[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 116 (Friday, June 16, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 31661-31663]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-14764]



=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement

30 CFR Part 935

[OH-235; Amendment Number 70R]


Ohio Regulatory Program

AGENCY: Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM), 
Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; reopening and extension of public comment 
period.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: OSM is reopening the public comment period for a revised 
amendment to the Ohio regulatory program (hereinafter referred to as 
the Ohio program) under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act 
of 1977. The amendment was initiated by Ohio and is intended to make 
the Ohio program as effective as the corresponding Federal regulations 

[[Page 31662]]
concerning the frequency of inspections at abandoned coal mining 
operations.
    This document sets forth the times and locations that the Ohio 
program and the proposed amendment to that program will be available 
for public inspection, the comment period during which interest persons 
may submit written comments on the proposed amendment, and the 
procedures that will be followed regarding the public hearing, if one 
is requested.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before 4 p.m., E.D.T. on 
July 3, 1995. If requested, a hearing on the proposed amendment will be 
held at 1 p.m., E.D.T. on June 26, 1995. Requests to speak at the 
hearing must be received on or before 4 p.m., E.D.T. on June 23, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and requests to testify at the hearing 
should be mailed or hand-delivered to Ms. Beverly C. Brock, Acting 
Director, Columbus Field Office, at the address listed below.
    Copies of the Ohio program, the proposed amendment, and all written 
comments received in response to this document will be available for 
public review at the address 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 Columbus 
Field Office.

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, Columbus Field 
Office, 4480 Refugee Road, Suite 201, Columbus, Ohio 43232, telephone: 
(614) 866-0578.
Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Reclamation, 1855 
Fountain Square Court, Building H-3, Columbus, Ohio 43224, telephone: 
(614) 265-6675.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ms. Beverly C. Brock, Acting Director, Columbus Field Office, (614) 
866-0578.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background on the Ohio Program

    On August 16, 1982, the Secretary of the Interior conditionally 
approved the Ohio program. Information on the general background of the 
Ohio program submission, including the Secretary's findings, the 
disposition of comments, and a detailed explanation of the conditions 
of approval of the Ohio program, can be found in the August 10, 1983, 
Federal Register (47 FR 34688). Subsequent actions concerning the 
conditions of approval and program amendments are identified at 30 CFR 
935.11, 935.12, 935.15, and 935.16.

II. Discussion of the Proposed Amendment

    The Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Reclamation 
(Ohio) submitted proposed Program Amendment Number 70 by letter dated 
March 28, 1995 (Administrative Record No. OH-2104). In this amendment, 
Ohio proposed to revise one rule at Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) 
section 1501:13-14-01 to make the Ohio program as effective as the 
corresponding Federal regulations concerning the frequency of 
inspections at abandoned coal mining operations.
    OSM announced receipt of PA 70 in the April 11, 1995, Federal 
Register (60 FR 18380), 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 period closed on May 11, 
1995.
    On May 11, 1995, OSM notified Ohio of its one comment about PA 70 
(Administrative Record No. OH-2128). In response to the OSM comment, 
Ohio submitted Revised Program Amendment Number 70 (PA 70R) by letter 
dated May 31, 1995 (Administrative Record No. OH-2127). In PA 70R, Ohio 
is proposing one further revision to OAC section 1501:13-14-01 
paragraph (A)(3)(c)(ii) to cross-reference Ohio's rule on individual 
civil penalties and Ohio's statute on criminal penalties.

III. Public Comment Procedures

    In accordance with the provisions of 30 CFR 732.17(h), OSM is now 
seeking comment on whether the amendment proposed by Ohio satisfies the 
applicable program approval criteria of 30 CFR 732.15. If the amendment 
is deemed adequate, it will become part of the Ohio program.

Written Comments

    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 limit 
indicated under DATES or at locations other than the Columbus Field 
Office will not necessarily be considered in the final rulemaking or 
included in the Administrative Record.
Public Hearing

    Persons wishing to comment at the public hearing should contact the 
person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT by 4 p.m., E.D.T. 
on June 23, 1995. If no one requests an opportunity to comment at a 
public hearing, the hearing will not be held.
    Filing of a written statement at the time of the hearing is 
requested as it will greatly assist the transcriber. Submission of 
written statements in advance of the hearing will allow OSM officials 
to prepare adequate responses and appropriate questions. The public 
hearing will continue on the specified date until all persons scheduled 
to comment have been heard. Persons in the audience who have not been 
scheduled to comment and who wish to do so will be heard following 
those scheduled. The hearing will end after all persons scheduled to 
comment and persons present in the audience who wish to comment have 
been heard.
    Any disabled individual who has need for a special accommodation to 
attend a public hearing should contact the individual listed under FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

Public Meeting

    If only one person requests an opportunity to comment at a hearing, 
a public meeting, rather than a public hearing, may be held. Persons 
wishing to meet with OSM representatives to discuss the proposed 
amendments may request a meeting at the Columbus Field Office by 
contacting the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. All 
such meetings shall be open to the public and, if possible, notices of 
the meetings will be posted at the locations listed under ADDRESSES. A 
written summary of each public meeting will be made a part of the 
Administrative Record.

IV. 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 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, 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 752.17(h)(10), decisions on proposed State 
regulatory programs and program amendments submitted by the States must 
be based 

[[Page 31663]]
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.

List of Subjects in 30 CFR Part 935

    Intergovernmental relations, Surface mining, Underground mining.

    Dated: June 8, 1995.

Allen D. Klein,

Regional Director, Appalachian Regional Coordinating Center.

[FR Doc. 95-14764 Filed 6-15-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-05-M