[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 199 (Monday, October 16, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 53569-53572]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-25561]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
30 CFR Part 943

[SPATS No. TX-025-FOR]


Texas Regulatory Program

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

ACTION: Proposed rule; public comment period and opportunity for public 
hearing.

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SUMMARY: OSM is announcing receipt of a proposed amendment to the Texas 
regulatory program (hereinafter the ``Texas program'') under the 
Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA). The 
proposed amendment consists of the recodification of the Texas Surface 
Coal Mining and Reclamation Act. The proposed amendment is intended to 
reclassify and rearrange the statutes into a format that will 
accommodate future expansion of the law and to eliminate repealed, 
invalid, and duplicative provisions in order to make the statutes more 
understandable and usable without altering the meaning or effect of the 
law.

DATES: Written comments must be received by 4 p.m., c.s.t., November 
15, 1995. If requested, a public hearing on the proposed amendment will 
be held on November 13, 1995. Requests to speak at the hearing must be 
received by 4 p.m., c.s.t., on October 31, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and requests to speak at the hearing should 
be mailed or hand delivered to Mr. Jack R. Carson, Acting Director, 
Tulsa Field Office, at the address listed below.
    Copies of the Texas program, the proposed amendment, a listing of 
any scheduled public hearings, 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 Tulsa Field Office.

Jack R. Carson, Acting Director, Tulsa Field Office, Office of Surface 
Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, 5100 East Skelly Drive, Suite 470, 
Tulsa, Oklahoma, 74135-6547, Telephone: (918) 581-6430.
Railroad Commission of Texas, Surface Mining and Reclamation Division, 
1701 North Congress Avenue, P.O. Box 12967, Austin, Texas, 78711-2967, 
Telephone: (512) 463-6900.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Jack R. Carson, Acting Director, Tulsa Field Office, Telephone: 
(918) 581-6430.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background on the Texas Program

    On February 16, 1980, the Secretary of the Interior conditionally 
approved the Texas program. General background information on the Texas 
program, including the Secretary's findings, the disposition of 
comments, and the conditions of approval can be found in the February 
27, 1980, Federal Register (45 FR 12998). Subsequent actions concerning 
the Texas program can be found at 30 CFR 943.10, 943.15, and 943.16.

II. Description of the Proposed Amendment

    By letter dated August 24, 1995 (Administrative Record No. TX-594), 
Texas submitted a proposed amendment to its program pursuant to SMCRA. 
Texas submitted the proposed amendment at its own initiative. The 
proposed amendment concerns recodification of the Texas Surface Coal 
Mining and Reclamation Act (TSCMRA) as enacted by Senate Bill (SB) 959, 
74th Texas Legislature (1995). SB 959 codified, with revisions, the 
TSCMRA at Chapter 134 of Title 4, Natural Resources Code, and it 
repealed Article 5920-11, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes, with the 
exception of sections 11 (b), (c), and (d). Substantive revisions which 
pertain to the approved Texas program are discussed below.

1. Recodification

    The substantive provisions in Article 5920-11, TSCMRA, sections 1 
through 38, with the exception of sections 3(2), 3(7), 11(b)-(d), 
18(d), 27(c), 34(b), and 35(4) are proposed to be recodified at Chapter 
134 of Title 4, Natural Resources Code, TSCMRA, sections 134.001 
through 134.188. Listed below are the existing Article 5920-11 section 
numbers with the new corresponding Chapter 134 section numbers.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Article 5920-11 Section                Chapter 134 Section      
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1......................................  134.001.                       
2(1)-(5)...............................  134.002.                       
2(5)(A)-(F)............................  134.003.                       
3(1)...................................  134.004(2).                    
3(3)-(6)...............................  134.004(3)-(6)                 
3(8)-(15)..............................  134.004(8)-(15)                
3(16)-(18).............................  134.004(18)-(20)               
3(19)..................................  134.004(16)                    
4(a)...................................  134.012(a)(1).                 
4(b)...................................  134.012(a)(2), (b)-(c).        
4(c)...................................  134.188                        
5......................................  134.011.                       
6......................................  134.013.                       
7......................................  134.141.                       
8(a)...................................  134.144.                       
8(b)...................................  134.143.                       
8(c)...................................  134.145.                       
8(d)...................................  134.146, 147.                  
8(e)...................................  134.148, 149.                  
9(a)...................................  134.150.                       
9(b)...................................  134.151.                       
10.....................................  134.152.                       
11(a)..................................  134.051.                       
12(a)..................................  134.071, 073                   
12(b)..................................  134.072.                       
13(a)..................................  134.074, 075.                  
13(b)..................................  134.075(c).                    
13(c)..................................  134.076.                       
13(d)..................................  134.077, 078.                  
14(a)(1)-(a)(15).......................  134.052, 012(d).               
14(a) (16).............................  134.031(a).                    
14(b)..................................  134.031(b).                    
15(1)-(13).............................  134.041.                       
15(14).................................  134.031(c)                     
16.....................................  134.042.                       
17.....................................  134.057.                       
18(a)-(b)..............................  134.054(a)-(c).                
18(c)..................................  134.055                        
19.....................................  134.056.                       
20(a)..................................  134.058, 059, 060.             
20(b)..................................  134.061.                       
20(c)..................................  134.062(a).                    
20(d)..................................  134.062(b).                    
20(e)..................................  134.063.                       
20(f)..................................  134.064.                       
21(a)..................................  134.065.                       
21(b)..................................  134.066, 067, 012(d).          
21(c)..................................  134.068, 069.                  
21(d)..................................  134.070.                       
22(a)..................................  134.079, 080, 081, 076(a).     
22(b)..................................  134.083.                       

