydrologic balance; and 
(2) editorial comments. OSM notified Utah of the concerns by letter 
dated April 15, 1994 (administrative record No. UT-915). Utah responded 
in a letter dated May 10, 1994, by submitting a revised amendment 
(administrative record No. UT-921).
    Utah proposed revisions for Utah Admin. R. 645-200-200, 
responsibilities; Utah Admin. R. 645-201-100, responsibilities for coal 
exploration plan review; Utah Admin. R. 645-201-200, notices of 
intention to conduct minor coal exploration; Utah Admin. R. 645-201-
300, major coal exploration permits; Utah Admin. R. 645-202-100, 
required documents; and Utah Admin. R. 645-202-200, performance 
standards.
    Specifically, Utah proposed revisions to require that the 
performance standards for coal exploration operations that 
substantially disturb the natural land surface include references to 
the State counterpart rules for the (1) catastrophic event provision 
that pertains to roads and other transportation facilities and (2) 
water quality and effluent limitations, sediment control measures, 
discharge structures, and impoundments provisions that pertain to 
protection of the hydrologic balance. Utah also proposed editorial 
revisions in response to OSM's comments.
    OSM announced receipt of the proposed revised amendment in the May 
24, 1994, Federal Register (59 FR 26767) and invited public comment on 
its substantive adequacy (administrative record No. UT-932). The public 
comment period ended on June 8, 1994.
    During its review of the revised amendment, OSM identified 
additional concerns relating to (1) Utah Admin. R. 645-200-122, 645-
200-123, and 645-201-210, lands designated as unsuitable for surface 
coal mining, and (2) Utah Admin. R. 645-202-235, disturbance of the 
hydrologic balance. OSM notified Utah of the concerns by letter dated 
July 7, 1994 (administrative record No. UT-943). Utah responded in a 
letter dated July 11, 1994, by submitting a revised amendment 
(administrative record No. UT-950).
    Utah proposes revisions for Utah Admin R. 645-200-100, scope of 
rules for coal exploration; Utah Admin. R. 645-201-200, notices of 
intention to conduct minor coal exploration; and Utah Admin. R. 645-
202-200, performance standards.
    Specifically, Utah proposes revisions at (1) Utah Admin. R. 645-
200-122, 645-200-123, and 645-201-210 to require that coal exploration 
on lands designated as unsuitable for surface coal mining operations 
will be subject to the same requirements for coal exploration during 
which more than 250 tons of coal will be removed, and (2) Utah Admin. 
R. 645-202-235 to provide, in its performance standards for coal 
exploration operations that substantially disturb the natural land 
surface, a reference to the State's counterpart provisions for sediment 
control measures.

III. Public Comment Procedures

    OSM is reopening the comment period on the proposed Utah program 
amendment to provide the public an opportunity to reconsider the 
adequacy of the proposed amendment in light of the additional materials 
submitted. In accordance with the provisions of 30 CFR 732.17(h), OSM 
is seeking comments on whether the proposed amendment satisfies the 
applicable program approval criteria of 30 CFR 732.15. If the amendment 
is deemed adequate, it will become part of the Utah program.
    Written comments should be specific, pertain only to the issues 
proposed in this rulemaking, and include explanations in support of the 
commenter's recommendations. Comments received after the time indicated 
under DATES or at locations other than the Albuquerque Field Office 
will not necessarily be considered in the final rulemaking or included 
in the administrative record.

IV. Procedural Determinations

1. 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).

2. Executive Order 12778

    The Department of the Interior has conducted the reviews required 
by section 2 of Executive Order 12778 (Civil Justice Reform) and has 
determined that 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 12550) and the Federal regulations at 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.

3. 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)).

4. 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.).

5. 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 that 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 
assumptions for the counterpart Federal regulations.

V. List of Subjects in 30 CFR Part 944

    Intergovernmental relations, Surface mining, Underground mining.

    Dated: July 22, 1994.
Peter A. Rutledge,
Acting Assistant Director, Western Support Center.
[FR Doc. 94-18502 Filed 7-28-94; 8:45 am]
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