[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 140 (Friday, July 21, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 37621-37622]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-17987]



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[[Page 37622]]


DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement

30 CFR Part 931


New Mexico Regulatory Program

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

ACTION: Withdrawal of proposed amendment.

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SUMMARY: OSM is announcing the withdrawal of a proposed amendment to 
the New Mexico regulatory program (hereinafter, the ``New Mexico 
program'') under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 
(SMCRA). The amendment consisted of revisions to and additions of rules 
pertaining to definitions, designation of lands unsuitable for surface 
coal mining, permit application information, minimum requirements for 
reclamation and operation plans in permit applications, review and 
approval or denial of permit applications and permit conditions, 
performance standards for coal exploration, and performance standards 
for surface coal mining operations.

DATES: This withdrawal is effective July 21, 1995.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Arthur W. Abbs, Acting Director, Albuquerque Field Office, Telephone: 
(505) 766-1486.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: By letter dated April 13, 1995, New Mexico 
submitted a proposed amendment to its program (administrative record 
No. NM-739) pursuant to SMCRA (30 U.S.C. 1201 et seq.). New Mexico 
submitted the proposed amendment in response to the program amendment 
requirements at 30 CFR 931.16 (c), (d), and (f) through (s) (56 FR 
67520, December 31, 1991, and 58 FR 65907, December 17, 1993) and at 
its own initiative. The provisions of the New Mexico rules that New 
Mexico proposed to revise were: Coal Surface Mining Commission (CSMC) 
Rule 80-1-5, definitions; CSMC rule 80-1-4-15, designation of lands 
unsuitable for surface coal mining; CSMC Rule 80-1-7-14, permit 
application information; CSMC Rule 80-1-9-39, minimum requirements for 
reclamation and operation plans in permit applications: CSMC Rules 80-
1-11-17, 80-1-11-19, 80-1-11-20, and 80-1-11-29, review of and approval 
or denial of permit applications and permit conditions; CSMC Rule 80-1-
19-15, performance standards for coal exploration; and CSMC Rules 80-1-
20-41 and 49, 80-1-20-82, 80-1-20-89, 80-1-20-93, 80-1-20-97, 80-1-20-
116 and 117, 80-1-20-124, and 80-1-20-150, performance standards for 
surface coal mining operations.
    OSM announced receipt of the proposed amendment in the May 5, 1995 
Federal Register (60 FR 22332), provided an opportunity for a public 
hearing or meeting on its substantive adequacy, and invited public 
comment on its adequacy (administrative record No. NM-741). Because no 
one requested a public hearing or meeting, none was held. The public 
comment period ended on June 5, 1995.
    During its review of the amendment, OSM identified concerns related 
to several provisions of New Mexico's proposed rules. OSM notified New 
Mexico of these concerns by letter dated June 22, 1995 (administrative 
record No. NM-747.
    In response to OSM's concerns, New Mexico, by letter dated July 6, 
1995, requested that the proposed amendment be withdrawn 
(administrative record No. NM-752). New Mexico indicated that its 
program requires that substantial rule revisions be reviewed and 
approved by the CSMC at a public hearing prior to submission to OSM. 
new Mexico stated that it would resubmit the amendment at a later date 
for approval as part of the New Mexico program after revisions have 
been approved by the CSMC.
    Therefore, the proposed amendment announced in the May 5, 1995, 
publication of the Federal Register is withdrawn.

List of Subjects in 30 CFR Part 331

    Intergovernmental relations, Surface mining, Underground mining.

    Dated: July 14, 1995.
Russell F. Price,
Acting Regional Director, Western Regional Coordinating Center.
[FR Doc. 95-17987 Filed 7-20-95; 8:45 am]
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