[[Page 53570]]
                                                                        
22(c)..................................  134.082(a).                    
23(a)..................................  134.091.                       
23(b)..................................  134.092(a).                    
23(b)(1)-(2)...........................  134.092(a) (1)-(2).            
23(b)(3)...............................  134.092(a)(3), 093, 094.       
23(b)(4)...............................  134.092(a)(4).                 
23(b)(5)...............................  134.092(a)(5), 095.            
23(b)(6)...............................  134.092(a)(6).                 
23(b)(7)...............................  134.092(a)(7), 096 097.        
23(b)(8)...............................  134.092(a)(8).                 
23(b)(9)...............................  134.092(a)(9), 098.            
23(b)(10)..............................  134.092(a)(10), 099.           
23(b)(11)..............................  134.092(a)(11).                
23(b)(12)..............................  134.092(a)(12), 100.           
23(b)(13)..............................  134.092(a)(13), 092(b).        
23(b)(14)..............................  134.092(a)(14).                
23(b)(15)..............................  134.092(a)(15), 101.           
23(b)(16)..............................  134.092(a)(16), 102.           
23(b)(17)-(18).........................  134.092(a)(17)-(18).           
23(b)(19)..............................  134.092(a)(19), 103.           
23(b)(20)..............................  134.092(a)(20), 104, 105.      
23(b)(21)..............................  134.092(a)(21).                
23(b)(22)..............................  134.092(a)(22), 106.           
23(b)(23)-25...........................  134.092(a)(23)-(25).           
23(c)..................................  134.107.                       
23(d)..................................  134.108.                       
23(e)..................................  134.109.                       
24.....................................  134.052(19), 053.              
25(a)..................................  134.121, 122.                  
25(b)..................................  134.125, 126.                  
25(c)..................................  134.123, 124.                  
25(d)..................................  134.127.                       
26(a)..................................  134.128, 129.                  
26(b)..................................  134.130, 132(a).               
26(c)..................................  134.131.                       
26(d)..................................  134.132(b).                    
26(e)..................................  134.133.                       
26(f)..................................  134.134.                       
27(a), (d).............................  134.014.                       
27(b)..................................  134.031(d).                    
28.....................................  134.015.                       
29(a)..................................  134.026.                       
29(b)..................................  134.029.                       
29(c)..................................  134.027.                       
29(d)..................................  134.030.                       
29(e)..................................  134.028.                       
29(f)..................................  134.007.                       
30(a)..................................  134.174.                       
30(b)..................................  134.175.                       
30(c)..................................  134.176.                       
30(d)..................................  134.178.                       
30(e)..................................  134.179.                       
30(f)..................................  134.177.                       
30(g)..................................  134.181.                       
30(h)..................................  134.180.                       
31(a)..................................  134.182(a).                    
31(b)..................................  134.183(a)-(c).                
31(c)(A)...............................  134.183(d).                    
31(c)(B)...............................  134.182(d).                    
31(d)(1)...............................  134.184.                       
31(d)(2)...............................  134.185.                       
31(e)..................................  134.186.                       
31(f)..................................  134.187.                       
31(g)..................................  134.182(b) and (c), 184.       
32(a)..................................  134.161, 163.                  
32(b)..................................  134.162, 163.                  
32(c)(1)...............................  134.168, 169.                  
32(c)(2)...............................  134.170.                       
32(c)(3)...............................  134.171.                       
32(c)(4)...............................  134.164(b) and (d).            
32(c)(5)...............................  134.172.                       
32(d)..................................  134.164(a) and (b).            
32(e)..................................  134.165, 166, 167.             
32(f)..................................  134.173.                       
33(a)..................................  134.016.                       
33(b)..................................  134.020, 021.                  
33(c)..................................  134.017, 018.                  
33(d)..................................  134.019.                       
33(e)..................................  134.022.                       
34(a)..................................  134.023.                       
35(1)-(3)..............................  134.005.                       
36.....................................  134.024.                       
37(a)..................................  134.006.                       
37(b)..................................  134.110.                       
38.....................................  134.025.                       
------------------------------------------------------------------------



    2. All references to the Texas Surface Coal Mining and Reclamation 
Act are proposed to be changed from ``Act'' to ``chapter'' throughout 
the recodified statutes.
    3. All references to the ``Administrative procedure and Texas 
Register Act, as amended'' are proposed to be changed to ``Chapter 
2001, Government Code'' throughout the recodified statutes.

4. Chapter 134, Section 134.004 (Article 5920-11, Sec. 3), Definitions

    a. Texas is proposing to define ``Affected person'' at Chapter 134, 
section 134.004(1), as meaning ``a person having an interest that is or 
may be affected.'' Accordingly, all references to ``a person having an 
interest that is or may be affected'' are proposed to be changed to 
``affected person'' throughout the recodified statutes.
    b. Texas is proposing to remove its definition for ``Applicant'' at 
existing Article 5920-11, section 3(2). Therefore, this definition is 
not proposed to be recodified.
    c. Texas is proposing to remove the language ``and water 
impoundments may be permitted if the commission determines that they 
are in compliance with Section 23(b)(8) of this Act'' from the 
definition of ``Approximate original contour,'' which is recodified at 
Chapter 134, section 134.004(3) (existing Article 5920-11, section 
3(3)).
    d. Texas is proposing to remove its definition for ``Eligible land 
and water'' at existing Article 5920-11, section 3(7). Therefore, this 
definition is not proposed to be recodified.
    e. Texas is proposing to define ``Federal Act'' at Chapter 134, 
section 134.004(7), as meaning ``the Surface Mining Control and 
Reclamation Act of 1977 (30 U.S.C. Section 1201 et seq.).'' 
Consequently, all references to SMCRA are proposed to be changed to 
``federal Act'' throughout the recodified statutes.
    f. At Chapter 134, section 134.004(13) [existing Article 5920-11, 
section 3(13)], Texas is proposing to change the term ``permittee'' to 
``permit holder.'' Accordingly, all references to ``permittee'' are 
proposed to be changed to ``permit holder'' throughout the recodified 
statutes.
    g. Texas proposes to change the term ``Secretary'' to ``Secretary 
of agriculture'' at Chapter 134, section 134.004(16) [existing Article 
5920-11, section 3(19)]. Consequently, all references to ``secretary'' 
are proposed to be changed to ``secretary of agriculture'' throughout 
the recodified statutes.
    h. Texas proposes to define ``Secretary of the interior'' as 
meaning ``the secretary of the United States Department of the 
Interior.'' Accordingly, all references to ``the secretary of the 
United States Department of the Interior'' are proposed to be changed 
to ``the secretary of the interior'' throughout the recodified 
statutes.

5. Chapter 134, Sec. 134.012 and 134.188 (Article 5920-11, Sec. 4, as 
Amended by Acts 1983, 68th Legislature and Acts 1985, 69th 
Legislature), Jurisdiction

    At Chapter 134, section 134.012(a)(2), (b), and (c) and section 
134.188 [Article 5920-11, section 4(b) and (c), as amended by Acts 
1983, 68th Legislature and Acts 1985, 69th Legislature], Texas proposes 
to add provisions for jurisdiction of the commission over iron ore, and 
iron ore gravel mining and reclamation operations. Section 
134.012(a)(2) [Article 5920-11, section 4(b), as amended] would provide 
for exclusive jurisdiction over iron ore and iron ore gravel mining and 
reclamation operations in the State of Texas. Section 134.012(b) 
[Article 5920-11, section (4)(b), as amended] would provide for Chapter 
134 to govern these operations to the extent it can be made applicable. 
Section 134.012(c) [Article 5920-11, section 4(1) and (2), as amended] 
would provide for exceptions for iron ore and iron ore gravel mining 
and reclamation activity in progress on or before September 1, 1985 or 
for iron ore and iron ore gravel mining operation and reclamation 
activity that is conducted solely on real property owned in fee simple 
by the person authorizing the operation or reclamation activity and 
that is confined to a single, contiguous tract of land if the activity 
is conducted in an area not larger than 20 acres, the depth of the 
mining operation is restricted to 30 inches or less, and the fee simple 
owner receives surface damages. Section 134.188 [Article 5920-11, 
section 4(c), as amended] would 

[[Page 53571]]
provide that it is a defense to a civil or criminal penalty under 
Chapter 134 that a person allegedly conducting an iron ore or iron ore 
gravel mining and reclamation operation in violation of Chapter 134 has 
a written general warranty of ownership of land, separate from any 
lease, from the person authorizing the operation./
    6. At Chapter 134, section 134.057(b) [existing Article 5920-11, 
section 17(b)], Texas is proposing to add a new provision that 
specifies that subsection (b) does not apply to records, reports, 
inspection materials, or information that is confidential under section 
134.031.

7. Chapter 134, Sections 134.054 and 134.055 (Existing Article 5920-11, 
Section 18, as Amended by Acts 1983, 68th Legislature and Acts 1985, 
69th Legislature), Application Fees

    a. At Chapter 134, section 134.054(b) [Article 5920-11, section 
18(b), as amended (old section 18(a)], Texas proposes to change its 
minimum initial application fee for a permit from $1,000 to $5,000, 
require a minimum application fee of $3,000 for renewal of a permit, 
and require a minimum application fee of $500 for revision of a permit.
    b. Texas proposes to remove the provision at Article 5920-11, 
section 18(d), as amended (old section 18(b)), that requires an 
application fee to be deposited in the state treasury and credited to 
the general revenue fund. Therefore, this provision is not proposed to 
be recodified at Chapter 134.
    c. At Chapter 134, section 134.054(c) [Article 5920-11, section 
18(b), as amended], Texas proposes to allow initial application fees 
and renewal application fees to be paid in equal annual installments 
during the term of the permit.
    d. Texas proposes to add a new provision at Chapter 134, section 
134.055 [Article 5920-11, section 18(c), as amended], that requires a 
permit holder to pay the commission an annual fee, in an amount 
determined by the commission, for each acre of land in the permit area 
on which the permit holder actually conducted operations for removing 
coal during the year; the fee is due by March 15 of the year following 
the year of the removal operations; and the minimum fee is $120 an 
acre.
    8. Texas proposes to remove the provision in existing Article 5920-
11, section 21(c), that requires an applicant to file a schedule 
listing notices of violation ``of any department or agency in the 
United States.'' Therefore, this provision is not proposed to be 
recodified at Chapter 134.
    9. Texas proposes to remove the provision at existing Article 5920-
11, section 27(c), that requires persons who conduct coal exploration 
operations that substantially disturb the natural land surface in 
violation of its statutes or rules to be subject to its civil penalty 
provisions. Therefore, this provision is not proposed to be recodified 
at Chapter 134.
    10. Texas proposes to remove the provision at existing Article 
5920-11, section 34(b), that requires any agency, unit, or 
instrumentality of federal, state, or local government, including any 
publicly owned utility or publicly owned corporation of federal, state, 
or local government, that proposes to engage in surface coal mining 
operations that are subject to the requirements of TSCMRA to comply 
with all provisions of TSCMRA. Therefore, this provision is not 
proposed to be recodified at Chapter 134.
    11. Texas proposes to remove the provision at existing Article 
5920-11, section 35(4), that exempts from the provisions of TSCMRA the 
extraction of coal incidental to the extraction of other minerals where 
the coal does not exceed 16\2/3\ percent of the total tonnage of coal 
and other minerals removed annually for purposes of commercial use or 
sale or coal explorations subject to TSCMRA. Therefore, this provision 
is not proposed to be recodified at Chapter 134, section 134.005.

III. Public Comment Procedures

    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 Texas 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 indicated 
under DATES or at locations other than the Tulsa Field Office will not 
necessarily be considered in the final rulemaking or included in the 
Administrative Record.

Public Hearing

    Persons wishing to speak at the public hearing should contact the 
person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT by 4:00 p.m., 
c.s.t., on October 31, 1995. The location and time of the hearing will 
be arranged with those persons requesting the hearing. If no one 
requests an opportunity to speak at the 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 speak have been heard. Persons in the audience who 
have not been scheduled to speak, and who wish to do so, will be heard 
following those who have been scheduled. The hearing will end after all 
persons scheduled to speak and persons present in the audience who wish 
to speak 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 speak 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 
amendment may request a meeting by contacting the person listed under 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. All such meetings will be open to the 
public and, if possible, notices of meetings will be posted at the 
locations listed under ADDRESSES. A written summary of each 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 

[[Page 53572]]
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 
assumptions for the counterpart Federal regulations.

List of Subjects in 30 CFR Part 943

    Intergovernmental relations, Surface mining, Underground mining.

    Dated: October 3, 1995.
Brent Wahlquist,
Regional Director, Mid-Continent Regional Coordinating Center.
[FR Doc. 95-25561 Filed 10-13-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-05-M